[Edaily Reporter YUN GI BACK ] It was a hot and dazzling autumn night. Thousands of audience members sang along at the top of their lungs to Jannabi’s songs, transforming the venue into a massive rock festival. The performance alternated between intense, high-energy moments and heartwarming, lingering emotions. Having toured seven cities across Asia and returned home triumphantly, Jannabi set the K-Sport Dome ablaze with a performance that blended passion and romance.

Jannabi’s Asian tour finale, “SWEAT & STARDUST,” held over two days on the 24th and 25th at the KSPO DOME in Olympic Park, Songpa-gu, Seoul, was, true to its title, filled with sweat and passion. Starting in Taipei last June, Jannabi toured seven Asian cities, including Hong Kong, Tokyo, Singapore, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, and Jakarta. The Seoul concert marked the culmination of that journey, with the band performing over 30 songs live over the course of three hours.
◇Heated from the very first song… “The most intense energy I’ve ever experienced”
Anticipation was building even before the concert began. As “What’s Up” began to play, the lights dimmed one by one. Blue lasers crisscrossed the venue, illuminating the show’s title. When the curtain parted, Choi Jung-hoon crawled across the stage floor toward the microphone. As he gripped the mic and stood up, a massive roar erupted from the crowd.
The first song was “Operation Name: Youth!” The audience waved their hands in time with the energetic band sound. The moment the word “youth” from the lyrics echoed through the venue, confetti rained down and fireworks shot into the air. Blue lasers adorned the ceiling, completing the spectacular opening.

During “FLASH,” he played the piano and showcased his crisp vocals. Visuals depicting lightning added to the music’s dynamism. As the intro to “I Will Die For You” began, the audience erupted once more. Choi Jeong-hoon, strumming his guitar, played back-to-back with Kim Do-hyung, radiating the unique energy of a rock band. He raised his hands above his head to encourage the crowd and, as he held out the final note while basking in the cheers, exuded a sense of ease.
The mood shifted again with the lyrics, “Did I ever love you? Was it just a fleeting connection? The time we spent together—which wasn’t short—keeps trapping my heart.” The lyrical intro built to a climax alongside the band’s intense sound. Red lights and fireworks engulfed the stage. Choi Jung-hoon climbed onto a chair to engage the audience, adding playful gestures to the performance. During “Together!,” fireworks erupted to a powerful countdown, and the audience sang along to the chorus as if on cue.
Having performed five songs nonstop since the opening, Jannabi were already drenched in sweat. Choi Jeong-hoon expressed his excitement, saying, “This is the first time in my life I’ve felt this kind of energy,” and added, “My heart feels like it’s going to burst.” Kim Do-hyung also formed a heart shape with his hands toward the audience. Choi Jeong-hoon remarked, “I knew it would be intense from the start, but it’s three times hotter than I expected.” He then explained the meaning behind the concert title, saying he wanted to show the value of the sweat they were pouring out on stage.
◇Amid Spectacular Staging… The Harmony of Vocals and Band Sound
Even amidst the spectacular staging, music remained at the center. During “My Joy, My Song,” Choi Jeong-hoon sang alone under the spotlight. In contrast to the passionate performances seen in the previous songs, he filled the venue with nothing but his deeply moving voice.

In “Legend,” he played the guitar and encouraged the audience to clap along. When the sound of the instrument momentarily subsided, Choi Jeong-hoon’s raw voice burst forth. In “Bad Dream,” his sharp vocals intertwined with the band’s intense sound. In contrast, for “New Darkness, New Snow” and “Wish,” he sat on a chair and delivered the songs calmly. He built tension with restrained vocals before exploding at the decisive moment. The sounds of various instruments, including the synthesizer, added to the musical pleasure.
In “Jack Kerouac,” which began with the sound of birds chirping, the beauty of negative space stood out, drawing the listener’s focus to his voice. In “Park at Night,” Choi Jeong-hoon stepped out onto the protruding stage and sang with such passion under the blue lights that the veins in his neck stood out. “A Tale of Summer I” felt like a piece of performance art. He sang in time with the audience’s applause, and in the latter half, he added narration to create a unique atmosphere.
During “The Hot Summer Night Is Gone, and What Remains Is Unremarkable,” the venue transformed into an even more romantic space. When Choi Jeong-hoon said, “Thank you. Please remember this day,” the audience listened intently to his voice. The mirror ball on the ceiling sparkled, creating a retro atmosphere. The audience swayed their arms slowly, lost in the song. The scene, where the light pouring from the mirror ball blended with Choi Jung-hoon’s deep voice, was like a painting.
Kim Do-hyung expressed his satisfaction, saying, “No matter how hard we prepare, a performance changes depending on the energy of the day, and today’s energy is fantastic.” Choi Jung-hoon also remarked, “We prepared with determination and gave it our all.”

