Gideok Moon

Gideok Moon, also known as 문기덕 in the jazz scene, is a drummer, composer, and improviser from Seoul, currently based between Korea and Switzerland.

He works with sound, improvisation, and the space between acoustic and electronic music. Gideok focuses on improvisation, approaching it not as a genre but as a method of making music. Through improvisation, he explores relationships between sounds, rhythm, space, and choices shaped by personal experience, while also investigating how individuals and communities connect.

You can find him as Life and Sound (with saxophonist Sang-beom Kim), i!i!o (an electronic-acoustic trio), or solo, constantly exploring how personal sound becomes shared language.

After studying traditional swing drumming at Kyung Hee University, Moon moved beyond institutional boundaries to cultivate his own musical language. He deepened his approach to the instrument under the guidance of Junyoung Song and expanded his artistic horizons through close collaboration with saxophonist Sunjae Lee. Moon entered Korea’s free improvisation scene through the experimental community around the Mung Music label. After 2022, the artistic stimulation gained from a workshop with cellist Okkyung Lee served as a decisive turning point for his philosophy toward sound. He has released a solo drum improvisation album (Alla Prima, 2022) and a duo album (Mealworm, 2025), and has performed at festivals including Jarasum Jazz Festival and the Korean Cultural Center in Germany, as well as jazz clubs throughout Korea. 

Gideok is currently pursuing his Master's degree in Jazz and Contemporary Music at the Hochschule der Künste Bern (HKB) in Switzerland.