REVIEW 'We finally feel at home': BTS plays first Seoul concert in over 2 years
Members of K-pop juggernaut BTS perform during a concert at Olympic Stadium in Jamsil, southeastern Seoul, Thursday. Courtesy of Big Hit Music
By Dong Sun-hwa
Among all songs that K-pop behemoth BTS performed during the first leg of its Seoul concert, “BTS Permission to Dance on Stage - Seoul” on Thursday at Olympic Stadium in Jamsil, southeastern Seoul, the group's 2019 release “Home” was the track that best spoke for the seven members.
The concert is the septet's first in-person gig in Seoul in almost two and a half years, after it staged the “BTS World Tour 'Love Yourself: Speak Yourself' [The Final]” in October, 2019.
The latest offering will attract up to 45,000 people until its finale on March 14 and is the largest live concert in Korea since the COVID-19 outbreak. Thursday's show was also livestreamed on Weverse, a fan community platform created by BTS' management company HYBE.
BTS takes the stage during a concert at Olympic Stadium in Jamsil, southeastern Seoul, Thursday. Courtesy of Big Hit Music
“Singing 'Home' was particularly meaningful today, as we finally felt like we have returned to where we belong,” BTS' front man RM said during the three-hour event. “Honestly, I had a tough time during the past two years because I could not perform in front of a lot of people, receive their positive energy and tell them how much I love them. Throwing a show in front of a limited audience is far better than having no one.”
J-hope said, “I also did not have a wonderful time during the last two years and I missed you so much. Holding online concerts could not make me feel much better, as I believe a concert cannot be complete without our fans. But today, all my negative emotions have been washed away thanks to you.”
BTS during a concert at Olympic Stadium in Jamsil, southeastern Seoul, Thursday / Courtesy of Big Hit Music
“BTS Permission to Dance on Stage - Seoul” kicked off with the group's 2020 hip-hop track, “On.” Seven members ― RM, Jin, Suga, j-hope, Jimin, V and Jungkook ― who sported dazzling red and white stage outfits, stole the show with overwhelming energy and strong stage presence. Without a pause, they heightened the festive mood with two of their hits, “Fire” and “Dope” and then began enthralling the audience with some of their most well-known tunes, such as “DNA,” “Blood Sweat & Tears,” “Fake Love,” and “Boy With Luv.”
Prior to the concert, HYBE revealed that BTS members actively took part in designing a set list for the concert. And according to Jin, there was a reason that Thursday's set list looked quite similar to that of the group's Los Angeles concert last year.
“We thought about making some changes to our set list, but decided not to do so in the end,” he said. “That was because many of our fans in Korea could not join us in the U.S and watch our performances with their eyes.”
The party mood reached its peak when BTS took the stage with its Billboard chart-topping tracks, “Dynamite” and “Butter.” The members, who looked more thrilled than ever, danced wildly together on the colorful stage which reminded people of a rainbow. Then, they performed their old songs like, “Outro: Wings,” which dropped in 2017.
“Performing our old songs reminded me of my bygone days,” Jungkook said. “It was both happy and aching.”
BTS fans queue in lines at Olympic Stadium in Jamsil, southeastern Seoul, Thursday. Courtesy of Big Hit Music
The fans could not scream or yell during the show so as to abide by the stringent anti-COVID-19 rules, but they still reacted wildly to their stars by clapping.
“My next goal is to stage a concert where our fans can let out their voices,” V said.
On April 8, 9, 15 and 16, BTS is poised to hold live concerts in Las Vegas.