LE SSERAFIM returned to Korea after a global tour, charming even their youngest fans. The group showcased their overflowing confidence, overcoming past live performance controversies.
On the 1st of the month, at 5 PM, LE SSERAFIM held their encore concert 'LE SSERAFIM TOUR 'EASY CRAZY HOT' ENCORE IN SEOUL' at the Jamsil Indoor Stadium in Seoul.
The concert kicked off with three tracks from their mini 5th album 'HOT' and the title track 'HOT'. As the VCR played, the group encouraged cheers from fans backstage before taking the stage with the mini 3rd album title track 'EASY' and other songs, heating up the atmosphere.
Kim Chaewon expressed her excitement, saying, "I've missed you all. Starting in Incheon last April and ending with an encore at Tokyo Dome, I'm thrilled to be back in Seoul. I'm ready to have fun." For fans from various countries, Huh Yunjin greeted in English, Sakura in Japanese, and Hong Eunchae in Chinese.
Hong Eunchae humorously added, "This is the same place where we had our first concert. We joked about learning circus tricks. Remember Kazuha's acrobatics on this stage last time? Look forward to more circus acts."
There were moments of 'fan training'. Mid-performance, Hong Eunchae said, "It's the last day, and I've been looking forward to the Seoul encore. Everyone, please stand up for better engagement," prompting all audience members on the first and second floors to rise. When the response wasn't as expected, the members jokingly pretended to leave the stage, saying, "We'll go home. We mean what we say," eliciting laughter.
Before the 'Fire in the belly' performance, Kim Chaewon shouted, "Be my companion, FEARNOT!" This phrase, used to engage fans during performances, became a beloved meme after she exclaimed "Be my dododok" at a concert.
The 'Fire in the belly' stage received a tremendous response. Fans stood up, sang along, and jumped in place, enjoying the performance.
Towards the end, Kim Chaewon and Kazuha asked who the youngest fan was, and a young girl raised her hand, indicating she was 10 years old with her fingers. There was also a couple in the audience, and when their faces appeared on the screen, the husband kissed his wife, adding warmth to the event.
The live performance was relaxed, filled with positive emotions. Huh Yunjin's vocals exuded confidence, and Kim Chaewon showcased her strong vocals despite the loud AR sound.
However, the performance relied heavily on AR. While the live vocals from Huh Yunjin and other members were solid and stable, they were overshadowed by the loud AR, reducing the live feel.
This seems to address the live performance skill controversy surrounding LE SSERAFIM. After their 2024 Coachella performance, they faced criticism for their live skills. Main vocalist Huh Yunjin's rendition of the late Kim Hyun-sik's classic 'Like Rain, Like Music' at the '40th Golden Disc Awards' in Taipei drew mixed reviews due to pitch and breath issues.
Since April last year, LE SSERAFIM has performed 29 shows in 19 cities across Korea, Japan, Asia, and North America, selling out 12 venues. In November, they performed at Tokyo Dome, attracting around 80,000 fans over two days.
Meanwhile, LE SSERAFIM's world tour encore concert 'LE SSERAFIM TOUR 'EASY CRAZY HOT' ENCORE IN SEOUL' was held at the Jamsil Indoor Stadium in Seoul from the 31st to the 1st.
Reporter: Min-Kyung Lee, Ten Asia 2min_ror@tenasia.co.kr