As the lights dimmed and the arena erupted with a deafening roar, shining lightsticks held by Seventeen's dedicated fandom, Carat, lit up the concert space, a testament to the anticipation that had been building for the band's "Right Here" world tour.

The air was thick with excitement at Goyang Stadium, Gyeonggi, as the beloved boy group took the stage. Its infectious energy immediately captivated the audience on Oct. 13 for the inaugural concert of Seventeen's world tour.

The concert was a sonic masterpiece, showcasing Seventeen's impeccable musicianship and undeniable stage presence. From the opening number, "Fear" (2019), Seventeen captivated the crowd with its powerful vocals, intricate choreography and undeniable chemistry.


While chanting "Seventeen right here. You guys are here with us," the members of Seventeen, led by Seungkwan, hyped up the crowd, with the fans chanting along with the members.


"Thank you so much to our Carats for coming all this way and filling up such a large venue. We performed four times this year in Incheon, Sangam, Gocheok and Goyang, and I was so happy to see you so often that I couldn't control my energy from the opening," said member Hoshi after the concert opener.

The concert featured tracks from the new EP Spill the Feels, including the high-energy "Water," performed by the band's hip-hop unit that comprises S.Coups, Mingyu, Wonwoo and Vernon, the dance-focused "Rain," performed by the performance unit of Hoshi, The8 and Dino, and the emotional ballad "Candy" sung by the vocal unit including Joshua, Woozi, DK and Seungkwan. Originally used as a sports venue, Goyang Stadium was equipped with a corridor-style stage for the members to better interact with their fans. The band performed while walking around the stage, always engaging with the crowd.

"'Water’ is a song I made while imagining performing at a concert, and it's a song I made to enjoy more with the fans," said Mingyu.

"As you live your life in the world, the emotion of love becomes complicated and you start thinking about everything around you. When I think about the feeling of unwrapping candy as a kid, it's simple, but I wonder why it gets so complicated when I get older. I wanted to talk about love with a childlike heart," said Woozi regarding the track "Candy."

When talking about the song "Rain," The8 said, "It's a song with a mood, atmosphere and rhythm, and it's a performance that can highlight the choreography. The lyrics are about waiting for and searching for someone."

Seventeen performed a total of 26 songs during the concert, including the new EP's lead track, "Love, Money, Fame (feat. DJ Khaled)." The band showcased its diverse charms by performing tracks like "March" (2022), which features a rock sound, and "Super" (2023). As Seventeen performed, drones painted the night sky above Goyang Stadium with a diamond, symbolizing Carat. The audience waved placards and cheered on Seventeen while wishing the members luck for their upcoming world tour shows.

"Although Jeonghan and Jun are not here right now, I always dream of the day when we can all get together again as 13 and perform on stage,” said member S.Coups. “Iwant to say that I want to spend all this time with our fans, Carat. I want to live as a Seventeen member forever."

"I would be so grateful if you would always fill the stadium like this. I will do everything until Carats think I've really done enough," said Seungkwan.

Seventeen's global appeal was evident as fans from around the world packed arenas to see the group perform. The "Right Here" tour marked the boy band's first world tour in two years, following the successful "Be the Sun" during which the group performed across 20 different cities worldwide in 2022.

"I flew all the way to Korea from Norway just to see this concert," said Karolina, a 24-year-old fan from Norway. "It's my first Seventeen concert, and I'm extremely excited now.

The concert was a testament to Seventeen's unwavering dedication to its craft as the band's "Right Here" world tour is set to continue with stops in the United States and Japan.

The U.S. leg of the tour will kick off on Oct. 22 and 23 at the Allstate Arena in Rosemont, Illinois. The boy band will then perform at the UBS Arena in Elmont, New York, on Oct. 25 and 27; the Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas, on Oct. 31 and Nov. 1; the Oakland Arena in Oakland, California, on Nov. 5 and 6; and the BMO Stadium in Los Angeles on Nov. 9.

The ensuing Japanese leg of the tour will be held at the Vantelin Dome in Nagoya on Nov. 29 and 30; the Tokyo Dome in Tokyo on Dec. 4 and 5; the Kyocera Dome in Osaka on Dec. 12, 14 and 15; and the Mizuho Payday Dome in Fukuoka on Dec. 19, 21 and 22.

BY YOON SEUNG-JIN [yoon.seungjin@joongang.co.kr]