Rock Guitarist Kim Do-kyun Becomes a “Star Lecturer” on Rock History

Rock Guitarist Kim Do-kyun Becomes a “Star Lecturer” on Rock History: K-POP / 연합뉴스 / 2025-11-05 07:32:00

▲ Veteran guitarist Kim Do-kyun, a member of the legendary heavy metal band Baekdusan, pose for photos prior to his interview at the Seoul headquarters of Yonhap News Agency on Nov. 3, 2025. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

SEOUL, Nov. 5 (Yonhap) -- “From vacuum tubes and transistors to modern digital sound — I’ll sing, play, and explain it all in a hybrid way.”

Veteran guitarist Kim Do-kyun, a member of the legendary heavy metal band Baekdusan, is taking the stage as what he jokingly calls a “rock instructor,” guiding audiences through the history of rock — from 1920s New Orleans jazz to swing bands, rock ‘n’ roll, The Beatles, psychedelic and hard rock, and finally 1980s metal.

Kim will hold two “Kim Do-kyun Music & Talk Concerts” on Nov. 29 at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. at the DSM Art Hall in Seoul’s Mapo District. The concert will feature live performances and commentary on Western classics such as Eric Clapton’s “Wonderful Tonight” and Deep Purple’s “Soldier of Fortune.”

In an interview with Yonhap News on Monday ahead of the concert, Kim said, “Presenting rock music with explanations gives enthusiasts a chance to rediscover what they know, and helps newcomers understand it more easily. I want to tell the story of how rock evolved over the decades.”

Kim debuted in 1986 as the guitarist for Baekdusan, later joining singer Lim Jae-bum in the band Sarang while in the U.K. After returning to Korea, he performed with Asiana, then formed the Kim Do-kyun Group, blending rock guitar with traditional Korean instruments such as the gayageum.

True to his “star lecturer” nickname, Kim effortlessly laid out the lineage of rock music.

“Rock has always evolved with technology. Jazz began when military band instruments were used for weddings and funerals after the U.S. Civil War. In the mid-1930s, Benny Goodman led the swing band era, and by the 1950s, electric guitars gave birth to rock ‘n’ roll. The Beatles arrived in the 1960s, and with tube amps and transistor effects, psychedelic rock emerged. In the 1970s, hard rock became fully formed — and although there have been variations since, that’s when 20th-century rock took shape,” he said.

“The essence of rock is rhythm — that boom and clap! Whether it’s techno or dance music, it starts with a boom and ends with a clap. Even Korean pansori is similar,” he added with a laugh. “Trends come and go, but the essence never changes.”

This upcoming concert will be only the third solo performance under Kim’s own name since his debut — and the first in more than 20 years.

“It feels like I’m starting over,” he said. “I’m putting my heart into the music. The performance will be a trio — guitar, drums, and bass — and for sounds that can’t be produced by human hands, I’ll use digital sound.”

Now 61, Kim is marking nearly 40 years in rock but still practices daily. He constantly searches for weaknesses in his playing and drills until he overcomes them.

“Practice brings understanding,” he said. “Even after 40 years, I still experience new realizations — that’s why I keep practicing.”

“The six strings of my electric guitar are the lens through which I see the world,” he added. “Music has always been the light that guided me like a lighthouse, and that’s why I’ve never given up.”

The concert will also feature pieces that blend Korean traditional sounds with rock, such as “Kwaejina Chingching Nane” and “Arirang.” Kim will also perform familiar Korean hits like Kim Wan-sun’s “Dance in Rhythm” — a fitting choice, since it was written by rock pioneer Shin Jung-hyun.

Outside of music, Kim is a familiar face on variety shows such as SBS’s “Burning Youth” and MBC’s “I Live Alone.” Known as a “convenience store maniac” on TV, he revealed that he still has over 1.2 million reward points — meaning he’s spent over 100 million won at convenience stores. In contrast to his rough heavy metal image, he is also a devout Christian who conducts a church choir every week.

“Even Ozzy Osbourne did reality TV, and Japan’s X Japan appeared on variety shows,” he said with a grin. “Surprisingly, heavy metal and entertainment programs share common ground. You know what’s funny? The Beatles’ producer George Martin actually started out making comedy records. Ha-ha.”