acid reflects

Korean indie rock band The Rose reintroduces itself in a surprisingly emotional documentary that chronicles their remarkable resurgence from near-industry death. A triumphant story of self-determination through the healing magic of music. And it can be seen on Valentine’s – there’s a kpop date right there.

For those not in the know, The Rose is a South Korean soft-rock band originating from Hongdae that debuted back in 2017. The band is composed of four members Kim Woosung (AKA Sammy, vocals and guitar), Park Dojoon (AKA Leo, vocals, guitar, keyboard), Lee Hajoon (AKA Dylan, drums, sub-vocals) and Lee Taegyeom (AKA Jeff, bass, sub-vocals). The documentary chronicles their humble beginnings, their personal and legal struggles from trying to debut to keeping intact as a band, and eventually landing one of the biggest stages in the music industry. Sounds like a typical rock band documentary except the part that they are from South Korea, which makes the difference.

FULL STOP. First, if you had been wondering why should you care about a band that comes from Asia, most of their songs are completely in English. Very accessible to the rest of the world – which is good enough reason to try them out if you haven’t already.

Since the early 2000s – mainly through the rise of YouTube – netizens, music fans, curious cats were exposed to the vicious, often traumatic, industrial complex called the Kpop music industry. Black Roses – as what fans of The Rose are known – just like other fans of Kpop are aware of this situation. From twelve-hour bone-breaking daily trainings to draconian image and dating controls to what has been called as opressive slave contracts, the list of those who survived and not survive the industry are equally long. In this context, the members of the band The Rose recount their formation and struggles, beginning with Leo/Dojoon.

Leo was already a trainee in 2015 when he started busking in the busy streets of Hongdae when he met Jeff/Taegyeom. His agency would not approve of his busking, and because of his busy schedule, he would skip busking with Jeff even though they actually enjoyed busking together. (Side comment, Jeff has a Park Bo-gum vibe to him, no?) Jeff continued busking at Hongdae, and would later meet Dylan/Hajoon while practicing in a studio. Leo would quit his agency the same year, and reunite busking with Jeff (by then with Dylan) at Hongdae, forming the band Windfall. They knew all along that the group was still yet to be completed, so they actively searched for a fourth and final member.

Sammy./Woosung was from Los Angeles. His family moved to the US when he was still a child. Growing up, Sammy was into football so much that he had became a promising young football athlete. A shoulder accident would devastate this dream, and he would turn to music while he healed. Impressed by his newly found artistry, his family urged him to join the South Korean reality contest K-pop Star in 2011. He would not win the competition, but the Korean-American would leave a positive impression on the public. Years later, through a commion friend, Leo would recruit Sammy to the band. The Rose was born and busking in Hongdae by 2016.

The documentary would intercut these interview recollections from the band members with some achival footage studio practice sessions, and present-day interactions with friends and family. People were not chronically online back then, so we’re talking about just a few actual images of the band in the streets and in their dorm in Hongdae. Where there were none, the documentary would resort to fillers in the form of expressive hand drawn animations. I actually liked those. We would be introduced to their songs in these intercuts, almost always having significance to their journey as a band. Forming a band was one thing, debuting publicly as a band under contract with a music label with an album are multiple struggles on their own.

For example, Jeff would write their debut song Sorry in 2017. Himself a former trainee, Jeff dedicated the song to his parents (his own father a musician) who stood by him despite all of his perceived failures. It’s quite a moving song, Sammy’s intense vocals would pierce through the air as the song played in the background. Their agency would not approve of the song choice to debut, insisting on a faster, happier song and without Leo’s vocals. It would be a struggle for the band just to get past this. In August of 2017, the agency “accidentally” released the song’s music video without any promotion. Overnight, Sorry would become a hit – in Europe.

The hit would be followed by a rushed European tour, backed by a Billboard declaration that Sorry was one of the best Korean pop songs produced in 2017. The Rose was a mild hit, and they would be busy guesting in shows and performing in various stages in Korea, Japan, and Europe. During this time, the band would state difficulties with their agency.

By the time the pandemic halted shows in 2020, the band had filed a lawsuit to terminate their contract with their agency. Without any activities, Leo decided to use the time to enlist in mandatory military service, later followed by Dylan’s and Jeff’s military service. Sammy, who is American would continue making music temporarily solo.

With the lawsuit settled, the band would reunite after the discharge of Leo, Dylan and Jeff and establish their own agency, Windfall. They would meet members of LA-bases hiphop group Far East Movement, who was popular at the time. That meeting would lead The Rose to sign under FEM’s Transparent Arts as their new label. Since then, the band has had a resugence in popularity and with continued international tours and mini-albums, culminating in performances in a sold-out concert in Los Angeles’ Kia Forum, an appearance in Lollapalooza in Chicago and two weekends in Coachella in 2024.

The documentary also features the song Trauma, an original composition for the documentary’s release. It’s a moving ballad, powered by Sammy’s sentimental vocals. It’s a strong reinforcement of the band’s belief, as Sammy explains it, that throughout their rocky journey (pun intended), music has been their healing. (Side comment No.2: Sammy reminds me of GDragon, amirite?)

The Rose’s journey as a band doesn’t sound particularly unique. Almost every entertainer and wannabe entertainer in South Korea would have undergone the rigorous, tumultuous process that is the training industry. What is unique is that The Rose is able to translate their healing journey into songs that would resonate outside South Korea, as if they were on a global mission to heal the world through their song. I, for one, am interested in this healing thing. Given a bigger agency and wider promotions, of course the band would most likely have penetrated a bigger audience abroad. But having achieved what they have almost entirely on their own – writing, recording, producing, promoting – definitely is a remarkable feat by a group of young buskers from Hongdae that is worth listenting to.

After the credits, the audience is treated to extended clips from their sold-out LA Forum concert, a joyous reminder how accessible and enjoyable their music is. I wish them the best and I hope there will be more Black Roses in the future.

The Rose: Come Back To Me is exclusively in Ayala Malls Cinemas this Valentine’s Day February 14.

(Images courtesy of Ayala Malls Cinemas. Trailer link from YT)