Concert Review: ‘Easy Crazy Hot’ in Incheon
My first k-pop concert with Le Sserafim
Saturday night, I experienced my first k-pop concert with the five-member girl group Le Sserafim on opening night of their first world tour, “Easy Crazy Hot.”
I’ve been “in the world of k-pop” as a fan of BTS for almost three years now, but I’ve just been a casual listener of Le Sserafim for about a year. I didn’t start diving deeper into their music until their newest album, “Hot,” released earlier this spring, but immediately, I loved the songs and the meanings behind them.
I truly believe that you can tell which artists put their own heart and soul into their music, rather than creating music for the sole purpose of trending or topping the charts. You can feel Le Sserafim bloom through this album. You can feel the pain, fear, hope, and struggles throughout.
The group went through a difficult year after what was deemed by many as a failed set at Coachella in 2024. Due to the intense, and unwarranted, hate targeted toward the members, the group wondered how they would be able to carry on or if there was even a future for them. Member Huh Yunjin in particular has voiced her thoughts on this period, both on the group’s page on Weverse and in her ending speech the second night of the concert.
Despite believing that their career could be over, the group is now embarking on their first world tour, starting in Incheon, South Korea. After hearing the music in “Hot,” I knew I had to attend this concert. Once I braved the tense, and often morale destroying, ticketing process in Interpark (Korea’s ticketing system) I had secured my ticket to night one.
Photo from Korea Dispatch: Members of Le Sserafim (left to right): Hong Eunchae, Huh Yunjin, Sakura, Kim Chaewon, Kazuha.
To prepare, I listened nonstop to their discography and tried to learn as much as I could. I am proud to say that on the night of the concert, I knew every song enough to sing along other than two songs I hadn’t been able to find prior to the concert.
When I arrived at the venue, I got my ID verified before heading into Fearnot Zone for a commemorative photocard gift. After pulling member Hong Eunchae, I headed to the lobby of the arena. On the way, I met another fan who was hoping to trade Yunjin for Eunchae. Since Yunjin is the member I have identified with the most at this point, I traded for her (yay!)
After securing a light stick and a sweatshirt, I waited for my turn to enter into the arena. Once the concert started, I was so excited, my hands were shaking. If you saw any of my Instagram videos from the beginning of the concert, you may have noticed.
From start to finish, the concert was masterfully done. The members’s vocals were all stunning and it was obvious their mics were on. The work they put into perfecting their live vocals was evident, and I found myself, as always, impressed at how they could sing so well while dancing!
The group opened the concert with their song “Ash,” which was banned from music show promotion in Korea for its deep and difficult lyrics that tackle painful situations. Though this may have been seen by reviewers as a song that “glorifies” self-harm or struggles of that nature, I see the song as a declaration that the fire that was meant to destroy only turned them into something more beautiful and ready to endure whatever will be thrown their way in the future.
This song is a song about overcoming what was meant to make you give up. About looking directly into the flames and being willing to fight for what you want, no matter the cost.
I don’t think there could have been a better, or more fitting, opening song from Le Sserafim. The group overcame so much in the past year, and this song was a testament to what they fought through and overcame after being burnt to ashes in 2024.
As the song started, all five members stood on stairs, surrounded by fire. Their elegant and gorgeous dresses sparkled in the lights of the stage, and as Yunjin started the song, glitter fell above the members’s heads in a beautiful display of being victorious.
(If you want to read my analysis on the band’s songs “Hot” and “Ash,” click here.)
Though this wasn’t said by the members before or since the concert, I believe the set list was a nod to the battle they went through and how they came out on the other side. From the hopelessness to hope of “Ash,” to the battle depicted in the fight outfits worn by the members in “Easy,” the epic dance break showing their strength in “Antifragile,” and, finally, their love for each other and their fans in the song “FEARNOT” and the happiness of the song “No Return.”
All of their outfits were so beautiful and fun, and I found myself wishing I could raid their closets (ha!), and the art showcased on the screens for each song added an unforgettable element to each performance.
Though there’s a lot I could say about all of the songs they chose for their set list, including all of their most popular songs, I really wanted to write more about “FEARNOT.” This is one of my favorite songs out of all of the songs they’ve released so far, and I think the lyrics are a testament to chasing your dreams, even when you are afraid.
Le Sserafim, which is an anagram of the phrase “I’m fearless,” wrote this song as a way to thank their fans, Fearnot (피어나), for the love they have given them during their short time as a band so far.
The song, ultimately, is about finding bravery in the people who you love, who love you, and will always be by your side.
This beautiful ballad has one particular part that always stands out to me, and hearing it sung live gave me chills.
(Italicized lyrics are translated from Korean)
“Honestly speaking, I’m not that strong
I just want you to know
In truth, she’s not all fearless
But you, you help her fear less.”
No one, not even the people who seem the “most bold” or “most fearless” are without fears. I think the difference between those who go out of their comfort zones and those who can’t break past that barrier are those who make the decision to embrace the fear for what it is, knowing that such beautiful things will be found on the other side.
And while we may not be able to conquer the fear or get rid of it completely, we can find those who help us fear less and remind us of why we should never give up, even if we don’t believe we can do it yet.
While, of course, these people would be my family and dearest friends, I find it so precious that this type of courage can come through a fan to her artist and artist to the fans.
This isn’t as commonly seen in Western music spaces, but this sentiment abounds in k-pop. Fans don’t see the artists as untouchable, “god-like” personas, and the artists don’t see the fans as faceless strangers. Instead, they are seen as friends or even partners. The artist releases music and content that touch and encourage the fans, and the fans reciprocate by supporting the artists and doing their best to promote their music to others, lending encouragement and support when the artists need it.
I love how the members of Le Sserafim extend this heartfelt sentiment to Fearnot, acknowledging their role in helping them make it through the most difficult period of their career so far.
I love concerts, and this concert was certainly one of the best I’ve been to, so far. It was the perfect first k-pop concert, and I hope to see them perform again in the future!