Dialtune in South Korea

I just got back from a quick, jam-packed trip to Seoul to visit our South Korean distributor, Make Music INST.. Only three days on the ground, but full of good food, great people, and a lot of learning.

I stayed in Itaewon, stopped by the Korean War Memorial, and ate some incredible meals. Friends from grad school brought me out for unforgettable Korean BBQ!

The real highlight was spending time with the Make Music team. They’re humble, sharp, and wired like entrepreneurs. Constantly solving problems. Always thinking a step ahead. It felt a lot like our crew at Dialtune. They took me around to visit several family-owned shops and studios that carry our drums.

I loved the innovation in the retail space that I saw from one retailer in particular who had their own content studio set up! It’s such a win for bringing artists in to create, and it fosters a community vibe rather than just a “come in, buy, and leave” approach.

I love this idea—retailers having their own content studios. It’s such a win for bringing artists in to create, and it fosters a community vibe rather than just a “come in, buy, and leave” approach.

And it didn’t stop there. Downstairs, they had a fully equipped woodworking studio where they build their own products.

 Not only does this place have an amazing photo and live-streaming studio, but they’re also crafting their own gear right on-site. It’s a hub of creativity and craftsmanship.

One night, the team took me to a cozy jazz club called Sound Dog, tucked away in a alley.

The place had such a classic, old-school jazz vibe. Seeing a Dialtune snare on the house kit and hearing it played live in that intimate space was something special.

I also had a chance to visit one of the family-owned retail shops with our distributor, which really underscored the personal connections we’re building.

I wanted to hear firsthand why drummers in South Korea choose what they do and how we can help our partners sell more. But just as important, I wanted to share who we are at Dialtune. We’re not out to only work with people who have accolades. We want partners who are real. People who are humble, who are willing to mentor and be mentored. We err on the side of generosity. We’re here to serve—to help drummers have more fun playing, to build drums that make life easier, where players can find their sound fast.

The team in South Korea gets it. They have servant hearts. And we had a ton of fun along the way.

Can’t wait to head back—and to keep finding more teams like this all over the globe.