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KOCCA, musicians out to show the world K-pop is not just idols

April 23, 2015

KOCCA President Song Sung-gak speaks Thursday during a press conference about the introduction of K-pop musicians from a variety of genres to the world market through three showcases in Canada, Singapore and France. (Yonhap)

The Korea Creative Content Agency and 12 musical teams are out to redefine K-pop around the world.

“Overseas, people ask if K-pop music is just idol music,” KOCCA President Song Sung-gak said Thursday, in a media conference held inside a Seoul lab. “The basic goal is to introduce talented, passionate, young Korean musicians to overseas audiences.”

Yonhap reported that the teams, comprised of artists in genres ranging from hip-hop and rock to ska, electronic and folk, will hold showcases in three locations: Canadian Music Week in Toronto, Canada, Music Matters in Singapore and MIDEM’s K-pop Night Out in Cannes, France.

This year will see the first K-pop showcase — featuring Verbal Jint, Dok2, The Quiett, Beenzino, Sultan of the Disco and Lunafly — being shown at Canadian Music Week, to be held at the beginning of May.

At the end of May, Idiotape, Glen Check, Sonamoo and Kingston Rudieska will heat up the stage in Singapore; in June, Cannes’ MIDEM will host the Barbarettes, Rock N Roll Radio, Loro’s and Coreyah.

KOCCA said the acts were chosen by 2014 MU:CON market directors and organizers.

“We’re excited to perform overseas for the first time,” Kingston Rudieska said. “We play ska and reggae. We want to show everyone that there are musicians who are doing different genres from the mainstream.”

“Whether it’s a performance or an album, the goal is always to do well using talent, so we want to prove ourselves with talent overseas as well,” The Quiett said.

KOCCA is a government agency affiliated with South Korea’s Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.