Leaving his K-pop days behind him, 30-year music producer and composer Kim Chang-hwan is setting his sights on K-EDM, the future of Korean music.

Kim, a long-time figure in the Korean music industry who is currently the CEO of Media Line production company, say he hopes local EDM music will become the next hallyu movement and take the world by storm. 

“EDM is no longer a minor genre and it has risen to a level that is beyond music that is only being played in clubs,” said Kim during a press conference at the Rolling Hall club in Hongdae on Tuesday. “I used to be a DJ a long time ago and having found my way back to this electronic genre, I spent a year studying the latest in music trends and learning about the new dance scene. After going overseas I realized that the new trend in music is not K-pop idol music, but EDM.

“In Korea in particular, so much of the music market is overwhelmed by K-pop music, making it difficult for nonmainstream music companies to compete,” he added. “I think Korea is in need of a new (music) brand to represent itself. ... Korea has so many great DJs and I think we need to open up the market for them a little more.”

With the help of Kim’s musical expertise, FS E&M Inc. CEO Jung Han-jong, former member of iconic rock bands Sinawe and Butterfly Effect, is launching the inaugural “Mud Crazy: K-EDM Summer Beach Festival” to further expand the country’s identity as an important hub of electronic music.

Twenty DJs from around the world and from Korea will gather for what will surely be an unforgettable two-day EDM beachside mud fest at Boryeong’s Daecheon Beach on Aug. 1 and 2 from 7 p.m. to 4 a.m.

“With the popularity of K-pop making an impact overseas, we are hoping that the next hallyu push will be K-EDM,” said Jung. 

In its 17th year, the annual Boryeong Mud Festival has been a popular event in Boryeong, South Chungcheong Province, attracting flocks of outgoing party adventurers every year. Over the years the event has become especially popular among non-Koreans. Taking advantage of the well-known beachside location, Jung is hoping the “Mud Crazy” music fest will become Korea’s next successful festival. The late-night techno dance party will feature both international and local artists without putting a dent in one’s wallet.

“In Korea there are a lot of EDM festivals, but most of them are already international brand festivals that are being brought here ... and because of the high royalty costs, tickets to these events are very expensive.”

At a modest 30,000 won for a one-day pass and 50,000 won for a two-day pass, the upcoming music festival is a penny-pincher’s dream when compared with the sky-high prices of other dance festivals.

The upcoming festival will be headlined by popular local artist Koo Jun-yup, best known as DJ Koo, as well as Italian DJ David Jones and DJ Nakatsuka from Japan.

For more detailed information on tickets and availability, visit www.interpark.com.

By Julie Jackson (juliejackson@heraldcorp.com)