BabyMonster is built for the stage. Its 'Choom' tour opener in Seoul showed why. 

BabyMonster is a group built for a concert, not a three-minute music show stage. Strong live vocals, ad-libs thrown in on the fly and a full band behind the songs were all the things that stood out in the “Choom” world tour concert, and which mostly get missed in music videos and TV performances.

The six members of BabyMonster spent Sunday night pulling a sold-out arena up to their level — breaking off mid-song to chase louder cheers, trading the stage on solo turns and embracing the crowd's noise rather than performing over it.

Sunday's concert was the last of three nights at the Jamsil Indoor Stadium in Songpa District, southern Seoul. The three-day event opened BabyMonster's second world tour, named for the group's third EP and its title track, "Choom," or dance, which was released in May.

The group played 28 songs, among them a solo stage for each of its six members and an encore of remixed hits. Member Rami, on hiatus since May 2025 for health reasons, did not perform.

Ahyeon's solo, on Ariana Grande's "Problem" (2014), was the loudest turn of the night, featuring a kiss blown to the camera, ad-libs piled onto the melody and high notes pushed past the recorded version. The same reaching that can come off as too much on a TV stage was exactly what the arena needed. For the fans — Monstiez, as BabyMonster's following is known — it was what they had come for.

"It felt so good to feel Monstiez's energy up close," Ahyeon said.

The other five also gave solo performances to show off their individual charms. Rora reached back to "Havana" (2017), the song she had performed as a trainee in an audition before YG Entertainment founder Yang Hyun-suk. Back then she forgot the lyrics and broke into tears, but this time she sang and danced through it perfectly. Asa opened "Temple" (2016) in a sweeping, wide-sleeved robe of crimson and gold brocade, shedding it midway for a sultrier dance break.

Pharita, in pink, took on Nicki Minaj's "Super Bass" (2011), and Ruka leaned on her rapping and dancing for "Ratata" (2023). Chiquita drew gasps with a silhouette dance, the crowd able to make out only her outline, before a cover of "Worth It" (2015).

The live band that played in the background also did their part. Early on, after the first two songs, the members slipped backstage to prepare for the next track. But the band kept playing. The band stretched the music to bridge a gap that other concerts would often play a prerecorded video.

The band stayed central from there, supporting the members' vocals while giving the songs a fuller, looser shape than their studio versions. Backing tracks ran, as at any K-pop concert, and at points the members pulled their microphones away and let the recording carry the moment — but the choruses and the high notes were theirs, live.

Coming towards the end of the concert, "Hot Sauce" (2025) brought out one of the biggest responses from the audience, as everyone stood up to dance to the upbeat song. The group also received a strong reception when performing "Sugar Honey Ice Tea," "Forever" (2024) and B-sides from "Choom" and "Drip" (2024). 

Underneath the showmanship was something simpler — the members had clearly missed performing for a crowd.

"When we were rehearsing in our practice room, I kept feeling like something was missing that I couldn't quite figure out," Ahyeon said. "Part of it is the practice and the skill, but I've come to realize it was because you weren't there in front of us."

The group's encore also didn't disappoint. When performing remixed versions of "Sheesh" (2024) and "Batter Up" (2023), the six members let the tight chreography go, roaming the stage and jumping with the crowd rather than just dancing at it. 

The Seoul shows are only the start. The "Choom" tour next moves on to Kobe, Japan, on July 8 and 9, and is set to span 18 cities in total. After several more performances in Japan, the group will then perform in the Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Taiwan, Singapore, Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong and Macau — with Europe, North America and South America still to come.

“We still very much have a lot to show, so I hope you look forward to it and I hope we can walk together on the journey,” Rora said.

BY CHO YONG-JUN [[email protected]]