Sailor Honeymoon: Seoul's Punk Answer to Perfect K-pop
Korea isn't just K-pop. Sailor Honeymoon are the proof: a Seoul-based punk trio who have become one of the most distinctive bands to emerge from Korea's independent music scene in recent years. At Pohoda 2027, they'll bring the raw energy, humour and freedom that the world of perfectly polished pop culture so often lacks.
03. November 2026
Sailor Honeymoon are photographer and drummer Abi Raymaker, former DJ and guitarist Zaeeun Shin, and bassist Yelim Kim. The band began through spontaneous all-woman jam sessions in Seoul, where the members wrote songs, swapped instruments and experimented without expectations. What started as a loose creative experiment gradually became a band that has caught attention not only at home but also on international stages.
In 2025, they played Primavera Sound and Best Kept Secret and were named one of NME's 100 Artists to Watch. This year, NME also put them on its cover to mark the release of their debut full-length, The Worst Of Sailor Honeymoon, which came out in August 2026. The thirteen-track album was produced by Luke Smith (Foals, Depeche Mode), mixed by Claudius Mittendorfer (Parquet Courts) and mastered by Katie Tavini.
On the album, Sailor Honeymoon create their own "alternate world", where difficult situations can be met with humour and people are free to say exactly what they think. Extinction reflects on the pressures of modern Korean society, while My Band is an ode to Seoul's underground music scene and DIY communities around the world. In their songs, distinctly local experiences become starting points for stories that resonate with listeners far beyond Korea.
Rather than trying to be perfect, Sailor Honeymoon are interested in making something honest and fun, music that comes from freedom and joy rather than rules. Their shows win audiences over with their energy and unpredictability, and at Pohoda they'll show that contemporary Korean music has many more faces than the one made famous by K-pop.