[Interview] Baek Hee-seong, the Only LP Engineer in Korea and Technical Director at Majang Music & Pictures: "LPs Are the Joy of Discovering Your Taste"

From Popular Singers of the 2030 Generation to Legendary Masters' Albums
LPs More Popular Than Music Streaming Amid Newtro Craze
Factory Relocation in November to Expand Production

[Asia Economy Reporter Oh Su-yeon] Baek Yerin, Sunwoo Jung-a, Ilanji, Crush, and other popular singers among the 2030 generation have all had their LP (long-playing record) albums handled by this person. Legendary masters such as Shin Joong-hyun, Choi Baek-ho, and Lee Moon-se also had their LP albums produced by the same individual. He is Hee-sung Baek, the only LP engineer in Korea and the Technical Director of Majang Music & Pictures.

Although digital streaming services like YouTube Music have long been the mainstream for music, the number of people seeking analog records such as LPs has been increasing in recent years. Last year in the United States, LP sales surpassed CD sales for the first time since 1987. In Korea as well, collecting and listening to LPs has become a trend among the 2030 generation. Popular albums are traded for hundreds of thousands of won.

Baek Hee-seong, Technical Director of Majang Music & Pictures, is manufacturing LPs.
[Photo by Majang Music & Pictures]

Baek, who was an aviation maintenance engineer and a music enthusiast, entered the music industry through a recording engineer job introduced by an acquaintance. While working in music, he fell in love with the charm of analog music and LPs. He traveled across the country meeting LP technicians and studied the entire production process. In 2010, he acquired a cutting machine and Universal Studios equipment, and opened a factory in 2017.

At one point, the LP industry in Korea was on the verge of disappearing, but with the 'Newtro (New+Retro)' craze among the 2030 generation, LP popularity is rising again. For about 10,000 won a month, one can subscribe to music streaming services and listen to music anytime, anywhere with just a tap on a smartphone. However, among young people, those who purchase limited edition LP albums and listen to them on turntables, despite the inconvenience, are considered 'hipsters' (people who follow the latest trends).

Baek finds the appeal of LPs that captivate the younger generation in discovering personal taste. He said, "With LPs, you can change the needle or replace the amplifier, adding variety, so even when listening to the same music, you enjoy finding your own taste." He added, "Although using a turntable is inconvenient, it allows for more focused time on the music."

Baek Hee-seong, Technical Director of Majang Music & Pictures, is manufacturing LPs.
[Photo by Majang Music & Pictures]

As LP popularity grows, visits to Majang Music & Pictures have also increased. Recently, they produced limited editions such as Choi Baek-ho’s 'Moment' and Boohwal’s 5th album 'Discovery of Fire.' They also produced guitarist Shin Joong-hyun’s albums, and orders for singer Lee Moon-se’s albums continue to come in. LP albums of singers favored by the 2030 generation, like Baek Yerin and Crush, were also made here. They have collaborated not only with musicians but also with game company Lineage W and the Muse Sejong of Sejong City Cultural Foundation.

There is also overseas interest. Baek said, "I appeared in a YouTube video, and after that, several inquiries came from abroad," adding, "We even produced albums through major distributors."

Regarding the LPs produced by Majang Music & Pictures, Baek explained, "Although the unit price is high, the quality is comparable to overseas products. Being in Korea allows for smooth communication, and once the test pressings come out, we can deliver them within a day. Since each record is inspected and packaged by hand, the quality is excellent."

Majang Music & Pictures accounts for about 10% of the LP records distributed domestically. Currently, they produce about 20,000 units per month. Orders are pouring in, but production capacity is limited with the current equipment.

Baek said, "In fact, it is not easy to handle the domestic volume," and added, "Last November, we moved the factory from Seongsu to Hanam to expand production facilities and are working on quality improvement." He also stated, "Our hope is that domestic LPs, which are currently produced overseas, will be produced, distributed, and consumed domestically with better quality and reasonable costs."