When the Run Seokjin Ep. Tour was announced, I went through every emotion possible. Excitement, panic, and then disappointment when I realized there wouldn’t be a Manila stop. Asia only had three stops: Goyang in South Korea, plus Osaka and Chiba in Japan. I never even considered Japan, since their strict no-photo and no-video rules meant I wouldn’t be able to take home any memories. With the first show set for June 28 and tickets announced barely two months ahead, everything felt chaotic.
I initially tried for Goyang, but I secretly registered for the EU presale too. On ticketing day for Goyang, April 28, I landed number 26,000-something in the queue, which meant no chance at an 11,000-capacity venue, even if it was for two nights. The next day was the London presale, and by some glitch, Ticketmaster placed me at just over 1,000 in line. That little miracle secured me a ticket for Day 1.
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| naturally my day 1 outfit was Run Seokjin Tour-inspired, and these are items I already have in my closet |
The next hurdle was the UK visa. With my long BTS Festa trip in Korea scheduled for June 4, timing was tight because I had to get my passport back before my flight. I had to prepare everything quickly, and I submitted my application on May 13. Miraculously, in just five business days, I got the email saying my passport was ready for collection, and my visa was approved. That was when everything became real.
By then, I knew one day wouldn’t be enough, so I booked for Day 2 as well. Ironically, I scored a better seat for nearly half the price, thanks to Ticketmaster’s dreaded dynamic pricing.
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| my view without zooming in - I thought it was pretty good |
Concert day was everything I’d hoped for. I lined up for merch and failed, exchanged freebies with fellow ARMYs, and made new friends even before stepping inside the arena. My seat was farther back compared to Day 2, but being in the lowest seated section close to the center gave me a perfect view of the entire stage production.
The setlist kicked off with his most upbeat songs like 'Running Wild' and 'I'll Be There', then came a few other songs. Then we played the first game to determine his next outfit, which will be for 'Super Tuna' – and yes, Jin performed it in his iconic alien-abduction astronaut outfit. It was hilarious and had the whole crowd laughing and cheering.
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| Super Tuna and his funny karaoke visuals |
Later on, the mood shifted when he sat down at the piano to perform a couple of songs. Those quieter moments were intimate and emotional, showing his artistry in a raw and vulnerable way. Hearing him sing while playing felt like a privilege.
Then came 'Rope It', which felt like a cowboy-inspired, line-dancing anthem. It was playful, energetic, and completely different from his other songs. It showed off just how wide his musical range is, and the whole arena was clapping and dancing along.
the 'Rope It' performance was something else
He also performed classic BTS songs like 'Dynamite', 'Butter', 'Mikrokosmos', and 'Spring Day', and of course, his first-ever solo song, 'The Astronaut'.
And then came the encore with 'Epiphany' and 'Moon'. The show ended with 'To Me, Today', which is about embracing yourself, growing, and finding joy in the present moment. Hearing it live felt like a personal letter from Jin to himself, and in turn, to us. The entire arena was filled with ARMY bombs swaying in unison, everyone singing along. I teared up a bit here. It was the perfect closing song, leaving the night on a heartfelt and hopeful note.
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| I just love how he radiated happiness on stage |
Walking out of the venue, I felt like all the stress of ticketing, visas, and planning had paid off. And the best part? I still had Day 2 to look forward to.
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