Photo& | The Weeknd's first Korea concert in 8 years draws 54,000-person singalong at 'After Hours' stadium show

54,000 voices and a spectacle of light engulf Goyang Stadium

"I said, ooh, I'm blinded by the lights. No, I can't sleep until I feel your touch..." (I was blinded by the lights. I can't fall asleep without your touch.)

The Weeknd's smooth, mesmerizing voice lit up Goyang Stadium's main field in Gyeonggi province on the night of the 7th, just like the lyrics of a song. The roughly 54,000 fans filling the stadium sang along to the global smash hit 'Blinding Lights', sending its enormous echo beyond the stands on the opposite side and outside the venue.

Dynamic melodies that got heads bobbing layered over upbeat synthesizer sounds as fans gathered in small groups to dance to the rhythm, transforming the venue into a true festival. Dazzling lights matching the song's title wrapped around the stadium in layers, while the audience's wristbands, synchronized through a central control system, flashed and completely drove back the deep darkness.

The Weeknd, the 28th headliner of 'Hyundai Card Super Concert', returned to South Korea eight years after his first Korean concert in 2018. All roughly 108,000 seats scheduled across the two nights sold out early, underscoring his formidable drawing power at the box office.

The king of alternative R&B stands at the center of pop music

The Weeknd, a Canadian artist, is an unparalleled figure who elevated 'alternative R&B'—a blend of R&B, hip-hop, electronic music and funk—to the mainstream. With polished melodic lines that immediately seized listeners' ears, he produced a string of global hits including 'Can't Feel My Face', 'The Hills', 'Starboy' and 'Die For You'.

In particular, 'Blinding Lights,' a synthwave masterpiece released in 2019, entered the Guinness World Records last August after becoming the first song to surpass 5 billion streams on Spotify, the world's largest music platform. It is regarded as one of the most successful songs in pop history, having topped Billboard's 'All-Time Hot 100' chart in 2021. His influence was so immense that his exclusion from the Grammy Awards nominations despite the song's outstanding musicianship sparked global controversy. He has won four Grammy trophies, including Best Urban Contemporary Album, for albums such as 'Beauty Behind the Madness'.

Silver mask and giant golden statue push stagecraft beyond visual limits

For the concert, organizers installed a massive straight main stage and a cross-shaped thrust stage stretching across Goyang Stadium. A majestic golden statue standing at the center of the stage, reaching the height of a two-story building, immediately overwhelmed the audience's gaze. As columns of fire shot up from points along the cross-shaped stage and green lasers cut across the night sky, The Weeknd emerged wearing a mysterious silver mask and drew an explosive roar.

A mask emitting green light from its eyes, dancers moving in formation in red capes and laser beams webbing across the stadium completed an original aesthetic reminiscent of a dystopian film. Opening with 'Baptized in Fear', he radiated an urban yet lethal magnetism through his signature smooth, emotive high-register vocals.

Only after racing through seven songs without a break, including 'Starboy,' did he remove the mask and greet Korean fans with a broad smile. Recalling his first Korean concert at Gocheok Sky Dome in 2018, he said, "My first stadium show of my career was right here in Korea. I will never forget the incredible love you showed me then." He then raised the energy to a peak, saying, "You completely turned Goyang Stadium upside down tonight. Welcome to the 'After Hours Til Dawn' tour." During 'One Of The Girls', which made headlines with BLACKPINK's Jennie featured on the track, he formed hearts with his arms to show his special affection for Korean fans.

A pop icon transcending generations shares an electric connection with Korean fans

As the concert entered its middle section, the sound grew heavier, while dazzling fireworks and special effects erupted nonstop, transforming the entire stadium into a massive outdoor club. The tightly constructed setlist flowed organically, leaving the audience unable to look away for even a moment. Over roughly 120 minutes, The Weeknd performed no fewer than 40 songs live without showing signs of fatigue, proving the commanding ability expected of a global pop superstar.

He sent fans into a frenzy with energetic interaction, changing lyrics mid-song to include "Korea" and "Goyang," and coming down beneath the thrust stage during 'Out Of Time' to pass the microphone directly to audience members and exchange high-fives.

Popular music critic Lim Jin-mo praised The Weeknd as "the greatest pop star to emerge since the 2010s and a master of melody who captured young people with the universal themes of love and heartbreak," adding that "his R&B-based pop sensibility is unmatched, and 'Blinding Lights' is a masterpiece that perfectly combines nostalgia for the past with modern sophistication."

The area around Goyang Stadium was packed with crowds who began arriving early. Domestic fans were joined by international visitors from around the world. Fans also drew attention by paying homage to The Weeknd's ardent admiration for Michael Jackson: Some arrived wearing black vests and red jackets and donning Afro wigs, resembling the cover of the 'Blinding Lights' album.

Meanwhile, 'Hyundai Card Super Concert,' which debuted in 2007 and marks its 20th year this year, surpassed 735,000 cumulative audience members with this concert. A total of 44 global artists have made their first visits to Korea through Hyundai Card's various branded concerts, including Super Concert. The Weeknd will hold a second show at the same venue on the 8th, continuing his spirited encounter with Korean fans.