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KT&G SangSang Madang announced on July 28 that it successfully held the final round of “2026 Band Discovery,” a program designed to discover and support promising indie musicians, at KT&G SangSang Madang Hongdae. Band Discovery is a flagship cultural contribution program that KT&G SangSang Madang has operated since 2007, marking its 18th edition this year. A total of 65 bands have been selected through last year, receiving practical benefits including prize money, album production, and performance opportunities. This year, applications opened in March, with a total of 331 bands signing up to participate. The final round featured live performances by the six teams selected as the TOP 6 through preliminary screening: Peach Truck Hijackers, Oysters, DADADA, 24th, POSER, and sonlmor, along with a celebratory performance by Simile Land, the winner of 2025 Band Discovery. Following evaluations by a panel of professional judges, Peach Truck Hijackers and Oysters were selected as the two winners. Each winning team will receive KRW 5 million in prize money, along with benefits worth a total of KRW 20 million, including production of an EP and KRW 3 million toward music video production costs. The winners will also have the opportunity to perform at the 2027 SangSang Festival and hold a solo concert at KT&G SangSang Madang Hongdae. Kim Cheon-beom, Performance Manager at KT&G’s Cultural Contribution Department, stated, “Band Discovery has served as a gateway to raise public awareness of emerging musicians who lacked opportunities to perform despite their outstanding capabilities. We will continue to provide unwavering support so that emerging artists can pursue their creative work in a stable environment.” KT&G SangSang Madang serves as a multifaceted cultural and artistic space, supporting the creative activities of emerging artists while offering diverse cultural experiences to the public. Since starting with the online SangSang Madang in 2005, the platform has expanded to five locations, including Hongdae, Nonsan, Chuncheon, Daechi, and Busan, contributing to the development of local arts and culture as well as expanding public access to arts and culture. KT&G SangSang Madang hosts over 3,000 cultural and artistic programs every year.