BIGBANG's Taeyang meets fans with 1st solo concert in 7 years

Taeyang performs during the "TAEYANG 2024 TOUR THE LIGHT YEAR IN SEOUL" at Olympic Hall in Olympic Park, Seoul, Sunday. Courtesy of The Black Label

Taeyang of the iconic K-pop group BIGBANG sent fans into a frenzy with his first solo concert in seven years. Featuring a mix of his solo hits and BIGBANG's greatest songs performed with fellow member Daesung, the concert was a celebration of Taeyang's 18-year career, creating unforgettable memories for his fans.

Taeyang held the first of his two-day solo concert on Sunday, "TAEYANG 2024 TOUR 'THE LIGHT YEAR' IN SEOUL," at the Olympic Hall in Seoul, marking his first solo concert since 2017.

Both shows sold out within minutes after the release of tickets, proving Taeyang's enduring popularity.

'Nervous but thrilled'

Opening to a packed audience filled with enthusiastic cheers, Taeyang kicked off the concert with "Prayer" and "I Will Be There."

Standing before his fans, he expressed his emotions, saying, "I've missed you all so much. It's been seven years since my last solo concert, and here we are again."

He continued, "I'm so grateful that you all waited for me for these seven long years and are here in such a beautiful way. I've named this concert 'The Light Year,' an astronomical term that reflects the distance we've traveled together. I've filled this concert with songs you all want to hear, including tracks I haven't had the chance to perform often."

Taeyang encouraged fans to stand up, dance and sing along to familiar tunes, raising the energy levels in the concert hall.

BIGBANG's Taeyang performs during "THE LIGHT YEAR IN SEOUL" concert, Sunday. Courtesy of The Black Label

The setlist was packed with Taeyang's hit solo tracks like "VIBE," "Only Look at Me," "Wedding Dress," "Where U At," "I Need aGirl," "Shoong!," "RINGA LINGA," "1AM," "Stay With Me," "Make Love," "Inspiration," "In My Heart" and "Superstar."

Fans passionately sang along and cheered for each performance. Responding the overwhelming response, Taeyang said, "It seems like it's been a while since my last concert. I stumbled on the lyrics and missed some beats because I was so nervous, but the more I felt nervous, the better I felt. Your enthusiastic participation has been so touching."

During "I Need a Girl," Taeyang surprised fans by appearing on the second-floor aisle, shaking hands and singing directly to them, delivering an extraordinary fan service that demonstrated his deep affection for his supporters.

In addition to his solo repertoire, Taeyang treated fans to a medley of BIGBANG's hit songs like "Blue," "If You," "Where U At," "Loser" and "A Fool's Only Tears." The crowd responded with passionate sing-alongs, filling the venue with their voices.

Taeyang humorously said, "Aside from my solo songs, there are many BIGBANG songs I want to perform, but you guys need to sing along loudly, or it will sound overlapped."

In celebration of Taeyang's first solo concert in seven years, BIGBANG member Daesung, left, and Jeon Somi took to the stage to show their support. Captured from Daesung's social median and Courtesy of The BLACK Label

Daesung joins stage

The concert became even more memorable with special guest appearances by BIGBANG member Daesung and singer Jeon Somi, who showed their support.

Jeon Somi, who is under the same label Taeyang, expressed her gratitude for the opportunity to perform as a guest, saying, "It's such an honor to be here as a VIP (BIGBANG's fan club name). I hope I could add even a little bit of energy to this already amazing atmosphere." She then performed her tracks "Fast Forward" and "Ice Cream."

Daesung took the stage for a solo performance and a joint stage with Taeyang, driving the crowd to a fever pitch.

Making a surprise appearance during "A Fool's Only Tears," Daesung continued the song with Taeyang, and they shared a warm hug, showcasing their close bond.

After the performance, Taeyang reflected, "Singing this song again with Daesung is such a nostalgic moment." Daesung added, "Today is a historic day. Watching Taeyang sing while playing the piano backstage almost brought tears to my eyes."

The duo went on to perform BIGBANG's iconic tracks "Bang Bang Bang," "Fantastic Baby," and "We Like 2 Party," with the fans singing along with every word, making the atmosphere electric.

Despite being just the two of them, Taeyang and Daesung effortlessly covered the parts of the other BIGBANG members, creating a full concert experience.

BIGBANG's Taeyang during "THE LIGHT YEAR IN SEOUL" concert / Courtesy of The Black Label

Tour across Asia

The main concert concluded with "In My Heart" and "Eyes, Nose, Lips." Taeyang thanked fans, saying, "I can't believe how time flew by. It feels like only 10 minutes. It's been so long since I've felt this connected with your emotions and expressions from the stage. I'm so happy I could feel all of that tonight."

In response to fans' calls for an encore, Taeyang returned to the stage, performing "Superstar," "Beautiful," "Bad Boy," and "Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter."

He concluded the show with a deep bow, expressing his heartfelt thanks: "I have so many people to thank for making this concert possible, but most of all, thank you to all the fans who filled this place. Because of you, this concert is off to such a great start."

After the Seoul shows, Taeyang will continue his tour across Asia, visiting cities like Osaka, Tokyo, Hong Kong and Taipei, bringing his music to his fans worldwide.

This article from the Hankook Ilbo, a sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by a generative AI and edited by The Korea Times.