Bridging Cultures Through Metal With PK From PROMPTS

Interview by Angela Croudace
HEAVY sat down with PK, the passionate frontman of Japanese heavy
metal band Prompts. His journey from Korea to Japan, fueled by a
love for metal, has become an inspiring tale of perseverance and
friendship.
PK shared his experiences growing up in Korea, where the
overwhelming popularity of K-Pop shaped the music landscape. “Most
kids were into K-Pop, but my small group of friends were
metalheads. We would gather and play Metallica’s Master of Puppets
over and over,” he recalled with a smile. This early passion for
heavy metal, however, came with its challenges. “There’s very
little money and promotion for artists in Korea outside of the pop
genre,” he lamented. Many high school bands followed the K-Pop
trend, but PK and his friends remained committed to their metal
roots.
Determined to break into the metal scene, PK made the pivotal
decision to move to Japan. He spoke about the stark contrast
between the Korean live music scene and Japan’s vibrant touring and
promotional ecosystem. “In Korea, it’s tough to get noticed unless
you’re in the pop realm. In Japan, the opportunities are endless,”
he explained. His aspirations extended beyond Japan; he even
considered moving to Australia to kickstart his career, admiring
the local metal scene and citing bands like Parkway Drive, Make
Them Suffer, and Void of Vision as major influences.
PK’s journey took a significant turn when he connected with Kaito
Nagai of Paledusk, who noticed his vocal cover of their song on X
(formerly Twitter). “Kaito always inspired me and really helped me
on my journey,” PK said. “He showed me how to navigate the Japanese
metal scene and invited me to tour with them and Cold Rain. Thanks
to my friends, everything with Grayscale Records went so smoothly.”
Joining Grayscale Records marked a major milestone for Prompts,
solidifying their place in the industry.
Despite his metal roots, PK confessed to a surprising guilty
pleasure: K-Pop. “I hated it when K-Pop took over the Korean music
scene, but after listening to BTS and Blackpink, I realized maybe I
was wrong. How can we not respect them? They do so much training
before they even debut; it’s the same passion for music,” he
admitted, reflecting on the dedication shared across genres.
With half of Prompts being Korean and currently living in Japan, PK
expressed a strong desire to make an impact back home. “I’m proud
I’m Korean because there are not many Koreans in the metal scene.
There’s no hardcore heroes right now, so maybe I can’t be the first
one, but I want to bring Prompts to Korea one day and do something
for the Korean metal scene.”
As we wrapped up the interview and talk turned to Prompt's current
Australian tour with Diamond Construct, PK’s excitement was
palpable. “We’re really happy to join another Australian tour after
our fantastic trip in January. I can feel your guys’ energy. I
dreamed about that type of energy for years,” he said.
With Prompts, he’s not just chasing dreams; he’s forging a path for
others in the metal scene, creating a bridge between cultures and
inspiring the next generation of musicians.



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