Watch: ‘Enter the K-Bass’ panel puts Seoul’s scene in focus at SXSW London

At the inaugural SXSW London conference recently an important panel session took place that had the historic annals of Shoreditch Town Hall ablaze with talk of “Korean amen breaks” and how local versions of UK bass genres such as grime, garage and jungle are reshaping the face of the global chart behemoth that is K-pop.

Discussing the topic ‘How UK electronic genres are powering the next phase of Korea’s pop music odyssey’ were three long-serving members of Seoul’s electronic scene: Rich SCR, founder of Seoul Community Radio, DJ, producer and Rinse FM resident 7ip7o3 and Jun Kim from ScreaM Records.

The panel took place the day after Seoul Community Radio x ScreaM Records ‘Enter the K-Bass’ keynote SXSW curator session at 93 Feet East. It drew an interesting mix of European music industry delegates, UK-based ’Koreaboos’ and most loudly and noticeably a large contingent of Asia-diaspora electronic musicians based in the UK as well as fellow co-curators Yeti Out, Eastern Margins and more.

The showcase aimed to bring-to-life the concept of ‘K-bass’: a fusion of Korean-made, UK-originated high-NRG breaks and low-end that has subconsciously seeped its way into the mainstream via the background productions and remixes of key K-pop artists such as aespa, New Jeans and Blackpink among others by some of the Seoul underground’s best djs and producers.

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Representing the sound were vibrant live performances from K-drill rapper BLASE, hyperpop queen The Deep and DJ sets from five key producers (Coziest, H4rdy,Yunji, Mar Vista, 7ip7o3) who had all contributed tracks to recently released underground-overground link-up compilation ‘Enter the K-Bass’ presented by SCR and ScreaM Records and soon to be released with some additional remixes on major Korean label, SM Entertainment.

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Presenting to a packed hall which even just that day also featured esteemed talks from big-screen icons such as Idris Elba and sports stars such as the World Cup-winning Cesc Fabregas, the three panelists were able to transport the hip London crowd to the non-stop world of Seoul nightlife, 7am finishes in gamjatang restaurants and the ever-competitive club scene that drives music production among artists in the city.

While causing a stir and a flurry of post-panel questions among the global community of creative delegates present, until now only the people in the room have been privy to some of the in-depth commentary unveiled during the discussion.

Who were the people making the conversation? Read more about them below.

Rich SCR

Richard Price, aka Rich SCR or Vinyl Richie, is a British-Thai broadcaster, curator, artist and entrepreneur based in Seoul. As a Londoner and founder of Seoul Community Radio (SCR) in 2016, he’s played a key role in spreading the legacy of DIY pirate radio across Korea and Asia, inspiring a wave of community radio stations and cross-regional collaborations.

Now nearing its 10th year and based in its second studio in Itaewon, SCR has spotlighted some of Korea’s most exciting music talent while building new audiences through forward-thinking events and community-driven moments rooted in the K-underground.

A passionate radio archivist and futurist, Price has created exhibitions like Frequency Tropics Radio (Seoul Museum of Art) and Original Pirate Material (with Rinse FM), exploring the evolution of the medium. His DJ sets channel this same energy, blending old and new ‘tape pack’ sounds—jungle, breaks, UK garage, raw house, dub, techno and more.

7ip7o3

7ip7o3 (aka tiptoe) is a Korean DJ, producer and Rinse FM resident who first gained recognition through her SoundCloud mixes, which she began uploading in 2015. A decade on, she’s carved out a distinct lane in Seoul’s fast-shifting club landscape, becoming a key figure in shaping its direction and energy.

Known for her dynamic and often unpredictable sets, she leans into a sound that’s equal parts chaotic and cathartic, drawing inspiration primarily from breaks and electro.

Jun Kim

Jun Kim is a Seoul-based A&R and creative strategist at SM Entertainment’s ScreaM Records, where he’s been key to the label’s evolution since 2021. Active in the music industry since 2015, he’s contributed to the iScreaM remix series, artist signings like Mar Vista and 2Spade, the label’s rebrand, ScreaM Agency’s launch, the K-POP ScreaM North American tour, and various compilations.

A core team member, Jun has helped discover and sign talent locally and globally, sourcing tracks from international producers for over 150 K-POP and dance music releases. Before SM, he was active in Korea’s dance music scene as a producer, content creator, and DJ—leading A&R at UNFRAME SEOUL, founding Kid Seoul magazine, and playing in DJ crews like OVERFLOOD and NUIT.

As half of DJ/producer duo ONE DAY ONE COKE, he brings an artist’s lens to A&R, merging digital storytelling with cultural depth.

Watch full 4K panel discussion below.

Images via Binh D & Robin Mpeg

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