BANDO, recipient of the 2025 Korean Music Award, is redefining the boundaries of Korean jazz and traditional music (gugak) with a bold and innovative sound.

It all began with a single question: “Where does our traditional music truly come from?”

This question united four exceptional musicians — Gina Hwang (geomungo), Simun Lee (guitar), Sungwan Kim (saxophone), and Soojune Kim (drums) — culminating in the creation of BANDO, a contemporary music group rooted in exploration and reinvention.

The name BANDO, meaning “peninsula” in Korean, reflects the ever-shifting landscape of the Korean Peninsula — a place where vast plains give way to rugged mountains, and where the land meets the open sea. This unique geography has fostered Korea’s rich cultural identity, shaped by both deep-rooted traditions and continuous exchange with the wider world.

Drawing from this setting, BANDO crafts original compositions inspired by Korea’s natural elements — the sea, rivers, islands, rice paddies, and roads — offering a sonic portrait of the land itself.

Though each artist comes from a different musical path, their collaboration forms a singular, resonant voice that invites audiences to rediscover Korean music through a fresh and deeply expressive lens.