The amateur representative of Korean folk rock.

Dongmulwon [동물원, "Zoo"]

Years of Activity:  1987-2003

Members:

Regular Members
Yoo Joon-Yeol [유준열] - Vocal, guitar
Park Ki-Yeong [박기영] - Vocal, keyboard
Bae Yeong-Gil [배영길] - Vocal, guitar

Temporary Members
Kim Chang-Gi [김창기] - Vocal, guitar
Park Kyeong-Chan [박경찬] - Vocal, guitar, keyboard
Lee Seong-Woo [이성우] - Vocal, guitar
Choi Hyeong-Gyu [최형규] - Drum
Kim Gwang-Seok [김광석] - Vocal

Discography:

Regular Albums
Dongmulwon [동물원] (1987)
Dongmulwon Second Collection of Songs [동물원 두번째 노래 모음] (1988)
Dongmulwon Third Collection of Songs [동물원 세번째 노래 모음] (1990)
Dongmulwon Fourth Collection of Songs [동물원 네번째 노래 모음] (1991)
Dongmulwon 5-1 [동물원 5-1] (1993)
Dongmulwon 5-2 [동물원 5-2] (1993)
Dongmulwon 6 [동물원 6] (1994)
Dongmulwon Seventh [동물원 일곱번째] (1997)
Dongmulwon Eighth Story [동물원 여덟번째 이야기] (2001)
Dongmulwon Ninth Footprint [동물원 아홉번째 발자국] (2003)

Special Albums
Dongmulwon in Concert [동물원 in Concert] (Live, 1994)
Dongmulwon Revisited [다시 가본 동물원] (Compilation, 1996)
Dongmulwon Best [동물원 베스트] (1999)

In 15 Words or Less:  The amateur representative of Korean folk rock.

Representative Song:  Hyehwa-Dong, from Dongmulwon Second Collection of Songs.

혜화동

Hyehwa-dong

오늘은 잊고 지내던 친구에게서 전화가 왔네

Today, a phone call came from a friend I had forgotten

내일이면 멀리 떠나간다고

Tomorrow he is going very far away

어릴적 함께 뛰놀던 골목길에서 만나자 하네

Says let us meet at the alleyway where we ran and played as children

내일이면 멀리 떠나간다고

Tomorrow he is going very far away

덜컹거리는 전철을 타고 찾아가는 그 길

The way over, taking the rumbling subway

우린 얼마나 많은 것을 잊고 살아가는지

How many things have we forgotten as we live

어릴 적 넓게만 보이던 좁은 골목길에

The narrow alleyway that seemed so wide when we were young

다정한 옛친구 나를 반겨 달려오는데

My good old friend runs to greet me

어릴적 함께 꿈꾸던 부푼 세상을 만나자 하네

Says let us meet the beautiful world we dreamed together as children

내일이면 아주 멀리 떠나간다고

Tomorrow he is going very far away

언젠가 돌아오는 날 활짝웃으며 만나자 하네

Says someday when he comes back let us meet with big smiles

내일이면 아무 멀리 간다고

Tomorrow he is going very far away

덜컹거리는 전철을 타고 찾아가는 그 길

The way over, taking the rumbling subway

우린 얼마나 많은 것을 잊고 살아가는지

How many things have we forgotten as we live

어릴 적 넓게만 보이던 좁은 골목길에

The narrow alleyway that seemed so wide when we were young

다정한 옛친구 나를 반겨 달려오는데

My good old friend runs to greet me

랄라 랄라라 랄라랄라라 라랄라랄라라

Lala Lalala Lalalalala Lalalalala

우린 얼마나 많은 것을 잊고 살아가는지

How many things have we forgotten as we live

 

Why is that this band important?

Implicitly, the Korean Peninsula up to now has been using a broad definition of “music of Korea”  music of artistsWho were/are primarily active in Korea, such their music operates inside Korean in style culture. However, maybe a distinct definition is used a definition that refers to Korean Peninsula as not simply as a geographical location, however as a cultural and religious sphere. Under this definition, “music of Korea” would merely mean: music that reflects “Koreanness,” the emotional core that characterizes Korean Peninsula.

