South Korea’s biggest indie rock band Hyukoh on their China connection and defying social norms
With their song Citizen Kane, inspired by a crazy Hong Kong taxi ride, featuring in a new Apple ad for the iPhone X, Hyukoh’s 24-year-old vocalist, Oh Hyuk, talks about growing up in China and breaking the social mould in Korea
The man Chinese fans call “guang tou” (“baldy”) spent nearly two decades living in China – and it shows. During a recent interview in his studio in the heart of Seoul, Oh quickly professes his love for the numbing spicy Sichuan cuisine, recommending a restaurant around the corner.
“Even my company CEO and tour manager call me ‘baldy’ in Korean – I don’t mind,” says the bashful Oh, whose family moved to China when he was five months old.
“Everyone wants to feel that sense of belonging but I’ve never had that. I was always unsure if I’m Korean or Chinese – I’ve agonised over it but never come to a conclusion.”
The 24-year-old is proficient in Korean, Chinese and English, having been educated at international schools in and around Yanji, Shenyang and Beijing. He moved back to Seoul in 2012 in pursuit of a music career – declining offers from the three mighty pillars of the K-pop industry: SM, YG and JYP Entertainment – and soon created the four-man band Hyukoh (Oh’s name reversed). They are currently signed to YG sub-label Highgrnd.
Hyukoh have racked up millions of plays on YouTube and Spotify, and apart from winning countless awards at home, two of their albums, 22 and 23, peaked at No 4 and 6 on the Billboard World Album Charts. Their latest album released last month, 24: How to Find True Love and Happiness, reached No 1 on the iTunes charts in Taiwan, Thailand and Singapore.