“BLACKPINK IN YOUR AREA!”
BLACKPINK has returned to their fans, Blink, after 1 year and 10 months as a complete group. The members, who have showcased overwhelming influence even while apart, proved the unchanging value of 'BLACKPINK' with their strong bond as a full group.
On the 6th, they opened the grand tour 'BLACKPINK WORLD TOUR
After setting a K-pop girl group record with over 1.8 million attendees for 'BORN PINK', BLACKPINK returned with a tour after about 1 year and 10 months, significantly expanding the scale compared to their Seoul concert, and proving their worth by being the first K-pop girl group to have a 'solo' performance at the Goyang Sports Complex Main Stadium.
With a powerful lead brass and grand drum sounds, the members shouted “BLACKPINK IN YOUR AREA!” as they made their entrance, announcing the 'return of BLACKPINK' with dazzling fireworks. Fans welcomed BLACKPINK back to the stage with enthusiastic cheers, and in response, they heated up the atmosphere by performing 'Kill This Love' and 'Pink Venom' in succession.
“Welcome to 'BLACKPINK WORLD TOUR
Performing a full live performance with a band sound, BLACKPINK's skills remained unwavering. The members, who had shaken the world from their respective places, showcased their solo stages in one space, solidifying BLACKPINK's identity as perfect both as soloists and as a group. Jisoo captivated fans with her visuals and charming stage presence in her solo song 'earthquake & Your Love', while Lisa showcased her recognized dance skills in 'New Woman & Rockstar', Jennie dominated the stage with her overwhelming presence in 'Mantra & with the IE (way up) & like JENNIE', and Rosé displayed her sweet tone and unwavering vocal ability in '3AM & toxic till the end & APT.', showcasing the matured 'four colors of four members'.
In response, Jisoo asked, “How did you feel about the solo stages we showed in order? It was great, right?” She added, “While preparing for the group and solo stages this time, I was excited thinking that we could show various colors as soloists, and that the tour could have more diverse colors. I hope everyone enjoys it.”
Not only BLACKPINK but also the connection with Blink was evident, as BLACKPINK's sincerity was infused throughout the stage. The members participated directly in every production process, including the setlist, choreography, and props, creating a time where everyone present felt like the main character. Fans responded by singing along from their debut song 'Whistle' to 'STAY', 'Lovesick Girls', 'Bumbaya', 'DDU-DU DDU-DU', 'As If It's Your Last', and 'Forever Young', creating explosive synergy.
BLACKPINK not only encompassed their musical journey together but also sought newness. In line with 'DEADLINE', they unveiled their new song 'Jump' for the first time after 2 years and 8 months, marking a new starting point. After performing 'Jump' at the concert, Jisoo exclaimed, “Isn't it so addictive? Our new song will be released soon, and since we revealed it here first, please listen to it a lot and love it when it comes out. It's a promise,” smiling brightly.
To support BLACKPINK's return, the band session and dancers were newly arranged with top-notch staff who have worked with global musicians like Lady Gaga and Ariana Grande, elevating every element of the performance to its peak. The members performed all songs live with a band sound, delivering dynamic and fresh performances on stage, providing an exhilarating experience in Goyang.
Lisa, who confessed she had been nervous since the day before, said, “I’m still nervous. I’m so nervous, but seeing everyone having fun with us makes me really happy. This is the first start in Korea.” Jennie added, “We’ve just taken our first step. Thank you to everyone who came. Seeing so many people up there still excites me. It’s a bit sad to start the world tour from today, but I hope the day comes soon when we can meet Blink again.”
Finally, Jisoo declared, “Are you all ready? There’s not much time left. If you don’t get up, you’ll all regret it,” and encouraged everyone to keep going until the last song, further heating up the fun of the concert that doesn’t end until it’s over.
There were also some disappointments. Although all seats were sold out, including restricted view seats, there was controversy over the sale of 'zero view seats' that were so obstructed that they were embarrassing to be called restricted view. In fact, the problematic N3 section of the venue was completely blocked by installed structures, leading to extreme dissatisfaction among fans who could not see the stage. Although there were attempts to resolve this issue with large screen installations, the complaints from fans who could not see the stage only grew, and the lack of prior notice about this issue was also pointed out as a problem. While there was a note during ticket booking stating that “there may be visual obstructions due to structures,” fans criticized it as 'visual restriction' beyond just 'visual obstruction' and are currently demanding compensation for the damages.
Meanwhile, following Goyang, BLACKPINK will embark on a world tour covering 16 cities, including Los Angeles, Chicago, Toronto, New York, Paris, Milan, Barcelona, London, Kaohsiung, Bangkok, Jakarta, Bulacan, Singapore, Tokyo, and Hong Kong, with a total of 31 performances, solidifying their presence as a global top artist.
[Geum Bitna, MK Sports Reporter]
