RIIZE wraps up first solo concert with 31,000 fans, launches Asia tour

RIIZE performs the final night of its first solo concert “RIIZING LOUD” at KSPO Dome in Seoul, Sunday. Courtesy of SM Entertainment

K-pop boy group RIIZE has successfully completed the opening leg of its first-ever solo concert tour, “RIIZING LOUD,” in Seoul, drawing more than 31,000 fans over three sold-out shows from July 4 to 6.

Held at the KSPO Dome in Olympic Park, the three-day event marked a milestone for the group, which debuted in 2023, as it embarks on a larger journey to grow into one of the leading acts of K-pop’s fifth generation.

The concerts also launched the group’s first Asia tour, which will take them to 14 cities including Tokyo, Jakarta, Manila and Singapore.

The shows, themed as a coming-of-age “Odyssey,” took inspiration from the ancient Greek epic and reimagined the story through RIIZE’s music and growth narrative.

The six members — Shotaro, Eunseok, Sungchan, Wonbin, Sohee, and Anton — performed a total of 24 songs in five conceptual segments, including “Siren,” “Odyssey,” “Talk Saxy,” “Get a Guitar” and “Boom Boom Bass.”

“We’ve finally reached the last day of our Seoul concert. Let’s give it everything we’ve got and make it a night to remember,” Sungchan said onstage, energizing the crowd.

Throughout the night, fans — called BRIIZE — filled the venue with deafening chants and singalongs, particularly during the tracks “Memories,” “Love 119” and “Another Life.” The group returned for an encore with “The End of the Day,” “One Kiss” and “Inside My Love.”

Each member took a moment to reflect on the significance of the tour’s beginning.

Shotaro expressed disbelief at the scale of the event. “It still feels unreal that we’re here with so many fans in such a large venue. I hope we’ll still be together a year, two years, even decades from now.”

Eunseok added, “Before we started, I was nervous. But this has become an experience I’ll remember forever. Thank you for making it unforgettable.”

K-pop boy group RIIZE holds its first solo concert “RIIZING LOUD” in Seoul. Courtesy of SM Entertainment

Wonbin, fighting back tears, said, “I’ve been trying not to cry since day one. But today, I just want to end things with joy. We’ll show you even better performances in the future.”

Sohee said, “This day has been so precious. I wish it could last forever. We’ll come back even stronger.”

Anton summed up the group’s sentiment: “This was a special experience. BRIIZE are my biggest motivation, and I’ll continue working hard so we can grow together.”

With the Seoul shows now complete, RIIZE is set to continue its “RIIZING LOUD” tour with performances in cities including Hyogo (Japan), Hong Kong, Saitama, Hiroshima, Kuala Lumpur, Fukuoka, Taipei, Tokyo, Bangkok, Jakarta, Manila, Singapore and Macau.

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.