Haebangchon rocks out with community festival

Organizer Lance Reegan-Diehl, left, and one of the audiences John Valentine. Bottom: Expats take a break at the festival. By Sohn Jeong-hwa

The biggest and arguably the first community-wide festival in Korea organized by and for expats, the Haebangchon Music Festival, drew a crowd of hundreds last Saturday.

The small residential area, located next to the U.S. military compound in Yongsan, central Seoul, turned into somewhat of a Hongdae, the Seoul neighborhood known for its live music and club scene, as 26 bands and solo performers took to the stage in three local bars during the half-day long festival.

Like previous festivals, the event at the VFW, Ssen Bar and Phillies featured musical acts, ranging from folk and rock to jazz and blues. Poetry readings were also featured.The performing musicians-some professional - included L.R.D. Band, the Bellows, 40 Days, Mississippi Dave, the Kimchi Cowboys and Darren Mullins. Organized by Lance Reegan-Diehl and some other expatriate Haebangchon residents, the festival had been held four times a year since early 2006 until the Halloween party in October 2007, but the organizers have changed it into a biannual festival beginning this year. The other 2008 event will be held in October as a Halloween celebration, Reegan-Diehl said.

The mood was festive on the whole, except for the police being called to the scene quite a few times by local residents complaining about the noise.

Reegan-Diehl said some noise was inevitable. “It’s a festival. People walk from place to place and hang out,” he said, seeking the understanding of Korean neighbors.

Mississippi Dave performs at the festival. By Koo Jae-Kwon.

But he said more efforts could have been made to prevent unpleasant confrontations between partygoers and residents. He said in the days leading up to the event the organizers tried to caution people to enjoy the festival only within the bars, but that their efforts had little effect. He promised less discomfort to the neighbors during the next events.

“I think we can do lots of things that could reduce such trouble,” he said.

By Moon Gwang-lip Staff Reporter [joe@joongang.co.kr]