[Edaily Reporter YUN GI BACK ] Can a ballad really be this electrifying? One moment, the audience was listening intently to the gentle melodies; the next, they were singing along at the top of their lungs, lost in memories, and then bursting into cheers. At times, eyes welled up with tears; at others, people rose from their seats to enjoy the music with their whole bodies. Jannabi’s first ballad concert was a performance that proved quiet music does not necessarily mean a small emotional impact. The three-hour-plus show, where lyrical lyrics, rich band sounds, and the audience’s voices blended together, perfectly embodied the title “A Wonderful Day in October.”

◇An opening brimming with autumnal sentiment… A passionate sing-along from the very first song
Jannabi’s ballad collection concert, “On a Wonderful Day in October,” held on the 23rd at the KSPO DOME in Olympic Park, Songpa-gu, Seoul, was special from the very start. Even the music played before the show began exuded Jannabi’s signature wit. It was “Old Friend” by the band Light and Salt, which dominated the 1990s. They reworked the original lyrics—which referred to members Park Seong-sik and Jang Ki-ho as “Mr. Park” and “Mr. Jang”—to “Mr. Choi” and “Mr. Kim,” the names of Jannabi’s Choi Jeong-hoon and Kim Do-hyung. It was a cheerful opening that seemed to express the friendship between the two members who have been making music together for so long.
Toward the end of the song, as the lights in the audience went out, an orange glow erupted simultaneously from the audience’s wristbands. Soon after, the central stage slowly rose, and the curtain parted. Cheers erupted from the audience as Choi Jeong-hoon and Kim Do-hyung appeared, dressed in outfits featuring subdued, autumnal colors.
The first song was “Dreams, Books, Strength, and Walls.” Seated on stage and holding a handheld microphone, Choi Jung-hoon began singing in a calm, composed manner. Behind him, a retro-style black-and-white animation unfolded. As he slowly walked across the stage, making eye contact with the audience, he handed the familiar chorus over to the crowd. The audience joined in as if they’d been waiting for that moment. Countless voices merged into one, filling the venue, and Choi Jung-hoon continued singing with tears welling up in his eyes. It was a moment when the boundary between the singer and the audience dissolved right from the very first song.

An even warmer scene unfolded during the next song, “My Joy, My Song.” As Choi Jeong-hoon sang under a spotlight and handed the chorus over to the audience, the entire venue transformed into a massive choir. When the song ended and thunderous applause erupted, he raised his fist high in the air, exuding a sense of ease on stage. The mood shifted completely during “Together!” As a close-up video of his face played alongside a powerful countdown, fireworks erupted. The audience responded in unison with applause. Choi Jeong-hoon expressed his excitement, saying, “I’ve really been looking forward to today.”
During “One Step” and “Dolmaro,” the distance between the stage and the audience narrowed even further. Holding a stand microphone, Choi Jeong-hoon stepped down from the stage and roamed the venue, drawing enthusiastic responses from the crowd. He walked all the way to the opposite side of the center stage and playfully interacted with Kim Do-hyung, who was playing the guitar, by making a wave with his hands. The audience mirrored the gesture. It felt as though the venue had turned into one giant playground.
Jannabi structured that day’s performance into several chapters, unfolding it like a single story. During “That Night, That Night,” they created an atmosphere as if the audience had stepped into a small jazz club, and in “Through a Restless Night,” they drew the audience into the music through applause and sing-alongs. The center stage rotated like a turntable, allowing audience members in every seat to experience Jannabi’s expressions and gestures up close.
Choi Jeong-hoon said, “This is our second performance at K-Sport Dome, and our first ballad concert,” adding, “Since there might be a preconception that Jannabi is a band that performs quietly, we prepared it this way.” He continued, “This will be a performance closer to the audience than any other,” hinting at some improvisational elements.

◇From Memories to Family to Goodbyes… Jannabi’s Music Drenched in Tears
Indeed, the stage featured a blend of well-crafted staging and unpredictable moments. During “Goodbye, First Love—,” a wistful melody flowed over the rotating stage, evoking memories of first love. In “To You, I Am; To Me, You Are,” the voices of Choi Jeong-hoon and Kim Do-hyung harmonized with the accompanying visuals. The two listened intently to each other’s singing and playing, clearly enjoying the music.
During “We Who Cling to Green,” the entire venue was bathed in a fresh, vibrant green light. Choi Jeong-hoon showed his ease by spontaneously altering the lyrics to capture the seasonal feel of October. In the following song, “SHE,” the center stage soared high into the air as if floating on a cloud. As the audience sang along to the familiar melody, Choi Jeong-hoon gracefully held out the microphone with both hands. After the song ended, he expressed his gratitude to the audience, saying, “That was the voice I’ve been longing to hear.”
He also shared his thoughts on completing the Asian tour. “Thanks to the fans who have loved Jannabi for so long, I’ve had some truly happy moments,” Choi Jung-hoon said, promising, “I’ll continue to bring you even better music in the future.” Those words resonated with the sincerity that permeated the entire performance that day.
During “The Story I Couldn’t See,” a poignant emotion swept through the audience. Actor Park Jun-myeon, who was watching the performance, was even seen wiping away tears. During the segment that transitioned from “Good Night” to “The Hot Summer Night Is Gone, and What Remains Is Unremarkable,” the mirror ball sparkled, transforming the venue into a romantic jazz club. As Choi Jeong-hoon’s soulful voice blended with the rich sounds of the instruments, the emotional intensity of the music reached its peak.

