[비즈한국] 'The Dark Michael Jackson,' 'The King of R&B,' and 'The most influential global pop star of the 21st century'—these are the monikers used to describe The Weeknd. Debuting in 2011, the Canadian artist is considered one of the greatest popular music figures of the 21st century. His musical style is 'Alternative R&B,' a fusion of R&B, hip-hop, and electronic sounds. His signature vocal style is known for handling high notes with a clear, refreshing tone, which is also a reason for his 'Dark Michael Jackson' nickname due to their vocal similarities.
The Weeknd previously held a concert in South Korea at the Gocheok Sky Dome in December 2018 as part of the 'Hyundai Card Culture Project.' That performance was a success, drawing approximately 24,000 fans. While he was a global superstar then, he had not yet achieved the massive mainstream popularity in Korea that he holds today. The fact that the concert was a success even then speaks volumes about the depth of his fanbase in Korea.
The Weeknd returned to Korea once again on October 7–8 of this year. The event was held as part of the 'Hyundai Card Super Concert' series and his world tour, the 'After Hours til Dawn Tour.' The heat surrounding this performance was incomparable to 2018, as evidenced by the fact that tickets sold out within just 35 minutes of going on sale.
In reality, the status of The Weeknd in 2018 compared to 2026 is vastly different. Over the past eight years, he has swept numerous music awards, and in 2023, he became the first artist to hit 100 million monthly listeners on Spotify. Even for those in Korea who might not be familiar with his name, most would recognize hits like 'Can’t Feel My Face,' 'I Feel It Coming,' and 'Blinding Lights.' Bizhankook visited the Goyang Stadium on October 7 to soak in the atmosphere of the concert.
Opening Act by Creepy Nuts
Prior to The Weeknd’s performance, the Japanese hip-hop duo 'Creepy Nuts' took the stage as the opening act. Creepy Nuts is handling the opening duties for selected regions of The Weeknd’s 'After Hours til Dawn Tour' in Asia.
Creepy Nuts' tracks 'Bling-Bang-Bang-Born' and 'Otonoke' have both received 'Gold' certification from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). Gold certification is awarded when an album or single achieves over 500,000 units sold in the U.S. market. Considering that Blackpink, a representative K-pop powerhouse, has earned two Gold certifications for 'Ddu-Du Ddu-Du' and 'Kill This Love,' the scale of Creepy Nuts' popularity becomes clear. (Note: Including 'Sour Candy,' a collaboration with Lady Gaga, Blackpink's total Gold count rises to three.)
As such, Creepy Nuts is a hip-hop group receiving global attention, not just in Japan. They have participated in major Korean festivals like the 'Pentaport Rock Festival' and 'Wonderlivert,' and held a solo concert in Korea in 2025. Some argue they are too big of a name to be opening for someone else, given their capability to headline their own shows. However, since Japanese music is relatively less mainstream in Korea compared to the past, their recognition here is still growing. This performance could serve as a catalyst for further expanding their domestic fanbase.
The Creepy Nuts performance began at 6:45 PM. Since doors opened at 4:30 PM, there was already a sufficient audience to welcome them. They kept the crowd moving with upbeat tracks like 'Bling-Bang-Bang-Born' and 'doppelgänger.' While the fans were clearly there to see The Weeknd, they cheered enthusiastically for the duo. Creepy Nuts remained professional, focusing on their role as an opening act rather than trying to steal the spotlight, even asking the crowd, "Are you ready for the Weeknd?" during the show. Among the fans, there were even remarks like, "I came for The Weeknd, but I think I’ll become a fan of Creepy Nuts too."
Exploring The Weeknd’s Stage
The Weeknd’s production is special from the ground up. Typically, a concert features a stage at the front that the audience watches. However, The Weeknd’s stage design includes a runway extending toward the audience, allowing him to traverse the venue throughout the show. Most of his tour stops utilize this configuration.
As a solo performer, the stage could potentially feel empty. Unlike a band performance, it is just him on stage. To fill this visual space, he utilizes dancers. While his music doesn’t necessarily call for powerful, synchronized choreography, their restrained, fluid movements were perfect for complementing his presence.
His dancers, dressed in red, performed slow, flowing movements that felt almost like a ritual. This added a layer of psychedelic sensibility that perfectly matched the vibe of his music—something a more flashy or standard dance routine might have detracted from.
Another striking feature was the LED wristband given to every attendee. These wristbands would light up in sync with the music. The colors and timing varied based on the song, and they didn't all light up at once. Sometimes one section of the crowd would pulse with light while another remained dark, creating an effect similar to club lighting when viewed from above.
The stage was truly optimized for The Weeknd. The combination of spectacular lighting, the interactive wristbands, the runway connecting the artist to the audience, and the ritualistic dancers created a unique atmosphere. The Weeknd reciprocated this energy by coming down from the stage onto the floor to sing with fans and hold their hands, offering top-tier fan service.
The Three Climaxes of the Show
The Weeknd’s setlist didn't differ much from his previous shows. Opening with 'Baptized in Fear' and 'Open Hearts' seems to have become a standard ritual for his concerts. Since the majority of his performances in recent years are part of the 'After Hours til Dawn Tour,' there is little reason to deviate from the established setlist.
The first climax of the night was 'Take My Breath.' Thanks to its popularity in Korea, even the shyest audience members began to dance. Usually, in concerts, those in standing areas dance while those in seated sections remain quiet, but during this song, even the seated crowd was moving along, fully enjoying the music—perhaps revealing fans who wanted to be in standing but couldn't get tickets.
The second climax was 'I Feel It Coming.' As a widely known hit, it’s a song most people have heard at least once. While the track features Daft Punk, their 2021 disbandment meant The Weeknd had to perform it solo, which was a slight shame. Even if they hadn't disbanded, it would be rare for a duo of that stature to appear as a guest, but the audience compensated by singing along in a massive, unified chorus.
The final climax was 'Blinding Lights.' It is his signature song, so it was only natural that the crowd would go wild. It is possible that many fans endured the long wait just to hear this track; conversations overheard in the crowd included, "I don't really know The Weeknd, but I had to come to hear 'Blinding Lights.'"
As 'Blinding Lights' started, the entire audience became one, dancing and singing along. The Weeknd, despite having performed for a long time, showed no signs of fatigue, running across the stage and feeding off the crowd's energy. Perhaps because it was the final highlight, the stage lights and wristbands shone more brilliantly than ever.
Usually, concerts end with the biggest hit. While 'Blinding Lights' is arguably his biggest song, it wasn't the very last track of the main set; that honor went to 'Adaptation.' 'Blinding Lights' was the second-to-last song. While 'Adaptation' is less famous than his mega-hits, it is considered the perfect song to conclude the main performance. It allows the crowd, energized by 'Blinding Lights,' to settle down with a calm, narrative-driven track that leaves room for the future. In fact, The Weeknd almost always uses 'Adaptation' as his closing song, usually followed by two more tracks during the encore.
Perhaps due to his youth, The Weeknd showed no signs of needing a break. He performed nearly 40 songs, including the encore. It is rare for an artist to sing 40 songs in one sitting, yet he did so with minimal stage banter, opting only for what was necessary. As a result, the audience was able to hear his music live to their heart's content.
At the end of the show, The Weeknd said, "I’ll be back soon." Will he return to Korea again? If he remembers the reaction of the audience that night, he must have been deeply impressed by the experience in Korea.