Photo Credit: SM Entertainment
On September 18th, the 'KAION' solo concert tour kicked off at the Handball Stadium located within Seoul's Olympic Park in the Songpa district, marking a significant milestone in Kai's career as a solo artist.
The concert was artfully divided into four distinct parts, each reflecting the various moods of the songs performed: 'The Stranger in the Mirror', 'The Many Selves Within Me', 'All Selves Unite', and 'A New Journey of Mine'. These segments were accentuated by stage designs featuring Kai's name in English typography 'KAI', video clips that harmonized with each song's vibe, a vast LED screen, and intricate stage props, all contributing to a visually stunning experience.
Opening the show, Kai performed 'Sinner' from his third mini album, dressed in striking red attire, followed by his popular track 'Mmmh' from his first mini album and 'Nothing On Me'. The venue resonated with the sound of fans chanting his real name, 'Kim Jongin', showcasing their admiration and excitement.
With a joyous expression, Kai embraced the enthusiasm of his fans, enthusiastically welcoming them to 'KAION', his debut solo concert. Engaging with fans scattered throughout the venue, he warmly inquired, "Did you miss me?" Acknowledging his nerves, he shared, "Today is the second day, and I'm a bit more nervous than yesterday. On the first day, it was the excitement of 'Can I do this?', but today, it's the thrill of wanting to do well and enjoy it."
The initial segment concluded with Kai delivering performances of 'Hello Stranger' from his first mini album, 'Slidin'' from his third mini album, and 'Ride Or Die' from his debut mini album.
Entering the second segment, Kai delivered captivating dance performances to EXO's songs 'My Lady', 'Baby Don't Cry', and 'Into Your World'. Clad in a formal three-piece suit, he executed solo dance routines for each track, with fans harmonizing to enhance the performance. During 'Come In' from his second mini album, he expressed his affection for fans with a heart gesture.
Reflecting on the segment, Kai asked, "How was the EXO medley after a long time?" and added, "Dancing while listening to EXO-L's chorus after so long was overwhelming. It brought back many old memories. It felt like a time to reminisce from debut until now with you all, and when 'Into Your World' played, I almost teared up."
Continuing, he remarked, "I hope you enjoyed the opening and bridge videos. The response was great. It was about the process of filling in the new Kai. I wonder if you discovered a new side of me. It's been 14 years, and there's still so much to show. New things keep coming out," expressing his commitment to his fans.
Switching to a more casual look with rimless glasses, Kai performed 'Vanilla' from his second mini album, the title track 'Peaches', and 'Adult Swim' from his fourth mini album.
Kai signaled a shift in the concert's mood, saying, "I'll change the mood of the songs," before thrilling the audience with 'Wait On Me', the lead track from his fourth mini album, followed by 'Pressure', 'Walls Don't Talk', and 'Bomba' from his third mini album.
As the third segment commenced, Kai, dressed in a leather jacket and black cap, elevated the energy with a performance of the unreleased solo song 'Confession' and 'Domino' from his second mini album, heightening the concert's intensity.
Breathing heavily, Kai humorously referred to this part as "the death section," as the applause from EXO-L filled the venue. He confided, "Through this concert, I wanted to show you that I'm back. I wanted to make sure the time you waited and liked me wasn't regretted. And most of all, I hoped it would be a chance to rethink your feelings for me. 'That's why I like Kai', 'No one but Kai satisfies me', 'My true dopamine is Kai'—I wanted to reaffirm these thoughts."
Encouraging the audience to embrace the moment, he exclaimed, "Let's go crazy today," before performing 'Reason' from his first mini album.
As the concert neared its conclusion, Kai expressed his joy and gratitude, stating, "Today was truly a happy and enjoyable time. And I'm so thankful that our members came to watch the performance," acknowledging Suho, Chanyeol, and D.O. He continued, "Thanks to the support from my brothers, I could hold this concert. Thank you. To the members and to you all for being part of my first solo concert 'KAION'. I'll return with a more impressive stage after growing further," pledging to continue evolving as an artist. He concluded the third segment with the fan-favorite solo song 'Rover'.
Despite the concert's official end, EXO-L continued chanting 'Kim Jongin', prompting Kai to perform 'Blue' from his second mini album as an encore. Overwhelmed, he remarked, "Thank you for the encore," and shared, "This feels like the most breathless performance I've ever done. I used all my energy during 'Rover'." While snapping photos, fans surprised him with a heartfelt slogan event declaring "Jongin, we love you," moving him to tears.
Deeply touched, Kai expressed, "I'm so touched and happy. It was a time that made me feel many emotions. There was fear and many thoughts, but I always thought of you at those times. I think I could hold the concert by focusing only on you. When I'm on stage, I feel nothing but happiness. I realized again today that performing in front of you is what I love most. I will never forget today," passionately closing the Seoul concert with 'To Be Honest' from his second mini album.