Introducing The Reseters, Eastern Standards, and Seoul’s premier self-described ‘boss’ reggae act looking to capture the essence of the genre’s golden ‘68 era. 

Developed on the shores of Jamaica, reggae was at the heart of the 1960s cultural movement. The genre saw artists speak out about social issues and promote Jamaican culture to the broader world. Thirty years later, South Korea would similarly replicate the success of reggae. Spearheaded by K-pop, the country’s pop culture revolution has helped South Korea become one of the world’s most developed nations, with K-pop reaching billions globally.

In the shadows, South Korea’s independent scene is viewed differently, consisting of various genres, such as rock, punk and electronica. Each genre is often featured in Seoul’s nightclub scene, with each act looking to replicate the success and reach of K-pop.  

The Reseters are the latest talent looking to lead the scene, inspired by the Ska acts, boss reggae and the genre’s iconic era of ’68. The self-described Seoul boss reggae band discusses their journey as one of Korea’s leading reggae acts, trying to stand out in the vibrant Seoul independent scene. Starting their career in 2018, the band, led by vocalist Kim Jang Hyub, takes inspiration from the genre’s early beginnings, which saw the genre experiment with the ska sound, adapting it to the faster reggae style known today.  

The band’s influences come from some of the era’s most renowned artists, such as Bob Marley, The Specials, Symarip and Harry J Allstars. Lead man Kim Jang Hyub says, “The older reggae hit me, so I like older reggae songs.” Other inspirations come from the band’s real-life experiences and encounters. 

Building a reputation as one of the independent scene’s must-see music acts. Like many South Korean independent acts, the boss reggae band works full-time jobs. They’re often the only reggae act on stage when performing at nights and weekends. “In Korea, actually, the scene is very, very small. There are maybe nine or 10 Korean reggae bands. So, we must play with other bands who don’t play reggae music; it really is a nice small scene.” 

The Reseters are signed under Korea’s sole reggae label, Eastern Standards Sounds. The band have found guidance under Kim Jeong Guen, label founder and trumpeter of the legendary Korean ska band Kingston Rudieska. “He knows everything about ska and reggae musicians outside of South Korea. And he is the one and only label owner who deals with Ska and reggae music,” says the bands bassist Akhee Ahn. 

One of few non-K-pop artists to officially sign for a label, producing music still poses a challenge for The Reseters. Producing their debut EP, Give Me a Blue Beat, which saw the single Boots Stomping earn number eight on Platform magazine’s top 100 best songs of 2023, the band faced major difficulties in producing the album. Spreading the sound of ’68, the band also faced problems distributing the album, hosting a cassette event last year, with production capped at 100. The band hopes to expand its manufacturing and export cassettes internationally, especially to the UK. 

Going forward, the band dreams of promoting the reggae scene nationally, following in the footsteps of many of South Korea’s great independent music acts. They expressed interest in one day performing at one of the country’s biggest music festivals, the Incheon Port Rock Festival. Jang Hyub also hopes to connect all forms of reggae music and “create a united traditional skinhead, Motown, Punk [tour], because my roots come from the UK reggae sound, and so my dream is to be united and perform our sound worldwide.”  

As Korea’s independent scene continues to grow and Korean music thrives as the heart of the Korean economy, the sky’s the limit for Korea’s boss reggae band. Gaining more recognition and seemingly getting more popular each year with more venues and dates, it will only be a matter of time before The Reseters are touring in a town or city near you. 

What is your favourite The Reseters song? What are your thoughts on the future of the Korean ska and reggae scene? Let us know on Social Media through X/Instagram or in the comments below.

This interview was done in collaboration with Global Eye Magazine which can be accessed for free here.