Later, during “Oh Seoul City,” they led the audience in a chorus, taking turns singing with them. In “Hong Kong,” they created an exotic atmosphere with Chinese-style visuals and a unique rhythm. When Choi Jung-hoon encouraged the audience to dance sensually, laughter and cheers erupted. They even turned a brief break into part of the show by sharing a video of themselves recharging their energy backstage.
◇Lying Down with a Guitar, Into the Audience… A Finale of Sweat and Starlight
After regrouping, Jannabi charged back onto the stage with “Good Boy Twist.” The audience responded in unison, singing along as they did to the witty graphics and upbeat rhythm. During “After School Activity,” a giant inflatable ball flew into the audience. The crowd pushed the ball back and forth, enjoying the music with their whole bodies.
During the medley that followed—comprising “Dreamland, Starland,” “Colorful,” and “Jungle”—the venue transformed into a giant playground. Choi Jung-hoon and Kim Do-hyung competed to draw the crowd’s response from opposite sides of the stage. Choi Jung-hoon ran across the stage with his arms spread wide. The audience responded in unison by jumping and clapping. The music, which had seemed to end, built up again, and the excitement showed no signs of subsiding.
During “What’s Up,” the singers and the audience became one. Whenever Choi Jeong-hoon led the singing, a massive chorus echoed back from the audience. The audience even performed synchronized movements, sitting down and standing up in unison to the song. Instructions illustrating these movements appeared on the screen, adding to the fun.

Kim Do-hyung’s guitar performance was also spectacular. He played while leaning back, and eventually lay down on the floor to strum his guitar. The addition of a kkwaenggwari drum further heightened the excitement. Choi Jung-hoon brought laughter with a comical act: after singing with all his remaining strength, he collapsed onto the stage. The raw energy of a rock band and Jannabi’s signature cheerfulness blended exquisitely.
During “All Boys and Girls 3: Glory,” Choi Jeong-hoon made his way directly into the audience. The cheers grew louder as he sang while weaving through the crowd. It was a moment when the boundary between the stage and the audience dissolved.
Another highlight was “For Hesitant Lovers.” As Choi Jung-hoon sang, countless audience members lit up their cell phones. The small lights came together, transforming the venue into a universe full of stars. It was a beauty distinct from the dazzling spectacle created earlier by fireworks and lasers. Choi Jung-hoon remarked, “The best performance ever has been completed,” and confessed that he had experienced emotions he had never felt before.
The finale was equally spectacular. It began with “All Boys and Girls 1: Birdman,” which Choi Jung-hoon played on the piano himself, followed in quick succession by “All Boys and Girls 2: Rainbow,” “Over the Rainbow,” “Romance on a Deserted Island,” and “Bluebird, Spread Your Wings!” For the encore, they performed “Mia’s Memories and the Universe” and “Thoughts on an Autumn Night.” The non-stop concert concluded by returning to Jannabi’s signature lyrical sensibility, leaving a lasting impression.

The concert served as a showcase of Jannabi’s broad musical spectrum. They freely moved between rock, folk, jazz, and retro pop without losing their unique identity. By interweaving intense sound with delicate emotion, they skillfully controlled the pacing of the performance and incorporated the audience’s voices and movements into the stage experience.
Returning from their first Asian tour, Jannabi demonstrated even more solid live performance skills and stage presence. While they had soothed the audience’s hearts with ballads the previous day, on this day they filled the K-Sport Dome with their passion for music and sweat. The sweat shed on stage and the cheers pouring from the audience came together to create a memorable chapter of youth that will be remembered for a long time to come.