GemsOnVHS explores Korean folk music.
Well folks, finally the thing no one could have predicted (or asked for), GemsOnVHS (me) travels to Korea to record folk music. You’re probably wondering how this came about. Seth Mountain is a musician from Oregon who happens to have lived a big portion of his life in Korea. There he met his wife, Nan Young, another amazing artist. Together they’ve built a life in the hustle and bustle of Seoul. He also happens to be a Gems fan, and reached out to me about recording the folk music scene there. Little did he know, I’m crazy enough to respond.
So I flew to Korea. Seth was my shepherd and guide, limitless in his enthusiasm for the arts. For two weeks, he introduced me to a staggering amount of artists. We took trains and walked miles upon miles all over the megacity of Seoul. He also lives as a neo-luddite with no phone, a conscious decision to opt out of the corporate, capitalist excesses. It added to the natural confusion of navigating one of the largest cities on Earth in a foreign language. Yet now, having spent the time with him, I realize Seth doesn’t take half measures, or make excuses. What he set up for us, I could not have found anyone better. Every part of my body ached by the end of it, and I wouldn’t trade it for the world. I drank overflowing soju in Korean dive bars from Seoul to Busan. I visited mountaintop temples, listened to traditional Korean pansori and contemporary songwriters. All in all, I’d say I had a unique and authentic experience like few others.
Korea can be rather homogeneous. It’s a novel experience to, for once in my life, be the only white face in the crowd. Most pay me little attention, everyone is keen to mind their own business. Sometimes, old men will practice their English on me in an excited fashion. They are usually ex military, as all Korean men are with the draft, and some very into US soldiers and nationalism. I can’t reciprocate their feelings but I nod along anyway. The news at the time was hot with reporting on an island claimed by Korea but also Japan. The Blues prove to be somewhat popular here; I imagine the Korean people resonate with the themes of war and hardship, protest and struggle. They’ve been through it themselves.
There was a variety of music to discover, though. I found a lot of musicians played in the massive KPop industry in the studios by day, and played their passion by night, whatever genre that might be. The worldwide explosion in Korean pop music afforded them the ability to play music for a living. Not unlike the Country music industry in Nashville, in that regard. Touring in Korea is mostly a nonexistent concept; if you play shows, you probably play them in Seoul, the largest city.
The artists in this video and links to their music, in order of appearance;
1. 300/30 by Kim Dae Jung (김대중)
aka “Seedless Watermelon” (씨없는수박)
Although he has only released one album, he is a legend in Korea’s folk rock and blues scenes.
https://www.instagram.com/blues_president/
2. The Operation Seth Martin
aka Seth Mountain (이산)
Seth Patrick Martin (aka Seth Mountain or 이산), is a roots musician originally from the Pacific Northwest (US).
https://sethmartinandthemenders.bandcamp.com/
Continuing in the radical tradition of artists like Pete Seeger, Woody Guthrie, and Utah Phillips, Martin has been living and working with his partner Lee Nan Young in Seoul since 2015. He regularly performs with Korean and foreign acts, on traditional stages, in bars and schools, and on streets or at marches and gatherings.
3. 호흡 – Breathe by Ye Ram (예람)
Popular folk rock artist and singer-songwriter, especially appreciated for how she creates beautiful songs that connect with and support environmental, peace and justice movements.
https://linktr.ee/yeram_
4. 머무르는 별빛 – still starlight by Kim Ildu (김일두)
Legendary Korean lofi indie singer-songwriter
https://www.instagram.com/kimildu/
https://m.youtube.com/channel/UCq0n8DSTqk_BAoF923nWtQw
5. 달 – Moon by Huiu (희우)
Traditional Korean pansori artist, also rock singer-songwriter.
https://www.youtube.com/@pansorisinger
https://www.instagram.com/huiu0216/
Ned Darlington on guitar https://www.instagram.com/neddarlingtonmusic/?hl=en
Special thank you to Nan Young and Seth Mountain for putting me up at their place, putting up with me, and being endlessly patient with me while we thought (way too much) about how to release this. You are saints, artists and true friends/good people.
0:00 intro
1:55 seedless watermelon kim
7:00 seth mountain
15:00 Yeram
18:29 Kim Il Du
25:05 Huiu
If you think this is interesting and want to see me do more projects like this, please consider supporting us on Patreon. I did all of this out of pocket, and there is no hope in recovering the costs via YouTube revenue, because it doesn’t exist.
https://www.patreon.com/gemsonvhs
Want me to come film in your country? Want to hire me to do something? Reach out anytime.
We’re on instagram (@gemsonvhs or @anthonysimpkins)
www.gemsonvhs.com
@GemsOnVHS
May 25, 2026 at 1:54 am
EDIT: I forgot to mention, we had all of these songs TRANSLATED PROFESSIONALLY. you can hit the captions button.
i'd like to dedicate this one to my dad. he was a semi truck driver who never left the country, but gave me my love of music. he died this year. yeah i know this shii is weird af for some of y'all. thanks for riding with me on this one, i hope some of y'all get at least some joy from experiencing another culture. huge shoutout to Seth Mountain and his wife Nan Young, both incredible artists, for making this journey possible. we connected just through this youtube channel, the community is global baby. check out his music https://sethmartinandthemenders.bandcamp.com/ and give us love on Patreon to make this stuff possible.
@sethmountain
May 25, 2026 at 1:54 am
Heya folks! Here is a longform essay I wrote a while back as a sort of celebration of this project and a philosophical introduction to "Korean folk" and why I love it, mostly for readers not familiar with Korean daily life or non-mainstream music today. It was collecting dust. But now I can happily share it!
