K-pop boy band BIGBANG’s rapper T.O.P performs during the M.A.D.E. concert at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul, Saturday. / Courtesy of YG Entertainment

By Kim Jae-heun

BIGBANG’s last concerts in Korea seemed no different from any of their other performances, but this time, over 64,000 fans gathered for the concerts at Gocheok Sky Dome, Seoul, to bid farewell to the rapper T.O.P ― the first BIGBANG member to be drafted into the army. He will report for duty next month.

Fans filled up the baseball stadium with lights shining from thousands of yellow light-sabers ― an official cheering tool of the idol group’s fan club “VIP.” They could be heard throughout the three hour-long concerts. They were BIGBANG’s last shows in Korea before the band gets back together again in five years time, at earliest, after all the members complete their military service.

“BIGBANG members and I came this far with each other since we were 19 years old,” said T.O.P during the Sunday concert. “Honestly, I was afraid of moving to a new environment before where it’s a totally new place to me, but now I feel comfortable. I have exactly a month left before I join up, and everybody has to go. I am just thankful that I am able to round off my work here for a while and I thank you all for your support and love.”

“Two years won’t be too long a time. I will try to make eye contact with each and every one of you and keep you in my mind. I will come back as a more mature and improved person,” added T.O.P.

The band leader G-Dragon agreed with that sentiment, saying that it took three years for them to return with their recent M.A.D.E. album.

“BIGBANG will not be able to perform together with all the members of the band for a while, but we will strive to fill T.O.P’s spot by releasing albums as a 4-member act as well as giving solo performances,” said G-Dragon.

BIGBANG kicked off their world tour last July with three concerts in Osaka, Japan, and one in Seoul at the World Cup Stadium in August. They followed with 20 more gigs in four different cities. The BIGBANG M.A.D.E. concerts were one of four programs of the idol band’s year-long project to celebrate their 10th anniversary and a total of 1.12 million fans attended the shows.

The K-pop group opened the final show with three lively dance songs “Heaven,” “We Like 2 Party” and “Hands Up” and performed to their latest songs “FXXk It,” “Last Dance” and “Girl Friend.” They were the new additions to the previous M.A.D.E. Series concert in Seoul, last August.

Each member featured their solo performances in turn and unit collaborations, such as between G-Dragon and T.O.P. and G-Dragon and Tae Yang.

Not only did Koreans enjoy the shows in Seoul but many fans from different countries flew here solely to attend the concerts.

Hong Kong fan Wendy Chu has attended all the concerts in her homeland and Saturday-Sunday’s concert was her second in Seoul. Chu flew four hours to Korea to see T.O.P.’s last performances before his enlistment.

“I watched both shows this weekend. I only came to Korea to watch BIGBANG and I am very sad. I hope T.O.P. takes care of himself while he is in the army and hope he comes back safe and sound,” said Chu.

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Source: The Korea Times

Determined to bid what the group has called a temporary farewell in typical BIGBANG fashion, the iconic K-pop boy band went all out in every aspect — fashion, sound, performance, camera work and stage design — at its final concerts in Seoul this past weekend.

Some 64,000 flocked to the “0 To 10 Final in Seoul” concerts, held at the Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul on Saturday and Sunday, according to YG Entertainment — many from overseas.

The shows marked the last installation in BIGBANG’s 10-year-anniversary project — including an art exhibit in Seongsu-dong and a film of its world tour — that has been ongoing since last year.

Sunday’s concert kicked off with “My Heaven,” “We Like 2 Party” and “Hands Up.” The group also performed new songs from their recent album “MADE: The Full Album,” “Fxxk It” and “Last Dance.” Throbbing dance hits such as “Bang Bang Bang” and “Fantastic Baby” closed the show, followed by an encore during which BIGBANG circled the stadium on a moving platform.

A gigantic pyramid lift installed onstage allowed the band members to move in different formations for each song.

The group’s five members delivered energetic performances until the very end. “This is the last concert all five of us will be able to participate in for a long time. I’ll remember it for the rest of my life,” said T.O.P.

(Read also: BIGBANG returns to Billboard)

T.O.P of BIGBANG during the concert.(YG Entertainment via The Korea Herald/File)

The rapper, 29, will begin his 19-month mandatory military service on Feb. 9, upon which BIGBANG as a group will go on a hiatus. G-Dragon and Taeyang are also expected to enlist later this year.

G-Dragon in front of the fans during “0 To 10 Final in Seoul” concert.(YG Entertainment via The Korea Herald/File)

Taeyang in the “0 To 10 Final in Seoul” concert.(YG Entertainment via The Korea Herald/File)

“You are the ones who shared memories with us for 10 years, who let us grow with your passion,” T.O.P told the sea of fans waving yellow glow sticks.

“I‘ve been running forward since I was 19. There was a sense of fear and loneliness in going to a new environment, but I feel at peace now. Everyone has to go,” he said on his military service. “I’m thankful I’m able to have a brilliant ending.”

But BIGBANG made sure to end on a hopeful note. “This is not our last,” said Taeyang. “Our first 10 years have passed by so quickly. Likewise, we’re sure the day when we meet again will come soon. Don’t worry.”

(Read also: BIGBANG’s ‘Bad Boy’ video reaches 100m YouTube viewers)

Daesung of BIGBANG in the concert.(YG Entertainment via The Korea Herald/File)

Seungri of BIGBANG performing in the concert.(YG Entertainment via The Korea Herald/File)

G-Dragon expressed wistfulness but indicated that individual members would actively release music as solo acts.

“We should have met more often,” he told fans. “I’m sorry to be late. But I’m happy we’re starting the year together. I look forward to 2017.

“Our long hiatus will pass by quickly with each member’s solo acts in between. There’s nothing to be too sad about,” he added.

This article appeared on The Korea Herald newspaper website, which is a member of Asia News Network and a media partner of The Jakarta Post

Source: the Jakarta Post