A celebration of indie R&B musicians took place in Prism Hall in the Hongdae neighborhood on November 23. The 2012 Indie R&B Super Concert was a great opportunity for indie music fans to sate their cravings for the unique and trendy music of independent bands.

- I like underground hip hop music and indie bands. They are different from today’s idol groups. I feel their lyrics and personalities are very unique.
- I came to the concert because I wanted to see them again. They’re proud of their music, even though they’re not mainstream. Their songs and performances are great. They’re no different than any other stars, except that they’re not as widely known.

Indie bands don’t have many opportunities to communicate with the masses. So they’re grateful for this opportunity, a chance to get recognized and be loved by avid fans. They return their fans’ support with explosive performances. Here’re the members of the indie band “Lego,” Sumin, Jeon Il-jun, and Park Jung-hyun.

- Most of the performers here are not mainstream. This is a venue for experimental music.
- This is our festival.
- I play music, because I love performing on stage. It’s nice that indie bands have more chances to play on stage. I’m happiest when I play our music. It’s great to see the ranks of indie music fans grow.

Just as non-mainstream indie bands connect with the masses through such concerts, independent films find their own venue to celebrate their art.

From November 29 through December 9, CGV Apgujeong Theaters in Seoul hosted the nation’s largest independent movie festival, the Seoul Independent Film Festival 2012. Marking its 38th year, the film festival has been a staunch supporting force for Korea’s indie filmmakers. Here’s Secretary-General Kim Dong-hyun of the SIFF Organizing Committee to tell us more about the festival.

The festival began in 1975. In the beginning it wasn’t a festival, but more like an award ceremony in which low-budget filmmakers and young film students were recognized by the Korean Film Council. It was in the late 1990s when the event took on today’s celebratory features. Starting in 1999, the Korean Film Council and the Association of Korean Independent Film and Video became co-sponsors of the festival, which evolved into a celebration we see today. It’s a festivity of indie filmmakers, who get to screen many of the year’s indie films and share their vision for the genre.

The Seoul Independent Film Festival has been supporting low-budget, indie films for nearly four decades. During that time SIFF has boosted the value and recognition of independent films and given hope to prospective filmmakers. Here’s director Han Dong-hyuk.

For some, indie films could be a stepping stone to commercial films and for some, it is a way to communicate with the world why I want to make films. Indie films contain the stories of the obscure, the neglected, so making indie films makes me feel more humble and the world appear more enriched. That’s why I think indie films are so important. I want to become a director who thinks long and hard about making more diverse films.

Indie bands and films are slightly off the well-beaten road of pop culture. But these non-mainstream cultures are recently being recognized as a new outlet for cultural expressions. Which aspect of these independent cultures appeal to the masses? Here’s cultural critic Kim Seong-su to answer that question.

Indie culture allows for much freedom, unfettered by the principles of capitalism, and many new experiments. Because indie artists do not cater to the masses, they can stand by their artistic visions. Also, they have great potential for discovering new cultural contents, because they don’t fear failure and thus eager to try new things. These are the strengths and appeals of underground culture.

Non-mainstream culture is also called independent or underground. Its members do not appeal to the masses and try to build their own artistic realms. Yet they are not stubborn or inflexible. Indie artists try to express their personalities and artistic visions through new experiments. Here’s cultural critic Kim Seong-su again.

The adjective “underground” implies that an artist is under the radar of mass recognition. Underground culture is defined by its alternative nature. It’s not a sub-concept of mainstream culture, but a counter concept, a culture that accepts new things not attempted in the mainstream. That’s why it has not gained any mass acceptance yet. But that doesn’t mean that indie artists are never to join the mainstream culture. They have the potential to come up to the surface, to join the mainstream. Any artist who has accumulated much know-how in indie culture should be considered a professional.

Indie artists’ various experiments have inspired and nourished new pop cultures. Much of today’s K-pop sensation and Korean movie renaissance can find their inspirations in indie culture.

The blooming of Hallyu has been fertilized by numerous trials and potentials. No artist or genre can blossom without experiencing many failures and building up on small successes. The popularity of K-pop and Korean movies has been stoked by the roaring cultural energy and artistic diversity of countless indie bands and underground films unbeknownst to us.



