Home > Entertainment > K-pop

My first K-pop concert: Riize's world tour finale at the KSPO Dome

Published: 09 Mar. 2026, 20:03

RIIZE welcomes fans to the finale of their world tour at the KSPO Dome in southern Seoul on March 8. [SM ENTERTAINMENT]

[GIVE IT A GO]

To be completely honest, I am not a big fan of K-pop. A shocking confession, I know. When I first moved to Korea, it almost felt illegal to admit it.

That is not to say that I wasn’t at all familiar. I had spent part of high school in Korea, and even in my native New Zealand, K-pop is no small thing. You would have to be living under a rock if you had never heard of global sensations like BTS, Blackpink or the latest fad, "KPop Demon Hunters" (2025). Still, my knowledge didn’t extend much further than the biggest names.

So, when I was asked if I wanted to attend my first-ever K-pop concert, the finale of boy band Riize’s first world tour, I’ll admit I had to do a quick Google search.

After talking to some friends far more well-versed in the world of K-pop than I was, I learned I was in for a treat. Since its debut in 2023, Riize has amassed over 200 million worldwide streams and is considered one of the fastest-growing K-pop bands. At its recent shows at the Tokyo Dome in Japan, Riize attracted 120,000 fans. And, a Spotify search led me to discover that I actually did know a couple of the group's songs.

RIIZE performs at the KSPO Dome in southern Seoul on March 8. [SM ENTERTAINMENT]

Stepping into the Riize universe

I arrived at the KSPO Dome in southern Seoul on a Sunday afternoon. The moment I stepped off the subway, I was greeted by crowds moving toward the venue. Across its three Seoul shows, 32,000 fans attended, selling out the stadium.

As I walked through the Olympic Park to the entrance of the stadium, fans posed for photos with flags that lined the walkways and massive billboards towering over us. They laid out merchandise, from T-shirts to posters to the famous K-pop lightsicks, and snapped bird's-eye view photos of their prized possessions.

I was feeling very grateful that I decided to arrive early. The crowds of overly energetic fans were difficult to navigate and the stadium grounds were massive. Still, I found the energy to be contagious.

I collected my ticket from the press stand and headed inside to find my seat. Not long after I sat down, dramatic music began to reverberate through the arena and the show was underway. Almost instantly, the people around me pulled out their phones to record. Instinctively, I did the same.

RIIZE performs ″Fame″ during the finale of their world tour at the KSPO Dome in southern Seoul on March 8. [SM ENTERTAINMENT]

The six members of Riize — Wonbin, Anton, Shotaro, Sohee, Eunseok and Sungchan — appeared as the giant screen behind the stage split in two. They stood, in power stances, on a small platform suspended from the ceiling that reminded me of the scaffolding window washers use when cleaning very tall buildings — a thought that did not cross the minds of those around me, judging by the shrieks of excitement. As close-ups of each member flashed across the stadium screens, fans squealed in delight.

Moments later, the venue erupted as the group launched into its opening song, "Bag Bad Back" (2025), paired with intense choreography. I had been told that Riize fans took their chants seriously, but I was still taken aback by the intensity. Thousands of voices shouted “Bag! Bag! Bag!” in unison. Around the arena, fans waved glowing lightsticks that pulsed and changed color in sync with the music, bobbing them along with the beat.

RIIZE performs at the KSPO Dome in southern Seoul on March 8. [SM ENTERTAINMENT]

Every now and then, one of the members would tug his jacket off slightly to reveal his shoulder mid-dance, sending sections of the crowd into absolute hysteria. It struck me as slightly amusing, but in fairness, the stadium was sweltering. On top of that, they did not stop dancing.

From my seat, I had a perfect view of the stage: close enough that Riize didn’t look like tiny, unrecognizable figures, but far enough away that I could take in the entire atmosphere — the lights, the graphics, the confetti and the crowd itself.

I was also seated with an aisle right in front of me, something my long legs greatly appreciated. I would soon discover that extra leg room wouldn’t be the only perk.

After a few more songs, the members of Riize took a much-deserved breather. The members welcomed the audience and shared their aspirations for the finale.

RIIZE performs ″Midnight Mirage″ during the finale of their world tour at the KSPO Dome in southern Seoul on March 8. [SM ENTERTAINMENT]

Later in the concert, Riize reappeared high above the stage once again. This time, as the sextet performed its song "Midnight Mirage" (2025), the members were suspended from the ceiling on small floating clouds. I was amused and couldn’t help but stifle a laugh. They seemed to be enjoying it just as much as the audience, tossing pieces of fluff at each other and joking around as they sang.

The show continued with a string of high-intensity, tightly choreographed performances. What impressed me most was the sheer stamina. Riize executed complex dance routines while also delivering incredibly strong vocals. And, the members kept it up for nearly three hours.

Each performance was amplified by elaborate production — sweeping lights, blasts of confetti and fireworks that lit up the arena. During "Be My Next" (2024), the group was even joined on stage by oversized animal mascot versions of themselves. Here, I did feel my limited K-pop knowledge catching up to me as I watched in confusion.

Confetti is blasted over the audience as RIIZE performs ″Fly Up″ during the finale of their world tour at the KSPO Dome in southern Seoul on March 8. [SM ENTERTAINMENT]

Understanding the hype

Eventually, the members of Riize came together at the center of the stage to bid farewell to their fans. They reflected on the past eight months of their world tour and thanked the crowd for their support before disappearing backstage, seemingly bringing the show to a close.

But — spoiler alert — that was only the beginning of the end. What followed was not one, but two encores, making up a 27-song set list.

As fans chanted for more and broke out into some spontaneous karaoke, it became clear that the night was not over just yet. Sure enough, the group soon reappeared on stage, greeted by another eruption of cheers.

Riize closed out the night with a few more songs including "Combo" (2024) and "One Kiss" (2024) and stepped off the main stage and into the audience. As the boys circled the stadium, the crowd went into a frenzy. Fans leaned over railings and reached desperately, hoping to capture the perfect video or touch the hand of their favorite member.

Watching the commotion unfold, I suddenly realized the members were heading straight toward my section, and within minutes, the group was directly in front of me. I am not a fan, but even I was shocked.

RIIZE says goodbye to the audience at the end of the finale of their world tour at the KSPO Dome in southern Seoul on March 8. [SM ENTERTAINMENT]

By the time the final song ended and the show came to a close, my ears were ringing.

I can’t say I walked out a K-pop fan necessarily. But, after almost three hours of relentless energy, perfectly choreographed performances and undeniable crowd enthusiasm, I could at least understand the hype a little more.

BY ALICIA CARR [[email protected]]