On July 23, KT&G SangSang Madang announced that the company successfully hosted the final round of the 2025 Band Discovery competition—a contest held to discover and support indie musicians—at KT&G SangSang Madang Hongdae.

First launched in 2007 and celebrating its 17th anniversary, Band Discovery is a long-standing cultural contribution program by SangSang Madang. The program has played a leading role in fostering Korea’s indie music scene, discovering and supporting a total of 57 teams to date with tangible benefits including prize money, album production support, and performance opportunities.

This year’s edition saw a strong turnout, with 343 bands applying since the open call in March. Following preliminary rounds, six finalists were selected: Tokai, Sim Island, The Shepherd Bois, Samsan, Gongwon, and Kim Neuk. The final round featured live performances by these top six teams, as well as a celebratory performance by Far East Asia Tigers, a 2022 TOP 6 finalist. After evaluation by a panel of professional judges, Tokai and Sim Island were named the final winners on July 18.

Each winning team will receive a prize of KRW 5 million along with KRW 3 million in album production support. They will also be given the opportunity to perform in a special collaborative stage with prominent musicians and participate in the SangSang Festival curated by KT&G SangSang Madang.

 “Band Discovery has become a vital platform for emerging musicians to showcase their work and take meaningful steps forward in their careers. KT&G SangSang Madang remains committed to discovering and supporting the next generation of artists through a wide range of programs, including performances and exhibitions, while continuing to expand access to the cultural and arts landscape,” said Kim Cheon-beom, the KT&G Performance Manager.

KT&G SangSang Madang serves as a multifaceted cultural and artistic space, supporting the creative activities of emerging artists while offering diverse cultural experiences to the public. Since opening its first venue in Hongdae in 2007, the platform has expanded to five locations, including Nonsan, Chuncheon, Daechi, and Busan, contributing to the development of local arts and culture as well as the broadening of artistic and cultural engagement. KT&G SangSang Madang attracts around 3.1 million visitors annually and hosts over 3,000 artistic and cultural programs every year.

(Photo) KT&G SangSang Madang successfully hosted the final round of the 2025 Band Discovery competition—a contest held to discover and support indie musicians—at KT&G SangSang Madang Hongdae. Participants are posing to take a photograph for the 2025 Band Discovery’s final round.