Korean Job Discussion Forums

[nrvs]

The other day, I was in the middle of class at my hogwan, and I was interrupted by some really loud bass-heavy Korean music from outside. My classroom faces the street, so I took a look out of the open window to see what it was.

Outside there was a vendor with a cart. He was dressed in the silliest costume I've ever seen, sort of this patchwork of orange and yellow and green, kind of like a clown. On his cart he had an assortment of unpackaged Korean snack food (or so it looked like from a distance). Beneath were two huge loudspeakers. They took up the entire length of the cart and I can't explain how he was able to crank up the volume so high without a generator.

Anyway, the music was this polka-sounding stuff. It was very old-fashioned, very country, kind of like dance music for grandparents. However, it wasn't acoustic, but entirely "switched on" with electronic drum and keyboard sounds. The tempo was quick and there was no deviation in the beat. It was the antithesis of today's Korean syrupy ballads or dance-y hip-hop.

Anyway, I asked my students (who were already chuckling at the music) what it was all about. I had one student poke his head out the window and explain what kind of snacks he was selling, and then we talked about the music. They told me the name of the genre -- it started with "b/p" and ended with "a," if I remember correctly. I don't remember the exact name, unfortunately. I asked if they would listen to this music, and they responded with a unanimous "NO teacher!" and more giggling.

However, I really liked it, obnoxious as it was. It reminded me of the morlum style in Thailand. Morlum is a genre from the Isaan countryside that thrives in taxis and on buses throughout the kingdom while sappy pop rules the malls.

What is this stuff? Any suggestions for finding samples in Seoul music stores?

[eamo]

Sounds like you're describing 'Bong Chak'. Ajumma and ajeossi music. Personally, I love it. It's energetic but the singers display a lot of seoul.

[Ya-ta Boy]

I enjoy it, too. You often find those guys outside temples or at festivals. Some of them are in drag. They are a kind of clown. Some of them have a great routine with hammer and chisel or those big-as* scissors. I never bought a tape of the music but always enjoyed it when I stumbled across it.

A lot of them sell that pumpkin nougat stuff, with or without peanuts. It's great!

[Hwajangsil Ajumma]

[nrvs]

Yes, it was "bong chak." Thanks!

Today I'm going to check out the discount CD store in my neighborhood to see what they have.

[margaret]

Thanks, nrvs, for bringing this up. I love this kind of music too. I heard more of it when I was here before--now I hear more westernized rock. I was going to ask the English speaking Koreans I knew about it. I was going to describe it in the same words--country, old-fashioned and polka, so I know it's what I'm looking for.
I also love really old-fashioned American county music like Hank Williams Sr. and Roy Acuff. It has a similar raw, happy-sad quality.
Margaret

[skookum]

Wonder if U.S. country music has any audience among Koreans, or if it has influence on any Korean singers? Anybody know?

[Ya-ta Boy]

[JongnoGuru]