2026 German Jazz Prize Winner – Debut Album of the Year (International) – DOLTANG is a music collective rooted in the explosive energy of progressive rock and the freedom of improvisation. Blending jazz, rock, electronic sound, and emotionally charged melodies, the group creates immersive performances that move between intensity and subtlety.

Formed in 2023 and based in Seoul, DOLTANG stepped onto the global jazz scene only seven months after their formation when they were selected for the Jazzahead! Showcase in Germany. The following year, the group completed a successful European tour for their debut album Invisible Worker, performing 11 concerts across 9 cities including Bimhuis (NL), Ronnie Scott’s (UK), Jassmine (PL), and Enter Enea Jazz Festival (PL). In 2026, the album was awarded the German Jazz Prize for Debut Album of the Year (International). Such rapid growth is rare for any emerging group worldwide, and the emergence of DOLTANG from South Korea has become a striking and unexpected development within the global jazz scene.

Invisible Worker explores the tension between artistic passion and contemporary life, weaving distorted guitars, electronic textures, and unpredictable improvisation into a cinematic and emotionally charged sonic landscape.

The group features Yonglee on piano and composition, Yechan Jo on guitar, Hwansu Kang on bass, Dayeon Seok on drums, and Youngwoo Lee on synthesizers and electronics.