The boom of K-bands started with Day6 and ended with Day6. Those who entered the gymnastics arena gathered the highest attendance for a single event, showcasing their status as the best 'K-pop band'.
On the afternoon of the 18th, the final performance of Day6's third world tour 'Forever Young' was held at the Olympic Park Gymnastics Arena in Bangi-dong, Songpa-gu, Seoul. This concert was held over a total of 6 performances from the 9th to the 11th and from the 16th to the 18th, all of which sold out, proving their popularity.
The Seoul performance recorded a maximum capacity of over 16,000 people at the gymnastics arena, gathering a total of 96,000 attendees. This is the largest record in the history of the gymnastics arena, proving Day6's fandom power.
The concert is the finale of a world tour that started in September last year at the Incheon Inspire Arena and expanded to 45 performances in 23 regions worldwide, including Asia, North America, and Oceania.
As the lights signaling the start of the performance turned on, the members appeared from different spaces among the audience. The sight of the members gathering at the center of the stage felt like the triumphant return of a 'national representative band'. In particular, the drummer Dowoon, who seemed to raise the heat himself by shouting, brought joy to the viewers.
The performance was fully open 360 degrees around the stage, providing a rich musical spatial experience.
Day6, who sang 'Best Part', 'Better Better', 'Healer', and 'To Become One Page' in succession, led the audience's cheers during their first talk time by saying, “(Since this is the last performance in Seoul) it’s a day with no regrets. We need a lot of energy. Please shout out loud.” Wonpil expressed gratitude, saying, “It took a long time to get here. I am just so thankful to be surrounded by fans on stage. I think we can do this thanks to the fans. Let’s make good memories today,” and passionately sang the next song 'She Smiled'.
In line with the reputation of 'Day6, whom you can trust and listen to', they presented a diverse setlist and thrilling band performances that satisfied all five senses, including the first live performance of their new digital singles 'Maybe Tomorrow' and 'It's Over', released on the 7th.
Day6 also showcased their unique charm with stages of songs like 'Counter', 'Say Wow', 'Still Alive', and 'You Were Beautiful', touching the hearts of their fans.
Young K, behind the stage, said, “I learned and felt a lot during the concert period. In a way, today can be seen as the final stage of our evolution through 'Forever Young'. I think both Day6 and My Day (the fandom name) have grown a lot. That’s why we are able to have so much fun right now,” expressing satisfaction with the connection with the fans.
Before introducing the next stage, Wonpil said, “You can just enjoy the next songs or sing along. It would be even better if you sing along, but I hope you find comfort in these songs. I hope our song melts warmly into you who created miracles,” and sang 'Melting'. He connected with the fans by passionately singing 'Happy' and 'I Wish'.
The members took a breath during their talk time and, as expected from JYP Entertainment, showcased their dance skills, delighting the fans' eyes. They said, “We are also very happy to see you happily singing along,” and concluded the performance with 'Mankgam', 'Dance Dance', and 'Freely'.
Afterward, without any special comments, the members left the stage. However, the fans eagerly awaited their return through a sing-along time prepared by Day6. Responding to the fans' cheers, Day6 reappeared and performed a total of 8 encore songs, including 'Maybe Tomorrow', 'It's Over', 'It Was a Happy Day', and 'My Day', putting great effort into their final greeting with the fans. The concert concluded after a 3-hour journey.
In conclusion, Young K expressed, “We have learned a lot through the tour. There were many shortcomings, but I am grateful that the fans were there for every moment,” and added, “I hope we can look back on the memories of this performance together.”
Seongjin continued, “I have a desire to grow. I will feel a good burden and grow,” and promised, “If that happens, we will have happy times.” Dowoon shared, “A friend of mine received a cancer diagnosis, but he said our song gave him a lot of strength. I was so grateful to hear that he received treatment and recovered. Hearing that he is healthy made me realize the reason for our existence. I promise to continue making good music and repay you with great performances.”
Wonpil said, “The reason the tour could go well is truly thanks to My Day,” and expressed, “The performance is really precious, and I am so grateful that you made it even more precious. I sincerely thank you for being able to finish the tour happily. I hope you experience less pain and less hurt and be happy as you go on.”
Since their debut in November 2015 at Yes24 Move Hall, Day6 has been steadily expanding their performance scale, culminating in the gymnastics arena this May. Celebrating their 10th anniversary this year, they are demonstrating the essence of growth and solidifying their presence in K-pop.
In particular, after returning as a complete group last April, they sold out approximately 34,000 seats at the Jamsil Indoor Gymnasium, about 40,000 seats at the Inspire Arena concert as part of the world tour 'Forever Young' in September, and made history by entering the Gocheok Sky Dome, selling out about 38,000 seats, proving their solid audience mobilization power.
Additionally, Day6 is a representative group of chart reversals. Songs like 'You Were Beautiful', 'To Become One Page', 'Welcome to the Show', 'Happy', and 'Melting' gained popularity after their release, eventually making their way onto the charts. These songs have remained on the charts for a long time, showcasing Day6's unique musical influence.
On this day, Day6 connected with more fans through an online paid live broadcast via the Beyond Live platform, in addition to the offline performance.
[Ji Seung-hoon, Star Today Reporter]
