Arguably, Hyukoh became one of the best and most successful rock bands in Asia. The group is a prolific four-man rock band from South Korea and is currently associated with DRDRamc Management Company. The group was formed in 2014 and rose to prominence in 2015 following their outstanding performance at the Korean Variety Show. Infinite challenge. Their debut EP titled 20 was released in September 2014 and it garnered positive ratings from critics and rock and roll fans.
After their performance at Infinite Challenge in 2015, they released their second EP titled 22 which also racked up rave reviews and even reached the top ten of the Billboard World Albums Chart two months after its release. Since then, they have continued to captivate the hearts of their many fans with their songs and music albums.
Due to their international fame and unique musical style, the band became even more popular after being listed as a performer during the 2019 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in California, USA. Want to know more about this exceptional rock band? Read on to learn more about Hyukoh, its members, lineup, and other interesting facts below.
Hyukoh – Biography
Although Hyukoh has become a popular rock band recognized around the world; The group was first launched as a solo project by group leader Oh Hyuk. Hyuk is a South Korean born on October 5, 1993. His family moved to China when he was five months old. He spent most of his training and part of his adolescence there, before returning to South Korea. his studies in 2012.
Upon his arrival in South Korea, he enrolled at Hongik University where he pursued a career in fine arts. Having developed a keen interest in rock music early on, this passion led Hyuk to take time off from college to focus on his music career. Today his efforts have paid off and he is now one of the most popular rock musicians in South Korea and beyond.
Hyukoh Formation: Members and Career Profile
The leader of the group, Hyuk, adopted the name “Hyukoh”, which combines his first and last name. With this name, he embarked on a solo career, performing at different shows and venues in Seoul. After a while he felt the need to play with a band and that’s how his solo project was converted into a rock band. He recruited three more members, including Lim Hyun-Jae (guitarist), Im Dong-geon (bassist), and Lee In-woo (drummer).
Beginning their career in 2014, the band released their debut EP titled 20 which was inspired by their age at the time. The EP was very successful and caught the attention of several labels and sponsors. Following their great success locally, they also signed with the management company DRDRamc.
2015 was the year Hyukoh rose to popularity, following the release of his second EP titled 22. Their single Go and Come from the album topped several charts in Korea and beyond. They also participated in the popular Korean variety show Infinite Challenge where they put on an impressive performance, thus winning the hearts of many soft rock music lovers. The following year, they were invited to represent Korean Indian bands at the Strawberry Music Festival in China. They also participated in the Summer Sonic festival held in Japan later that year.
In 2017, the band released their debut studio album titled 23. The album was released in April 2017 and peaked at number 6 on Billboard’s World Albums chart. They also released another Extended Play (EP) 24 in May 2018 and launched their first world tour the same year. After a steady increase in their popularity, Hyukoh was chosen to perform at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in 2019; join the lineup of other rock bands, including Hop Along and Hurray For The Riff Raff, who also perform at the festival.
Other interesting facts about the rock band
1. Although the rock band has released several singles and EPs; it was their 2015 song Va etviens that brought them into the limelight.
2. Since their inception in 2014, Hyukoh has released eight music videos. They include videos of their songs Hooka, Gondry, Leather Jacket, Tomboy, Panda Bear, Wanli, Come and Go, and Wi Ing Wi Ing.
3. Hyuk cited two other bands – ‘The Beatles’ and ‘The Whitest Boy Alive’ as main influences.
4. One of their songs Citizen Kane was featured on the Apple Inc. iPhone X ad in June 2018.
5. The band has been embroiled in many controversies, mostly over song plagiarism. however, they outright refuted the claims.
6. The rock group, Hyukoh, has won several awards, some of them include Performance Culture Award at 2016 Seoul Music Awards, Best Modern Rock Album at 2018 Korean Music Awards, and Best Rock Group Award at Golden Disk Awards 2018, among others.