K-Content News
Alternative live music scene in Hongdae suffering due to pandemic
- February 01, 2021
Alternative live music scene in Hongdae
suffering due to pandemic
Updated: 2021-01-27 03:54:01 KST
Not too long ago the Hongdae area of Seoul was an underground live music hub.
But when the pandemic struck, gig venues became empty and some even had to close. And even the long-standing live music halls are not immune to the pandemic.
"The Rolling Hall live music venue boasts a 26-year history. Legendary Korean rock bands like YB and Gukkasten once stood on this stage."
But a full year of COVID-19 and the restrictions that have come with it have put this historic venue on the verge of closing down.
"Our Rolling Hall used to be a place where the music never stopped. But now there's no music."
With concert halls closing, musicians and technicians also have nowhere to go. An independent rock band, Harry Big Button, debuted 10 years ago and have venues like Rolling Hall to thank.
"Without the live music halls in Hongdae, musicians like us, who usually perform live, wouldn't have had a place to showcase our music."
But without being able to perform live, musicians are left feeling a little lost.
"It feels as if life has been turned completely upside down. Club concerts and rock festivals they were all such an integral part of my life, so it's difficult to imagine a world without them."
If the situation carries on, owners of concert halls fear that a whole genre of alternative music will suffer.
"When the concert halls start to disappear, underground music will no longer have a stage. Then this type of alternative music will disappear from mainstream culture."
Korea Live Hall Association on Monday held a press conference, appealing to the government to help live music venues.
But owners of concert halls fear that Hongdae faces an uphill battle to completely save its unique music scene.
Kim Yeon-seung, Arirang News
But when the pandemic struck, gig venues became empty and some even had to close. And even the long-standing live music halls are not immune to the pandemic.
"The Rolling Hall live music venue boasts a 26-year history. Legendary Korean rock bands like YB and Gukkasten once stood on this stage."
But a full year of COVID-19 and the restrictions that have come with it have put this historic venue on the verge of closing down.
"Our Rolling Hall used to be a place where the music never stopped. But now there's no music."
With concert halls closing, musicians and technicians also have nowhere to go. An independent rock band, Harry Big Button, debuted 10 years ago and have venues like Rolling Hall to thank.
"Without the live music halls in Hongdae, musicians like us, who usually perform live, wouldn't have had a place to showcase our music."
But without being able to perform live, musicians are left feeling a little lost.
"It feels as if life has been turned completely upside down. Club concerts and rock festivals they were all such an integral part of my life, so it's difficult to imagine a world without them."
If the situation carries on, owners of concert halls fear that a whole genre of alternative music will suffer.
"When the concert halls start to disappear, underground music will no longer have a stage. Then this type of alternative music will disappear from mainstream culture."
Korea Live Hall Association on Monday held a press conference, appealing to the government to help live music venues.
But owners of concert halls fear that Hongdae faces an uphill battle to completely save its unique music scene.
Kim Yeon-seung, Arirang News
Reporter : winning@arirang.com
