“For us, Shin Joong-hyun and Sanullim are the Beatles.”
To study Korean rock, he formed a band of all-Japanese members. The name: "Kopchangjeongol" — a Korean dish he hadn't even tasted yet but figured had to be delicious. In 1999 they debuted as Korea's first all-Japanese rock group.
Back then he ran into rules: no Japanese name allowed in an album title, no Japanese among the credited songwriters.
He still lives in Seoul — 30 years now. A living witness to the history of Hongdae's indie scene, he has worked with world-class free-jazz musicians such as Otomo Yoshihide and Damo Suzuki, holding the front line of Korea–Japan musical exchange. In 2021 he published 'A Guidebook to Japanese LP Masterpieces' in Korea.
- 1999
Kopchangjeongol 1st 'Annyeonghasimnikka?'
Doremi Records
- 2009
Solo 'My Lovely You'
First album fully written in Korean by a Japanese artist
- 2011–2014
Kopchangjeongol 2·3·4
Beatball Records
- 2021
Japanese LP Masterpiece Guidebook
Published in Korea (Annapurna)
- 1995Formed Kopchangjeongol
- 19991st album — debut as Korea's first all-Japanese rock group
- 2003Launched Hongdae experimental-music series 'Bulgasari'
- 2010Received the Hongdae Culture & Arts Merit Award
- 2021Published 'Japanese LP Masterpiece Guidebook' in Korea