JK Kim Jong-kuk

Jongkuk Kim is an award-winning Billboard nominated drummer, improviser, composer, and electronic musician from Incheon, Korea who has become an integral voice in the contemporary jazz and improvised music scene in his home city and a rising star in the worldwide jazz community. He is undoubtedly one of very few jazz drummers in recent years who has been recognized so highly on the international jazz scene. He has distinguished himself as one of the leading voices of his generation and is now one of the most sought-after jazz drummers in the world today with his name appearing in major publications such as Billboard, Grammy and Vogue magazines.

Jongkuk Kim brings his adventurous spirit, eclectic palette and gift for spontaneous invention to a staggering range of styles. Equally virtuosic playing acoustic jazz, boundary-stretching electronic music, or next-level rock, he has become a key collaborator with such original sonic thinkers as Aaron Parks, Meshell Ndegeocello, Dayna Stephens, Eric Nam, So!YoON! and megastar K-pop bands, BTS and RM of BTS.

Jongkuk’s unique approach to music, combining influences from different cultures, including Korean culture, together with a deep knowledge of a wide range of musical genres have led him to be an artist who “displays an incredible sense of creativity, time feel, and technical prowess. In fact he quickly became one of my favorite drummers. I learned from watching him as well!” - NEA Jazz Master and three-time GRAMMY® award-winning drummer, producer and educator, Terri Lyne Carrington.