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The Sentiment of an Era in Group Sound Busan Modern and Contemporary History Museum to Host “2025 Gwangbok Record Fair”

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The Busan Modern and Contemporary History Museum announced that it will host the 2025 Gwangbok Record Fair from October 31 (Fri.) to November 2 (Sun.) on the first floor of its annex building. This event is the only record-themed festival in Busan.

The Gwangbok Record Fair is a signature cultural program of the museum’s annex, a complex cultural space in the Gwangbok-dong area of the city’s old downtown, which was once the cradle of Korean popular culture. The fair embodies the cultural identity of this historically rich neighborhood.

Marking its second year, the theme of the 2025 Gwangbok Record Fair is “Group Sound.” Visitors will experience the sentimental and emotional resonance of group sound music, which enjoyed immense popularity from the 1960s to the mid-1980s.

With melodies and lyrics that evoke nostalgia and fond memories, group sound music continues to captivate audiences today. The festival offers an opportunity to rediscover its enduring charm.

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Diverse Programs Showcasing the Spirit of Korean Group Sound

The main programs include a talk concert, group sound performances, and DJ sessions.
Visitors will be able to explore the history of Korean group sound music, the birth and evolution of Busan’s local bands, and rediscover hidden musical gems through live performances by both legendary and new artists.

The first highlight will be a DJ performance titled “Digging of Group Sound,” held at 1 p.m. on November 1 (Sat.). Professional DJs — Mydas Beats, Tiger Disco, and Jazzpresso — will present rare and rediscovered Korean group sound records.
(“Digging” refers to the act of searching for and introducing rare or forgotten vinyl records.)

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Talk Concert: “From Vocal Groups to Group Sound — The History of Korean Rock”

On the same day at 7 p.m., a talk concert will be held to deepen audiences’ understanding of this year’s theme. Under the title “The History of Korean Rock: From Vocal Groups to Group Sound,” Kim Hyeong-chan, a well-known popular music critic and author, will deliver a lecture.

Born in Busan, Kim Hyeong-chan is a renowned expert in Korean pop music.
He is the author of “A Journey Through the History of Korean Popular Music” (566 pages, 2015), a comprehensive study tracing the development and achievements of Korean popular music from 1960 to 1975.
He has also served as a member of the Korea Media Rating Board (2003–2005) and a judge for the Korean Music Awards (2005–2007).
In his lecture, Kim will reinterpret the history of Korean rock from the perspective of group sound and highlight the role played by Busan-based bands.

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Rediscovering “Mua” — A Nostalgic Music Listening Room

On November 2 (Sun.) at 1 p.m., the program “Mua Music Listening Room” will return for the second consecutive year.
The session aims to revisit the cultural legacy of Mua, a theater-style music salon in Gwangbok-dong that represented Busan’s listening-room culture.

Choi In-rak, a former MBC radio DJ known for hosting “Starry Night” in the 1990s and currently serving as the head of the Mua Promotion Committee, will lead the session.
He will introduce a selection of pop music loved by group sound musicians, as well as records from his private collection and audience song requests.

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Grand Finale: Live Group Sound Performances

The festival will conclude with a grand group sound concert at 3 p.m. on November 2 (Sun.).
Performers will include Busan-based bands Say Sue Me, DDBB, and Yazasu, along with invited groups Wonho and Time Machine, showcasing the essence of group sound across generations.

Say Sue Me, an indie band from Busan, has performed at major international music showcases such as South by Southwest (SXSW) in the United States and The Great Escape (TGE) in the United Kingdom, demonstrating that “music from Busan can be global.”
DDBB, hailing from Busan’s Bosu-dong area, gained recognition with their 2024 album “On the Reef”, while Yazasu represents the emerging future of Busan’s group sound scene.

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Vinyl Record Market and Booths

The vinyl record market and exhibition booths will open at 12 p.m. on October 31 (Fri.).
About 20 local record collectors, vinyl stores, and music-related publishers from across the country are expected to participate.

The talk concert, performances, and music listening sessions will be open only to advance registrants.
Applications will be accepted from October 20 via the museum’s website (busan.go.kr/mmch) on a first-come, first-served basis for up to 40 participants per program.
Admission is free.

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Kim Ki-yong, Director of the Busan Modern and Contemporary History Museum, stated,
“We hope visitors will experience the sentiment of an era embodied in group sound music through the diverse programs of the Gwangbok Record Fair — from talk concerts and DJ sessions to live performances.”