A special two-day celebration honoring 30 years of South Korean independent music will take place in Seoul's vibrant Hongdae district this week. The "Indie-30 Festival & Exhibition" is scheduled to run from Thursday through Friday at ㅎㄷ Cafe (Hongdae Cafe) in Mapo-gu, bringing together multiple generations of indie musicians and their devoted fans to commemorate this significant milestone in Korea's underground music history.

The festival's opening day will feature prominent local rock bands taking the main stage on the cafe's rooftop at 6:30 p.m. Popular acts including Crying Nut, O.O.O., and Fishingirls are set to headline Thursday's performances. Meanwhile, the fourth-floor stage will showcase a diverse lineup of indie musicians including Kanghwi, Hannote, Whoopy, Oh Hee-jung, Bennie, Nam Gyu-won, Jang Summer, and YouAePo, who will present their distinctive musical styles through intimate busking performances.

Friday's programming will continue the celebration with legendary punk rock band No Brain, The Fix, and MongDoll commanding the main stage. The second day's fourth-floor performances will feature another impressive roster of indie artists: Uyeon, Do Not Penguin, Namgaro, Jung Suin, Punk Edu Club, Gawill, Pete Jung, and OmO, who will invite audience members to join them for interactive live performances.

Beyond the musical performances, the festival will offer visitors a comprehensive cultural experience across multiple floors of the venue. The fifth floor will house a photo exhibition documenting the evolution of Korean indie music, alongside merchandise featuring logos from various indie bands. This special merchandise collection represents a collaborative effort with 51 different musicians, with each artist's team or band logo featured on commemorative T-shirts. The collection includes designs from well-established names in the scene such as rock band YB, Jannabi, Guckkasten, Hyukoh, TransFixion, Chang Kiha, and Lee Seung-yoon.

The seventh floor will serve as a documentary screening area where visitors can watch films highlighting the three-decade history of Korea's independent music movement. On the eighth floor, the cafe will offer a unique touch by providing cup sleeves featuring the names of 100 indie musicians with every drink purchase, creating a tangible connection between festival-goers and the artists they're celebrating.

"We hope that the 'Indie 30th Anniversary Festival & Exhibition' will be more than just a festival, allowing musicians and fans to look back on the history and achievements of Korea's indie music scene and serve as a stepping stone for the future of Korean indie music," stated an official from M.Y. Music, the event's organizing company, in a press release. Admission to both days of the event will be completely free for all attendees.

The roots of South Korea's independent music scene can be traced back to 1996, when the first generation of indie bands emerged, including pioneering groups like Crying Nut and Deli Spice. These early artists drew significant inspiration from Western punk and alternative music movements, adapting these influences to create a uniquely Korean sound. That same pivotal year witnessed the release of "Our Nation Vol. 1," a groundbreaking split album featuring Crying Nut and Yellow Kitchen, which became the country's first commercially successful independent record and played a crucial role in nurturing the underground music community centered around Hongdae.

Hongdae's emergence as the epicenter of Korean indie music was largely facilitated by the area's affordable rental costs during the 1990s. These favorable economic conditions created a supportive environment where independent musicians could develop their craft, perform regularly for audiences, attract other creative talents, and establish a thriving underground music scene. Despite the neighborhood's subsequent gentrification and increasing commercial development over the years, Hongdae has maintained its status as the heart of Korea's independent music culture and continues to foster new generations of indie artists.