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On September 21, 2024, IU kicked off the first of her two highly anticipated 'Encore: The Winning' shows, concluding her 'HEREH World Tour' at Seoul World Cup Stadium. The event, known for its impressive production, once again delivered an unforgettable experience for fans.
One of the most talked-about moments of the concert was when the idol appeared to 'surf' above the crowd on a surfboard while backup dancers, dressed as sea creatures, including jellyfish and sharks, mingled with the audience. The lightstick colors held by fans transformed the stadium into a glowing ocean, enhancing the immersive atmosphere.
The concert featured a remarkable musical arrangement, including a live band, a 3-person polyphonic group, a 40-person harmony choir, and a 32-piece symphony orchestra. After the visuals of the idol's performance surfaced online, fans flocked to social media platforms to express their admiration. One fan on X, @devanghelita wrote:
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"IU Queen things, that's her mind - making masterpice into a legacy."
Several other fans echoed similar sentiments on X.
"Woooahhh this is soooo cool! Her flying in a surf board, back up dancers carrying jelly fish, sharks, or any sea creature in the audience... while the lightstick colors resemble ocean! Production is srsly insane!!" a fan wrote.
"THE FIRST KOREAN WHO SURFED IN THE AIR. YES!" an X user commented.
"I KEPT ON EXPLAINING TO MY FRIEND THAT THIS IS HER. THAT THIS IS NOT A KPOP GROUP. AND SHE WAS LIKE WHAT IN THE WORLD HOW," another person remarked.
A highlight of the night was the breathtaking drone light show during the idol's performance of Last Fantasy, accompanied by a full orchestra.
"soccer fans said the concert might ruin the grass so iu decided to fly every other song what a considerate queen i think!!" a fan mentioned.
"never seen an idol who put so much effort to their concert.. she's truly the best," an X user commented.
"u're so good at ur craft. this makes me add 'going to SK just to see u perform live & witness this kind of prod w/ my own eyes' in my bucket list in this lifetime. so PLEASE be you for a long long time for me to experience this & cross it out of my list," another fan remarked.
More from IU's 'Encore: The Winning Show in Seoul'
Additionally, the Eight singer captivated the audience with her performance of Shh, during which photos of prominent female celebrities, from idols to actors across different generations, were displayed, paying homage to influential women in the industry.
Fans were amazed by the grand scale and creativity of the production, further cementing the artist's reputation for delivering live performances. Some women that were part of her Shh stage included MAMAMOO members Chuu, Ailee, LOVELYZ's Yein and Sujeong, BILLLIE's Moon Sua, Suhyeon, Haram, NMIXX's Kyujin, AKMU's Suhyun, Kwon Eun-bi, Jim Sejeong, Yang Hee-eun, Han Young-ae, Patti Kim, and NewJeans' Hyein, among others.
The K-pop star will conclude her six-month tour on September 22, 2024, at the Seoul World Cup Stadium, following international stops in Japan, Indonesia, Singapore, London, Washington, D.C., and more.
