Lee Seok-won Returns After Nine Years with 'Someday, the Barbershop,' a 30-Year Chronicle of Music

His first musical reflections since Sister's Barbershop disbanded: three decades of music in print

Lee Seok-won, an iconic figure in Korean indie music, has published a new book, 'Someday, the Barbershop,' chronicling the 30-year musical journey of his band, Sister's Barbershop. Published by Flow Publishing, the essay collection explores how the vivid lyrics that comforted a generation came to be, offering an in-depth look at the creative struggles and life experiences behind them.

Lee has demonstrated his literary talent in bestsellers including 'Words That Are Always Good to Hear' and 'The Ordinary Existence,' but this is his first book to put his band and music front and center. Published to mark the 30th anniversary of his debut, the book shares with readers the secrets of his writing, which has sharply captured universal emotions without grandiose language.

The book includes vivid stories behind some of his best-known songs, including 'The Shooting Star I Met Yesterday,' 'A Chase at the End of a Walk,' and 'Tokyo,' as well as fan favorites 'Beautiful Things,' 'The Most Ordinary Existence,' and 'Life Is Forbidden.' Going beyond a straightforward explanation of the lyrics, it layers the intense emotions he experienced while completing them with fragments of everyday life.

“This book started out as a piece about lyrics, but as I kept writing, it ended up taking on many layers, like a crepe or puff pastry,” the author recalled. He added, “It’s a kind of story about life disguised as a lyric book, with love, friendship, work and music all contained in this little book.”

Sister's Barbershop debuted in 1996 with its first full-length album, 'Pigeons Are Rats of the Sky,' and left a deep mark on Korea’s modern rock scene with its distinctive lyricism and dreamlike melodies. The band later announced its official breakup after releasing its final album, 'People Who Are Alone,' in 2017, stepping away from the public eye.

The new book has drawn particular attention because it coincides with Lee’s return to the stage as an artist, nine years after the band disbanded. He recently took the stage at the Grand Mint Festival (GMF), held at Seoul Olympic Park, officially resuming his career as a singer. He held his ground onstage despite the harsh conditions caused by inclement weather, demonstrating that his musical passion remains undiminished. At 456 pages, 'Someday, the Barbershop' is a landmark record marking his new beginning after breaking a long silence.