“I was nervous because it was my first stage in two years, and I had many thoughts. Every time I wondered, ‘Can I do this?’ I thought of you all. I wanted to let you know that I have returned and wanted to give you the feeling that I’m glad you liked ‘Kai.’”
Singer Kai (KAI) successfully concluded his first solo concert since his debut. It has been 13 years since he debuted as part of the boy group EXO under SME in 2012, and this is his first offline solo performance after starting his solo activities five years ago.
The Seoul performance, kicking off the 2025 Kai solo concert tour ‘Kaion (KAION),’ took place on the 17th and 18th at the Olympic Park Handball Stadium in Songpa District, Seoul. 'Kaion' is a combination of the stage name ‘Kai (KAI)’ and the Greek word ‘Aion,’ meaning eternity, suggesting that artist Kai announces the beginning of eternity on stage.
The concert venue on the 18th was buzzing with the energy of fans. At 3 p.m., an hour before the show began, the area in front of the handball stadium was crowded with fans dressed in camo-themed outfits as per the dress code. About 4,500 fans filled the seats, and no empty spots were visible as the event was sold out. Fans of various nationalities from China, Indonesia, and Europe displayed banners written in Korean, including phrases like ‘Even the time I waited for you was love’ and ‘This moment is forever.’
At 4 p.m., the concert began with Kai performing a solo dance in front of a mirror, followed by the stage ‘Sinner’ with 16 dancers. As Kai appeared in a red outfit, the crowd erupted into cheers, with light sticks waving in rhythm throughout the audience. After each performance, fans chanted Kai's real name, ‘Kim Jong-in,’ heightening the atmosphere.
The concert was themed around Kai discovering his unfamiliar self and completing a new version of himself, structured in four sessions. More than 20 performances, including Kai's solo songs and EXO tracks, were delivered at a brisk pace, while various visual elements like VCRs elevated the atmosphere before and after each session.
In particular, the use of stage equipment suited to each concept added richness to the performance. The stage 'Sliding,' utilizing a moving slope lift, and the ‘Peaches’ stage performed on an inclined turntable structure helped amplify the excitement among the audience.
In addition to solo release songs, a medley of representative tracks from EXO albums, including ‘My Lady’ and ‘Baby Don’t Cry,’ was performed, stirring nostalgia among long-time fans. As ‘Into Your World,’ a track from EXO's first mini-album released in 2012, played, fans could be seen dabbing their tears amidst gasps of admiration.
Kai also expressed his strong emotions by connecting with the audience after each session. He shared, “I wanted to show you a fantastic stage, but I was quite nervous due to the lack of preparation time,” adding, “I came this far just to see all of you, and thanks to you, I was able to pull off this performance.” He concluded with, “I hope today becomes a memory I will never forget for my entire life.”
As the approximately two-hour performance concluded with an encore stage, fans left the stadium filled with regret. An attendee from Goyang City, Mr. An (32), remarked, “It was meaningful to enjoy various performances,” and noted, “It was a stage where I could confirm Kai's potential as a solo artist.”
Reactions from overseas fans were also enthusiastic. Mr. Kaiyu (24), who traveled from Changsha, China, to see the concert, said, “I was emotional to see Kai's first solo concert in person,” adding, “I had a really happy time over the two days.” Mr. Stevenson (26) from London, England, stated, “If I get the chance again, I definitely want to see him again.”
Meanwhile, Kai will continue his solo tour starting from the Seoul performance to 10 Asian cities, including Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; Jakarta, Indonesia; and Taipei, Taiwan.