'When Synths Ruled the World, Jo Deok-bae Held On to His Guitar'
Jo Deok-bae is an iconic artist in Korean folk and ballad music of the 1980s and 90s.
Drawing on the musical heritage of folk music, he stayed committed to an acoustic guitar-centered, understated sound — prioritizing the intrinsic power of melody and lyrics even as synthesizers and electronic music dominated the era.
As a singer-songwriter who wrote his own lyrics and compositions, he pursued both literary sensibility and musical integrity. His signature song Kkuneh (꿈에, "In a Dream") is regarded as a classic of Korean acoustic ballad, celebrated for its restrained guitar accompaniment and lyrical melody.
His music has been covered by a wide range of artists across genres — including IU, Sung Si-kyung, Jo Sung-mo, and Lee Soo-young — and remains a beloved repertoire piece that guitar learners in Korea continue to play to this day.
