In rented studios after work, amateur musicians pursue their passion

For 32-year-old patent lawyer Kwak Sang-bin, Wednesday nights are the highlight of his week.
Every other Wednesday, he heads straight from his office to a rented rehearsal studio in Sangsu-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul, carrying his guitar case over his shoulder. Inside, he meets his bandmates, who are amateurs yet passionate about music.
"For me, playing in a band is like escaping," Kwak said. "Exhausted from work, I know that on Wednesday nights, I can plug in my guitar and just play. It’s something I do for myself -- not for a career, not for money, but purely for the joy of it."
Kwak picks up where he left off, rehearsing with his amateur rock band -- a group of strangers-turned-friends who met through the online musician forum platform Mule. They come from diverse professional backgrounds -- a bistro owner, kindergarten teacher and newspaper reporter -- and though they have no plans to play professionally, their shared passion for music has created a camaraderie that transcends their day jobs.
Kwak, like many amateur musicians, saw his musical ambitions stall during the COVID-19 pandemic, as South Korea implemented social distancing measures that prohibited gatherings of more than five people.
"I gave up playing music to focus on becoming a patent lawyer," he recalled. "After I passed the exam and started my job, I wanted to return to band life. But by then, the pandemic had hit, and restrictions on gatherings of more than five people made it impossible to rejoin the band scene."
During the pandemic, rehearsal rooms sat empty, and amateur band activities dwindled.
According to Mule, an online community and secondhand musical instrument marketplace, the number of posts seeking band members plummeted by 85 percent over two years to reach 6,093 in 2021.
It wasn’t until July 2022 that pandemic restrictions were lifted, allowing working professionals to return to rehearsal rooms and revive a music culture that had nearly disappeared. The number of posts seeking bandmates on Mule has since rebounded to 10,731 in 2024 -- almost doubling in just three years.


Finding bandmates online
Aspiring bandmates may start by finding the right match online. Platforms such as Mule, and search engines like Naver and Daum, have become hubs for musicians seeking members.
“I first joined a band through a Daum cafe,” said Kim Ju-hee, 44, a Seoul office worker and keyboardist who has been part of several amateur groups. “Unlike school or church bands, ... online communities let you find people who share your passion for specific genres.”
This freedom to connect and form bands online is a defining aspect of workplace bands, as school or church groups sometimes limit opportunities to fully explore personal music tastes.
In contrast, workplace bands or amateur groups formed online offer unmatched flexibility. Musicians can quickly assemble teams focused on specific genres, from classic rock to indie and jazz, and collaborate for as long -- or as short -- as they like.
Practice, perform, repeat
Once a band is formed, the next step is finding a place to rehearse. Most amateur bands rent music studios for practice, with popular areas including Hongdae, Seongsu and Sadang in Seoul. Studios typically charge between 20,000 and 25,000 won ($14 to $17) per hour, with drum sets, amplifiers, microphones and synthesizers included.
Some bands take their passion further by booking concert venues, which cost around 600,000 won, including sound mixing, for a six-hour session.
"Practicing in a small studio is great, but the thrill of playing in a proper venue is something else entirely," said Choi Sung-hoon, 40, a drummer who works as a software engineer. "Hearing the music echo in a larger space, seeing an audience react -- it makes all the late-night rehearsals worth it."
One of the biggest differences between student bands and workplace bands is that members of the latter tend to have more disposable income. Many amateur musicians, now earning steady salaries, can afford high-quality instruments, regular studio rentals and even booking concert venues for live performances.
Even large corporations are recognizing the benefits of amateur bands, providing financial support for employee music groups. SK Chemicals offers up to 500,000 won per quarter, while Samsung Biologics, Coupang and CJ CheilJedang also fund employee bands to foster creativity and teamwork, and help relieve stress.
"When I was a student, buying a decent guitar was out of reach," said Kim, a 36-year-old drummer working at SK Chemicals.
"Balancing schoolwork and limited finances made it difficult to fully enjoy band activities. Now, I can finally invest in the equipment I’ve always wanted," said Kim, who wished to be identified only by her surname.
The spirit of openness, togetherness and cohesion within the band music community has been running deep in South Korea.
A pivotal moment was in 1995, when a tribute concert for Nirvana’s Kurt Cobain was held in Hongdae, sparking a wave of indie performances and leading to the rise of popular bands like Crying Nut. Decades on, Crying Nut will soon be hosting a four-day event, inviting underground indie bands to the stage and highlighting their activities Feb. 4-7 in the Hongdae area, Mapo-gu, Seoul.
For many this band culture is more than just playing -- it is about connection, creativity and shared experience.
"When you hear a great song, it stirs something inside you and makes you want to be a part of it," said We Jee-hoon, 46, a physics teacher and bassist.
"For some, that means going beyond just listening -- trying to re-create the entire piece and experience the same joy the original artist felt."