During “The Sound of Music,” fireworks and confetti rained down in sync with the vocalist’s explosive energy. The interplay between the music’s dynamics, lighting, and stage design was meticulously orchestrated, adding visual delight to the auditory experience.
The highlight was “For Hesitant Lovers.” As Choi Jeong-hoon began singing under lighting reminiscent of blue moonlight, a soft chorus spread through the audience. Soon, countless audience members lit up their cell phones, transforming the entire venue into a star-filled night sky. Ultimately, it was the audience that created this beautiful scene without any grand stage setups. Kim Do-hyung remarked, “Even though ballads may seem gentle, there’s something fiery within them.” These words most accurately captured the emotion conveyed by that night’s performance.
In the middle of the performance, more personal stories unfolded. Before performing “Old Dog,” Choi Jeong-hoon shared that Nana, his long-time companion dog, had crossed the Rainbow Bridge this year. True to her status as a Jannabi family member, the dog—who had been called “Banana”—appeared on screen in a photo from her lifetime. The two performed the song simply, accompanied by an acoustic guitar. There was no need for flashy stage sets or grand gestures. The memories embedded in the music alone moved the audience to silence.
In “Summer, Fall, Winter, Spring,” Kim Do-hyung’s acoustic guitar playing blended with Choi Jung-hoon’s voice, creating a feeling as if listening to a poem. During “Mother,” the production added a special touch by projecting an image of the singer’s mother, who was seated in the audience, onto the screen. In the following song, “Farewell, Sorrow,” the audience joined in with such fervor that they practically took over the latter half of the song. Even after the song ended, a shower of flower petals continued to fall, prolonging the lingering atmosphere of the performance.

◇A Ballad Twist… A Fiery Finale Rivaling a Rock Festival
As the concert entered its second half, Jannabi’s signature free-spirited energy truly erupted. During “Beautiful,” Choi Jeong-hoon slung his guitar over his shoulder and headed toward the second-floor seating area. He roamed the venue, singing directly to the audience up close. There was also a heartwarming moment when he introduced Kim Do-hyung’s grandmother to the crowd. The unique charm of a live performance—something you can’t experience on a pre-set stage—truly came to life.
Surprise gifts for longtime fans followed. The band took song requests on the spot and shared memories with their fan club, “Gudakdari.” During “How Much Do I Like You” and “Kuku,” upbeat rhythms and synthesizer sounds ramped up the energy. Choi Jeong-hoon’s witty expressions and acting, combined with the audience singing along in unison, sent the venue into a frenzy once again.
The live medley was a moment that made the audience briefly forget they were at a ballad concert. Starting with “Did I Ever Love You? Was It Just a Fleeting Encounter? The Time We Spent Together—Which Wasn’t Short—Keeps Trapping My Heart,” the set continued with upbeat tracks like “Dancing with a Stick” and “Rocket,” as red lights bathed the venue. During “Dancing with the Pole” in particular, Choi Jeong-hoon personally performed the pole dance, sending the energy through the roof. Kim Do-hyung also made his presence known with his dazzling guitar playing. The concert, which had started off calmly, was soon filled with an energy reminiscent of a rock festival.

Choi Jeong-hoon said, “I didn’t think it would be easy to keep going for three hours in the same space, but thanks to all of you, we made it happen.” Just as he said, the energy that drove the performance came not only from Jannabi but also from the audience, who never stopped cheering them on.
After catching their breath with “Over the Rainbow,” the stage curtains swung wide open as “Romance on a Deserted Island” began. As the hidden main stage was revealed, the audience rose to their feet in unison. Cheers erupted at Choi Jung-hoon’s playful performance, in which he sang while holding an oar. During “Bluebird, Spread Your Wings!,” confetti rained down in sync with Choi Jung-hoon’s hand gestures.
The energy remained high right up until the very end. Choi Jung-hoon sat at the piano and passionately sang “All Boys and Girls 1: Birdman,” and during “All Boys and Girls 2: Rainbow,” he roamed the stage accompanied by laser beams forming the shape of a rainbow. The audience responded by jumping in their seats and singing along. “Thoughts on an Autumn Night,” which resonated after the closing interlude, brought the passionate performance back to the deep, autumnal mood.
Choi Jeong-hoon reflected on the preciousness of the moments shared with the audience, along with the sweat he shed on stage toward the end of the concert. He remarked that even if they were just fleeting moments, whenever people listened to Jannabi’s music in the future, those scenes would likely come flooding back like a panorama. Indeed, that day’s concert was filled with scenes that will be remembered for a long time.

What was most impressive was Jannabi’s approach to ballads. They didn’t confine ballads to being merely slow and quiet music. At times delicate like jazz, at times explosive like rock, and at times like a conversation with fans, they intimately performed over 30 songs. The turntable stage, positioned in the center of the venue, narrowed the physical distance between the artists and the audience, while the sing-alongs and spontaneous interactions broke down even the emotional barriers.
This concert was also a meaningful challenge for Jannabi. Following their achievement last year as the first indie band to perform at K-Sport Dome, they returned to the same venue this year to present performances with distinct concepts. Following the “Ballad Collection” on the 23rd, “Sweat & Stardust”—the grand finale of their Asian tour—will take place on the 24th and 25th. All three shows sold out within five minutes of tickets going on sale.
Jannabi’s attempt to go beyond simply expanding the scale of their performances and instead reinterpret their music in a new format was a success. For fans, it was an opportunity to experience familiar songs in a fresh way, and for Jannabi, it was a stage that demonstrated the band’s broad musical spectrum.