To be sure, the 2 definitions aren't reciprocally exclusive. Generally, music that survives in Korean in style, culture will thus, as a result of it contains some live off “Koreanness” that appeals to its fans, i.e. Koreans. However, in discussing influence – that, again, is what this chart is meant to live, not quality, talent or fame – the Korean thinks it's truthful to offer a better mark to artists who did a much better job at reflective “Koreanness”. This is often thus as a result of the popular music that survives within the minds of the general public (i.e. Becomes influential) is that the one that reflects the essential feeling of the days. 

In fact, this is often precisely the reason why a pretty girl/pretty boy artists across the globe receive no respect for the aesthetic quality of the music they perform. Pretty individuals exist across the area and time. Thus do banal and treaclylove songs. They merely don't mirror any essential quality of their life and time. Consequently, Bob Dylan’s music survived the days and remains cogent, however Britney Spears’ didn't.

Korean folk rock is that the most vital K-pop genre as a result of it's the genre that did the simplest job at reflect the life and times of Koreans. For all of Clazziquai’s sizeable talent, there's not abundant concerningtechno/electronica that reflects the emotional core that's specific to Koreans. Same with significant metal, and even less, thus with baled or generic ballroom music. (An additional serious case could be created for a trot or rap, which is able to be mentioned later within the series.) this is often thus as a result of folks rock may be a message-driven music. The music itself in folk rock is rarely difficult – several of the days it solely involves one stringed instrument. The most focus of folk rock has often concerned the message carried within the lyrics, contained the straightforward and versatile vessel of its melody.

Dongmulwon is very important as a result of it's one in every of the best representations of what folk rock in the Korean Peninsula is all concerning. The band was created from rank amateurs, friends from high school and school. It absolutely was no over a hobby, and aside from a couple of members who left the band to become skilled musicians (among that the foremost notable was Kim Gwang-Seok, who later became a legend,) everybody had each day job. None of their songs concerned subtle tunes or notably outstanding singing. However, they notwithstanding managed to place out 9 albums over fifteen years, precisely as a result, they did such an impressive job reflective preciselyhowever Koreans were feeling at the time of their music.

In fact, Dongmulwon’s most representative songs square measures all concerning sure recognizable places. Aside fromHyehwa-dong that was translated higher than, their hottest songs were On the road [거리에서] and At the depot ahead of the town Hall [시청 앞 지하철역에서]. As a result of the places square measure acquainted to their listeners (although not essential for non-Koreans or Koreans of later generations,) the emotions that come to mind from those places also are acquainted. 

Since the late eighties through Nineteen Nineties, the Korean Peninsula has been a fast-changing place that left each Korean feel hurried and hasty. Because the autarchy was ending, Koreans were freer however, not too free; because the countryindustrialised, Koreans weren't poor however not too affluent. Hyehwa-dong may be a lovely illustration of the feeling of such times – imprecise sense of loss and fatigue caused by changes, however tiny joys that grow regardless. The friend is exploiting, however, they're going to see one another an extra time. The back street currently looks tiny, however, it carries fond reminiscences.

Dongmulwon was ne'er the foremost outstanding figure in K-pop history. However the band is very important as a result of decades later, individuals can address their songs to think back, however things were in Korean Peninsula at the time. Additional in style or additional gifted musicians would possibly fade into history, however, Koreans can keep singing Dongmulwon's songs.

Interesting Trivia:

- The band is called "Zoo" as a result of the members thought that they were being caged, each by the stiffness of the society and ideology-driven school culture at the time. However the primary suggestion for the band name was "Ballad for Ewha Students" [이대생을 위한 발라드], supported the jocular calculation that merely commercialism albums to Ewha Woman's University students would allow them to sell a minimum of one, 000 copies.