Indie artists have always been outside the public interest, but in recent years the masses have started valuing indie culture and paying attention to these renegade culture members, giving them a chance to showcase their works. For instance, the 38th Seoul Independent Film Festival saw a record number of entries, 773 films in all. The judges reportedly had a hard yet enjoyable time watching all those films. Here’s Secretary-General Kim Dong-hyun of the SIFF Organizing Committee to tell us more.

It was really hard for the judges, because there were so many great films. There were many tightly woven and quality films made under budget restraints. The stories they tell were also inspiring and insightful, because they reflect the social conditions of the time.

More heartening is the fact that one hundred indie films presented during the festival were all sold out. Secretary-General Kim Dong-hyun of the SIFF Organizing Committee explains.

There were signs that this year’s festival was going to be a success. Our homepage kept crashing from too many visits, compelling us to expand its capacity. And the audience responses have been absolutely wonderful and all the tickets have been sold. More importantly, the experience of watching an indie film is a unique and memorable one, which is likely to continue after the festival. The festival can help change people’s views on commercial films and induce them to attend other indie film festivals. The audience response at this year’s SIFF is likely to affect their movie-going patterns as well as other movie releases in the future.

- The personality of the director is manifested in the film. Directors’ personality is what makes an indie film so appealing. Most of them haven’t debuted in the mainstream film scene, so I can see their youthful innocence and passion.
- These indie films have freedom of expression, a freedom to talk about the issues that commercial films cannot.
- There are so many passionate filmmakers. The world of indie films is profound and I feel a kinship with the directors. Now I want to find out more about indie films.

Breaking out of their shells, indie filmmakers have slowly yet steadily shown themselves to the masses, gaining a decent number of fans and some joining the mainstream filmmakers in the process. More famous among them are director Ryu Seung-wan who debuted in 2000 with his feature film “Die Bad,” director Lee Kyung-mi of the 2008 film “Crush and Blush,” and director Won Shin-yeon of the 2007 thriller “Seven Days.” Korean filmmakers dreaming of becoming the next Martin Scorcese or Woody Allen say that indie film festivals are a great learning experience. Here are two indie film directors – Seo Eun-seon and Kim Han-geol.

- When starting a film I do everything myself. I use my own money to write my own story and work with the actors I know. But gradually the work gains momentum and grows bigger. This is a must-have experience before going over to do commercial or genre films.
- As a film director, I want to leave an artistic work with my name on it. That’s why I make films with minimal investments, the movies that probably won’t make a lot of money. Indie films showcase my abilities in its barest essence, without any interference from investors. I have a desire to show my thoughts to people. I like the fact that moviegoers can see and understand what I think through my films.

Just like indie filmmakers who create their own worlds and shape new cultures through their works, underground bands are proud of their identity and achievements. Here’s Song Jeong-pil, an indie band member.

The music I hear on the radio or TV is limited in genre and feels ordinary. But indie music is a channel through which diverse musical aspirations are expressed. I think it is up to underground bands to broaden the scope and diversity of Korean pop music, and I feel proud to be a part of that.

They may not be recognized by screaming fans on the street. They may not have the money to buy big houses and fancy cars. But underground musicians keep singing the songs they want in their distinct styles, because more and more people started appreciating their music. Indie artists feel grateful and inspired by the fact that their songs and their films can give happiness and hope to someone out there. Here’s a member of the indie band Soul One.

We are called an underground band because we play experimental music, not pop music. We try to keep finding new things. Even the masses want something new and different these days. That’s why they started paying attention to us. We sell more music these days, because there are people out there who actually pay to listen to our songs.

A large number of today’s hottest bands had their beginning as underground musicians. Yoon Do-hyun Band, No Brain, and the latest sensation Guckhasten have all been indie bands. Developed over many years in the underground scene, their musical abilities and stage presence overpower run-of-the-mill singers in the mainstream and win fervent admiration and countless fans.

Underground music and films may be uncomfortable and awkward at first, but that’s because we are not used to them. Once we open our minds and accept their individuality and freedom, we will be able to see the bright future of Korea’s cultural diversity.