[Edaily Starin YUN GI BACK Reporter] “I Love Korea!” “Make Some Noise, Korea!” “Korea, Korea!”
By this point, “Korea” had become another refrain of the day’s concert. The crowd chanted “Korea” between songs and even in the middle of songs. The Weeknd, returning after an eight-year hiatus, didn’t hold back on showing his appreciation to the fans who had waited for him. From a parade of 40 hit songs and a flawless live performance to fan service directed at every corner of the audience, the autumn night in Goyang was electric for the entire two hours.

The Weeknd performed the first night of the “Hyundai Card Super Concert 28: The Weeknd” on the 7th at the Main Stadium of the Goyang Sports Complex in Gyeonggi Province. He connected with the 54,000 fans who packed the venue that day, finally answering their eight-year wait. Organized as part of the “After Hours Til Dawn” tour, this concert marked his second performance in Korea since his first visit to the country at Gocheok Sky Dome in 2018.
◇Transforming Goyang into a Giant Club
The stage design immediately captivated the audience. A cross-shaped cantilevered stage spanning the venue and a 12-meter-tall golden female robot sculpture towering in the center created a surreal landscape. The stage, which extended deep into the audience, served as both a pathway for The Weeknd to move among the crowd and a unifying element that brought the entire venue together.

As flames shot up and lights converged on the center of the stage, The Weeknd made his appearance. The scene—featuring dancers in red robes wearing silver masks that emitted green light—felt like witnessing a grand ritual. The set, which began with the opening track “Baptized in Fear,” continued with “Open Hearts,” “Wake Me Up,” and “After Hours,” gradually building the energy.
At The Weeknd’s single shout of “Let’s go!”, the audience erupted. As lasers sliced through the darkness and the beat filled the space, the venue transformed into a massive outdoor club. The lights streaming from the audience’s wristbands rippled in time with the music. The intense stage lighting intertwined with the small lights in the audience, creating a spectacular sight.

As “Starboy,” “Heartless,” and “Faith” followed one after another, The Weeknd’s musical world came into sharp focus. Even as he pushed a dark, dreamlike atmosphere to its limits, the moment a familiar rhythm kicked in, he instantly had the crowd dancing. During “Cry for Me,” fiery flames shot up, and during “Sao Paulo,” The Weeknd, wearing sunglasses, encouraged the crowd to join in with his lively movements.
“Left!” “Right!”—even his gestures to divide the audience and draw cheers exuded a sense of ease. When the crowd chanted “The Weeknd,” he playfully danced in time with the beat. The majestic presence of a pop star on a massive stage naturally intertwined with his down-to-earth side, reveling in the fans’ cheers.
◇“Korea” Took Center Stage More Than the 40 Songs
The word heard most frequently during that day’s concert was undoubtedly “Korea.” He asked, “Korea, are you ready?” requested even louder cheers, and shouted that he loved them. He even slipped “Korea” into the middle of songs like “Kiss Land.” This wasn’t just fan service that ended with a few perfunctory greetings. Throughout the concert, he called out to the Korean audience, gauged their reactions, and created the performance together with them.

He even made a K-shaped heart with his fingers and a “bite heart” gesture by bringing his hand to his cheek. As the singer, who had been exuding charisma amid flames and lasers, suddenly performed these cute gestures, cheers erupted once again from the audience.
The atmosphere, already heated up by songs like “Timeless” and “Creepin’,” carried over into “One of the Girls.” This track, featuring BLACKPINK’s Jennie, is familiar to Korean fans. As The Weeknd took over his part, the audience’s cheers grew even louder.
He was also proactive in bridging the gap with the audience. The Weeknd busily moved back and forth along the long, protruding stage, making eye contact and high-fiving fans nearby. Even while singing on one side, he would walk over to the other, making his presence felt throughout the vast field.

During “Out of Time,” he handed the microphone to a member of the audience. As the fan who received it sang with all their might, cheers erupted from those around them. It was a moment when a small duet between the artist and a fan was created right in the middle of a stadium concert attended by tens of thousands. During “I Feel It Coming” and “Die for You,” the crowd sang along in unison to the familiar melodies.
Most impressive of all was her vocals, which remained flawless even amid all this movement. Even while walking from one end of the stage to the other and bantering with the audience, the moment the song began, he immediately delivered precise pitch and crisp high notes. From the deep, resonant tones in the lower register to the voice soaring high, The Weeknd’s timbre—so familiar from his recordings—came alive with crystal-clear clarity even in such a vast space. The phrase “The Weeknd, the master vocalist” naturally came to mind.
Toward the end of the concert, as “Save Your Tears” and “Less Than Zero” followed one after another, the energy in the audience soared even higher. Then, the familiar intro to “Blinding Lights” rang out. The voices of 54,000 people surged in unison. The audience, moving to the upbeat rhythm, The Weeknd strutting across the stage, and the stadium bathed in light all merged into a single scene. It was the climax of the night.

The Weeknd, who poured his heart into his songs right up until the very end, kept the momentum going with tracks like “House of Balloons” and “Moth to a Flame.” For the finale, spectacular fireworks filled the night sky. As the lights illuminating the stage spilled into the sky, they brought the two-hour musical extravaganza to a dazzling close.
Audience members reacted with comments such as, “World-class is truly in a league of its own,” and “It was a wonderful concert—I could feel his love for Korea.” There was also praise for Hyundai Card, which helped elevate the concert’s quality, with remarks like, “Tae-young really pulled it off.”
It wasn’t just the 40 songs that made the eight-year wait worthwhile. It was the nonstop live performances, his movements across the entire stage, and the shouts of “Korea”—which were a joy to hear no matter how many times they were repeated. As if he knew just how long his Korean fans had been waiting for him, The Weeknd gave his all—both vocally and physically—right up until the very end. The concert continues through today (the 8th).