38,000 voices join Charlie Puth for his biggest Korea concert yet

GOYANG, Gyeonggi — It did not take an army of backup dancers or extravagant stage effects to shake a stadium. Charlie Puth needed little more than his voice and musicality to captivate the crowd.

Some 38,000 fans gathered at Goyang Stadium in Goyang, Gyeonggi, on Sunday for Puth's first stadium concert in Korea, a milestone whose significance was not lost on the singer himself.

"I can't help but getting emotional because this is just the first time happening here for us," Puth told the crowd during the Korean stop of his "Whatever's Clever!" world tour. 

"It really means the world that everyone here showed up for music tonight," he continued. "It has been a long journey to get here, but it really is worth every hour, every minute. Very memorable."

Since making his Korean concert debut in 2016, Puth has returned to the country repeatedly, performing at increasingly larger venues. Sunday's concert marked Puth's ninth show in Korea across his five visits and his largest venue and single-night audience in the country to date. His previous visit in 2024 drew a combined 50,000 fans across two performances at Gocheok Sky Dome in western Seoul.

The evening began with three backing vocalists introducing Puth to the stage. Dressed in a navy shirt and trousers with a burgundy tie, the singer took his place at a white piano and launched into "Beat Yourself Up," a track from his latest album "Whatever's Clever!"

"Annyeonghaseyo!" he shouted mid-song, greeting the crowd in Korean. He remained at the piano for much of the early set with a live band and the backup trio, powering through songs including "How Long" (2017), "LA Girls" (2018), "Home" and "Cry."

Throughout the performance, Puth repeatedly encouraged the audience to sing along, turning the stadium into a giant choir.

"I'm going to check to make sure you guys can sing," he said during "LA Girls," while even his guitarist joined in, urging the crowd to raise their voices.

The three backing vocalists were an essential part of the performance, taking on vocal parts originally performed by featured artists on songs. Their harmonies added depth to the arrangements.

With a set list of hits, each drawing roars from the crowd as soon as each opening note was played, it was often the fans themselves who completed the performance.

During "Dangerously" (2016), Puth stepped back from the microphone to let the crowd take over the chorus, with thousands singing "I love you, I love you, I love you dangerously" before he picked up the next lines.

After the song, he made his way off the main stage and through the crowd toward a circular platform, bringing himself closer to fans seated farther away.

Thousands of phone flashlights lit up the stadium during "One Call Away" (2015), creating a sea of shimmering lights. The audience clapped along to the beat of "Done for Me" (2018), adding their own rhythm to the performance.

Puth had teased a special surprise ahead of his Korean concert, fueling speculation about a possible guest appearance. When the opening notes of "Left and Right" (2022), his collaboration with BTS member Jungkook, began playing, many fans raised their phones, seemingly hoping to capture the K-pop star's arrival.

Jungkook did not appear, but Puth took a moment to acknowledge him and BTS.

"I gotta give a special shout-out to Jungkook and all of BTS for helping make that song what it was," he said. "It's a real full-circle moment to come and play this in the stadium."

He also expressed his gratitude to BTS fans in the audience. "If there is any ARMY tonight, thank you guys, really appreciate it.”

The promised surprise came during "We Don't Talk Anymore (feat. Selena Gomez)" (2016), when Nayeon of girl group Twice appeared onstage in a long pink dress to join Puth.

After the performance, Puth called it "such a privilege to share the stage with her," adding that there was "so much talent in South Korea."

The concert continued with some of his biggest hits, including "Attention" (2018), before closing with "See You Again" (2015), his collaboration with rapper Wiz Khalifa, and "Changes" (2025).

Puth appeared visibly moved during "See You Again," seemingly tearing up as he took in the sight of the crowd.

In all, the show lasted about an hour and a half and featured 16 songs. There was no encore, leaving some fans visibly disappointed as the lights came up.

While some artists rely on elaborate sets and spectacular visual effects, particularly for concerts at venues as large as Goyang Stadium, Puth only relied on his talent. His inventive arrangements breathed new life into familiar hits without losing what made them recognizable in the first place.

The trimmed performance was a different approach to this venue, where audiences have come to expect larger-than-life productions from big-name artists.

Puth is set to continue his world tour with a concert in Pasay, the Philippines, on Wednesday, followed by a show in Yokohama, Japan, on Friday.

BY WOO JI-WON [[email protected]]