Canadian pop star powers through 39-song set before 54,000 fans in first Korean concert since 2018
GOYANG, Gyeonggi Province — Eight years was a long wait, but The Weeknd appeared determined to make up for lost time when he finally returned to Korea on Wednesday.
For nearly two hours at Goyang Stadium in Gyeonggi Province, the Canadian singer rarely stopped singing. One song flowed almost immediately into the next as he powered through 39 tracks spanning more than a decade of his career, filling the vast stadium with a catalog that made him one of the world’s biggest pop stars.
The Wednesday concert, the first of two sold-out Korean shows on his “After Hours Til Dawn” tour, drew some 54,000 people. A combined 108,000 were expected across the two nights, marking The Weeknd’s first performances in Korea since a 2018 concert in Seoul.
After performing “Faith,” The Weeknd removed the silver mask he had worn to open the concert and appeared moved, visibly in tears as he greeted the crowd.
“I’m so happy to be back, Korea, I missed you,” he said.
The Weeknd also explained the significance Korea holds to his career, adding that his first-ever stadium show was in Seoul.
“2018 was my first time being in a stadium by myself and you guys sold it out. Did you know that?” he added, thanking the crowd for selling out his two shows again. “Korea, thank you for showing me so much love for so long. You guys are so special to me.”
The emotional moment came after a relentless opening stretch that set the pace for the rest of the night. The Weeknd kicked off the show with “Baptized in Fear,” before rapidly moving through “Open Hearts,” “Wake Me Up” and “After Hours.” By the time hit track “Starboy” arrived, tens of thousands were already singing along.
The transitions between each song were seamless and barely noticeable, allowing each of the songs to bleed into one another rather than breaking the show into clearly separated performances. The Weeknd powered through “Sacrifice,” “How Do I Make You Love Me?” “Can’t Feel My Face,” “Kiss Land” and “Die For You” in rapid succession, often launching into the next song before cheers for the previous one had subsided.
The production was impressive in scale, featuring a 12-meter metallic female statue at the center of the stage, dancers in red robes, flames, fireworks and lasers across a sprawling cross-shaped stage.
Yet amid the elaborate production, it was The Weeknd’s vocals that stood out most.
He spent most of the night walking and running up and down the enormous runway, moving from one side of the stadium to another. There was no elaborate choreography, but he hardly needed it. Even amid the towering set pieces, flames and lasers, his powerful, steady vocals were enough to fill the vast stage.
He was equally persistent in acknowledging the audience.
“Korea” became a constant refrain between — and sometimes during — songs as he declared his love for the country and ad-libbed its name into tracks.
“I promise I’ll be back soon for you,” he sang before launching into “Less Than Zero,” his 2022 hit track. “I don’t want to leave. Can I stay a little longer, Korea?”
As the night moved into its final stretch, the hits came one after another, driving the crowd’s energy even higher.
“I Feel It Coming” and “Die For You” prompted mass singalongs, while “Save Your Tears” and “Blinding Lights” pushed the stadium toward its peak. The latter’s unmistakable synth intro sent a roar through the crowd as fans jumped to their feet. “House of Balloons” and “Moth to a Flame” eventually brought the concert to its finale, as fireworks erupted above the stadium.
Following another sold-out show Thursday, The Weeknd will continue the Asian leg of his “After Hours Til Dawn” tour on Oct. 11, with upcoming stops in Bangkok, Hong Kong and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
lee.jungjoo@heraldcorp.com
