Korea Independent: Leenalchi: The Birth of Tradi-Pop

Korea Independent: Leenalchi: The Birth of Tradi-Pop [OmeU] South Korea, 2026, directed by Byunghoon Lee with JANG Younggyu, AHN Yiho, JEON Hyojung, 105 min

Leenalchi is a band that combines Korean traditional music with modern bass and drums. Leenalchi achieved an international breakthrough with the song Tiger Is Coming. The song became known worldwide through a promotional video from the Korea Tourism Organization and attracted great attention. But the success was followed by difficult times: Several members left the band, and internal conflicts called their future into question. Band founder Jang Young-gyu, himself not a traditionally trained musician, is then looking for new paths. With a newly formed line-up, Leenalchi is finally on the verge of entering the US market and facing the challenge of reasserting itself on the international stage.