Coldplay is performing six shows from the 16th to the 18th, 19th, 22nd, 24th, and 25th at the Goyang Sports Complex in Goyang, South Korea, as part of their 'Music Of The Spheres World Tour'. This marks their first visit to Korea in eight years since 2017.
TWICE will be the special guest for all performances, highlighting their rising popularity in the global K-pop market alongside groups like BLACKPINK. Last year, TWICE embarked on their fifth world tour, 'TWICE 5TH WORLD TOUR 'READY TO BE'', filling major U.S. venues such as Los Angeles' SoFi Stadium, New York's MetLife Stadium, and Las Vegas' Allegiant Stadium. They also made history as the first K-pop idol group to perform a solo concert on 'Amazon Music Live' on November 21, 2022. This August, TWICE is set to headline the 'Lollapalooza Chicago' music festival in Grant Park, Illinois.
Hanlo Ro, who will perform on the 24th and 25th, debuted in March 2022 with the single 'Ipchun'. Known for his unique tracks like 'Beetle Beetle Jjakjjakkoong', 'Bus Stop', and 'You Will Fall in Love', he has been active in the indie music scene. His musical talent was recognized when he was nominated for 'Rookie of the Year' at the 20th Korean Music Awards in 2023.
In 2022, BTS member RM shared a screenshot of Hanlo Ro's 'Ipchun' playing on his phone via Instagram Stories, sparking interest among fans worldwide. Hanlo Ro expressed gratitude, acknowledging BTS's influence on his musical journey, saying, "I started music recklessly countless times. Thank you for gifting me love in various shapes and colors, even though I am still lacking."
The connection between Hanlo Ro and Coldplay remains unclear, but industry speculation suggests that Coldplay's collaboration with BTS on 'My Universe' may have influenced the guest lineup.
Elyanna, a Palestinian-Chilean singer-songwriter, will perform as a guest on the 16th, 18th, 19th, and 22nd. Her collaboration with Coldplay on the track 'We Pray' from their 10th studio album 'Moon Music', alongside British rapper Little Simz and Nigerian singer-songwriter Burna Boy, led to this opportunity.
Before the song's release in June last year, Elyanna performed 'Arabesque' with Coldplay at the Glastonbury Festival in the UK, where they debuted 'We Pray'. She also appeared with Coldplay on NBC's 'Saturday Night Live' in October 2022.
By Min-Kyung Lee, TenAsia Reporter 2min_ror@tenasia.co.kr