Rumkicks () is a

punk rock Punk rock (also known as simply punk) is a rock music genre that emerged in the mid-1970s. Rooted in 1950s rock and roll and 1960s garage rock, punk bands rejected the corporate nature of mainstream 1970s rock music. They typically produced sh ...

band from

Seoul, South Korea Seoul, officially Seoul Special Metropolitan City, is the capital city, capital and largest city of South Korea. The broader Seoul Metropolitan Area, encompassing Seoul, Gyeonggi Province and Incheon, emerged as the world's List of cities b ...

, formed in 2018 by Jung Yeawon and bassist Choi Seun. The name Rumkicks was chosen to be something neutral that doesn't hint at the members' gender. Yeawon said it doesn't have any deeper meaning, and she doesn't particularly like rum. She added that she took some inspiration from Australian band

The Rumjacks The Rumjacks are a celtic punk band originally formed in Sydney, Australia in 2008. Known for their loud and energetic live shows, the band has released five studio albums, two live albums, and a series of EPs and singles. In 2016, the Rumjac ...

. Known for their spiky look and genuine, fed-up lyrics that address social issues and mental health, Rumkicks have turned heads all around the world. They have toured extensively, including the UK, the US, Europe, China, and Japan. They've been included on the lineup at

Rebellion Festival The Rebellion Festival, formerly Holidays in the Sun and the Wasted Festival is a British punk rock festival first held in 1996. The festival has attracted mainstream press coverage from such sources as The Independent, The Daily Telegraph and ...

2022, 2023 and 2024. At their debut appearance in 2022, they wore

hanbok The hanbok () is the traditional clothing of the Koreans, Korean people. The term ''hanbok'' is primarily used by South Koreans; North Koreans refer to the clothes as (). The clothes are also worn in the Korean diaspora. Koryo-saram—ethnic Ko ...

History

Yeawon started listening to punk music in elementary school. To hide her punk lifestyle, she wears a black wig at work. During a January 2023 Indonesia tour, Yeawon was hit in the head with a water bottle thrown from the crowd, between songs while she was talking about struggling for acceptance in the punk scene. The perpetrator was identified and kicked out of his band. On April 2, 2025, the band signed to SBÄM Records.

Music

Rumkicks' sound is alternatingly described as pogo punk and

pop-punk Pop-punk (also punk-pop, alternatively spelled without the hyphen) is a rock music fusion genre that combines elements of punk rock with power pop or pop music, pop. It is defined by its fast-paced, energetic tempos, and emphasis on classic pop s ...

. They have often described their sound as "post-Chosun punk," named after the "Chosun punk" sound of pioneering Korean punk label Drug Records in the 1990s. Some of their negative experiences and mistreatment as women in the punk scene have inspired their songs. When someone touched Yeawon's hair spikes without permission, it triggered a conflict that inspired the song "Don't Touch My Head." When a Facebook group named "Punk is Everywhere" shared their photos without permission, they received many negative comments. In response, they released the song "Punk is Nowhere." They are strong proponents of mental health, having released the song "Proud of madness" featuring members of fellow Korean punk band 18Fevers. Recently, Rumkicks was featured on a song intended as an anthem for women by Canadian punk band Bad Skin.

References

{{reflist, 2

External links

Rumkicks on Facebook

Rumkicks on Instagram

Rumkicks on Bandcamp

Rumkicks on YouTube
South Korean punk rock groups South Korean indie rock groups South Korean rock music groups All-female punk bands Musical groups established in 2018