OVER THE MOUNTAINS, MORE MOUNTAINS
By Seth Mountain
docs.google.com/document/u/0/d/1Fr7nPMJYbL28yExX0H530iZHiY9e_6sQWdMKPcESlzQ/mobilebasic
Some of you may find it of interest. If not, just enjoy the tunes, and here's to more Korean Gems!
@j0zb0
May 25, 2026 at 1:54 am
great video. Im in Busan for few weeks. Any good venues to check out to maby get to see any of these artists?
@bgabriel6532
May 25, 2026 at 1:54 am
Great video Anthony! Love how far music has taken you. Been a subscriber to the youtube channel for years now. Consistently the best source for new artists I've found. Thanks for doing what you do my man!
@triptipperr
May 25, 2026 at 1:54 am
watching this for like the 6th time lmao. Absolutely love the timing of the child screaming in the background when Kim Il Du sings "..on an early sunday morning. Why am I so alone?" 🥲
@BruhTape
May 25, 2026 at 1:54 am
Love this! All the amazing but overlooked artists, the history, the roots!!!! And my friend Seth 😁 great great great doc!!! Subscribed!
@Volaths
May 25, 2026 at 1:54 am
This is a love letter to music and culture. Absolutely beautiful video and beautiful music. I hope you do more like this
@chrisgouveia6256
May 25, 2026 at 1:54 am
Beautiful work that you are doing. Thank you for introducing me to this amazing culture. I had no idea how wonderful Korean folk music could be. 🙏 thank you
@PINKHORN
May 25, 2026 at 1:54 am
최근본 영상중 가장 보석같은 영상입니다.
@MicahThunder
May 25, 2026 at 1:54 am
I’m a Korean American singer-songwriter who performs as the Korean Kowboy. This is the first time I’m hearing this music, thank you for sharing.
@physical_mechanic
May 25, 2026 at 1:54 am
소리가 좋네요.😊
@mike2190
May 25, 2026 at 1:54 am
Great music. The captions are nice for the language barrier. Nice work
@jonathanfreeman-mariani472
May 25, 2026 at 1:54 am
I really wanted to watch this video but within 20 seconds I cannot get past the…whatever the hosts vibe is 👎 I’ll look for the artists on other videos and media, so I guess it served its purpose, but…-10 on this guy’s whole thing
@박지성-r5y
May 25, 2026 at 1:54 am
이 노래가 취지가 비슷할지 모르겠지만 시인과 촌장의 "매"라는 노래입니다.
별로 유명하지 않은 노래지만, 하늘을 날으는 매의 감정등을 느낄 수 있는 정말 수작입니다.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jiou8y0T1og&list=RDJiou8y0T1og&start_radio=1
@Great_White_Tiger
May 25, 2026 at 1:54 am
This is great, a view into a world I would otherwise not no of.
@marshallmarvin1369
May 25, 2026 at 1:54 am
Awesome
@t_empest_
May 25, 2026 at 1:54 am
this is really exceptional, thank you for the work you do!
@EdOnArrival
May 25, 2026 at 1:54 am
Ye Ram is one of the best singers I’ve heard in a long time. Super impressive to be able to sing and play like that!
@KeepinItChill
May 25, 2026 at 1:54 am
What a soft beautiful voice Yeram has
@AquariusCrystalwave
May 25, 2026 at 1:54 am
woah, thank you for covering this 🩵💛🧡 I've always loved the older korean folk artists like Jung Tae Chun and have been hoping for it to come back in the world of over produced KPOP
@wavever
May 25, 2026 at 1:54 am
I discovered Ye Ram's music around 2 years ago through Spotify recommendations and was mesmerized by it! I'm so happy to see her get noticed and recognized by others. Ye Ram, if you ever happen to see this comment, thank you so much for your art! You are amazing!
@colindoyle9594
May 25, 2026 at 1:54 am
Paused everything I was doing to take this in, in all it's fullness. Incredible and unexpected.
@Skandinavisk
May 25, 2026 at 1:54 am
Now this is pretty damn sweet. All those years ago when I started watching this channel I never thought I'd see this. And I love it.
@dennisfarris4729
May 25, 2026 at 1:54 am
Real people real deal.
@dllngr_
May 25, 2026 at 1:54 am
man that song by Huiu is haunting in the best way. just beautiful. should be in movies as the lead character bleeds out haha.
@ashclark2103
May 25, 2026 at 1:54 am
Yes! Love to these artists, this production, and especially to my friend Seth Martin! Inspiring! Very much enjoyed watching this! <3
@FunCoolGuy
May 25, 2026 at 1:54 am
I would love to hear some North Korean folk music. I'm sure they have some very interesting songs about beating back the Imperialists.
@utwo110
May 25, 2026 at 1:54 am
Kim Il Du is my favorite musician of all time. My favorite song of his is “Poor People.”
Once, I ordered his CDs through Bandcamp, and they were shipped directly by him – his own handwriting on the package, the sender listed as “Kim Il Du.”
Those CDs are still among my most treasured possessions.
@Ives1776
May 25, 2026 at 1:54 am
I’ve always been curious about something like this.
@Samuel-sg2iv
May 25, 2026 at 1:54 am
long live folk music.
@BanjoAustin89
May 25, 2026 at 1:54 am
OUTSTANDING
@mildew1634
May 25, 2026 at 1:54 am
2:30 is Allisons restaurant in Korean thats wild
@josephmartin2871
May 25, 2026 at 1:54 am
Really great qaulity and really authentic in an age of AI slop .
Really loved how you showed l Seth's life and background as well as the other artists
@yeram_1104
May 25, 2026 at 1:54 am
Hi, this is Ye Ram here from the video🪽
It meant a lot to share this journey with you.
And thank you to Anthony and Martin for inviting me to be part of the video.
Let’s keep breathing through life together.
@joshokeefeofficial
May 25, 2026 at 1:54 am
you are so cool
Comments are closed.