KOR
BIGBANG, who shook up the music scene two decades ago, put on a stellar performance proving why they remain the kings of K-pop even after twenty years. The event took place at their world tour stop at Goyang Stadium on the evening of August 23 at 7 PM.
As the lights went down and a video of falling meteorites filled the screen, the numbers "2006-2026" appeared. When G-DRAGON, TAEYANG, and DAESUNG stepped onto the stage together, fans from all over the world erupted into long-awaited cheers. Opening with "FANTASTIC BABY," the concert immediately drew loud sing-alongs from the audience.
This massive sing-along was made possible by the open-concept stage design and powerful sound setup. A straight main stage paired with a long extended thrust stage allowed most attendees to feel closer to the members. A 23-ton mobile LED structure utilized multi-motor torque synchronization technology, enabling the massive stage elements to move smoothly while visually bringing to life the worldview connecting "BIGBANG," "CHAOS," and "COSMOS."
However, some fans seated right in front of the stage noted that their views were occasionally blocked due to the high stage height, showing that the structural limitations typical of large arenas were not entirely resolved this time. Overall, the sound was stable, and the lighting and stage effects—particularly the well-timed fireworks—heightened the mood of the tracks. It was a visually and aurally rich performance.
The setlist spanned 32 tracks covering two decades of music, from early career hits like "Lies" and "Haru Haru" to their latest releases. Given their extensive catalog of hits, mass sing-alongs were a constant throughout the show. The members also presented fresh arrangements backed by a live band. "Haru Haru" was reinterpreted as a rock version featuring impressive shouting vocals, while the encore wrapped up with early hits like "Heaven" and "Sunset Glow," evoking deep nostalgia.
As the first solo runner, DAESUNG performed "Universe" and "HANDO-CHOGUA" back-to-back, executing sharp choreography with backup dancers while lifting the mood with playful facial expressions. Next, TAEYANG opened his solo set with "BAD" on a stage set with steel structures. His live vocals, delivered with powerful ad-libs, were praised as being quintessential TAEYANG. While performing "LIVE FAST DIE SLOW," he stepped down into the audience to shorten the distance and interact closely with fans.
G-DRAGON's vocals stood out the most. Unlike his recent solo concert where he drew attention for poor condition, on this day he delivered much more stable and relaxed tones. His performance remained high-quality and tireless throughout. After opening his solo set with "POWER," he performed a rock arrangement of "Crayon," and sang "Crooked" while lying down on the stage, maintaining his signature swag.
Sincerity shone through in their comments to the fans who have stood by them for 20 years. G-DRAGON kept the conversation going on stage, saying, "This is definitely not to stall for time, but because it's our last Goyang stop and I want to savor it," and reflected on their 20th-anniversary activities by calling it "the culmination of everything."
Behind the high quality of this concert was a star-studded production lineup. Produced by YG, the show featured the band "Wow" Jones—who has worked with Usher, Post Malone, and Rihanna—performing all songs live. Twenty dancers added power to the group choreography, while director Mike Carson, who helmed the 2025 Super Bowl Halftime Show, and Es Devlin, who designed the 2012 London Olympics closing ceremony, participated in the direction and stage design. The precise timing of the aforementioned fireworks and lighting production appears to stem from this elite crew.
The new song "BiiiG," unveiled for the first time on this day, was released on the 19th. It served as their first digital single in four years and four months, and kicked off their first concert since their 2017 Japan dome tour in about nine years. The members shared their thoughts with the fans who protected them for 20 years, saying, "You are BIGBANG, and you yourselves are a huge inspiration."
Starting with the Goyang concert, BIGBANG has officially set off on their "BIGBANG 2026-2027 WORLD TOUR <XX : COSMOS>," which will take them to 33 shows across 19 cities worldwide, including North America, Europe, Oceania, and Asia.
Photo=YG Entertainment
(SBS Entertainment News | Kang Kyung-youn)
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