I Saw the Same K-pop Group 10 Times. Here’s What I Learned

The first time I was introduced to ATEEZ, they weren’t even ATEEZ yet – they were KQ Fellaz, a trainee group bursting with potential.

Even then, they possessed a rare kind of charisma, the kind that most rookie groups take years to refine. Their energy was infectious, their stage presence undeniable, and it was clear they were destined for something bigger.

Now, years later, those same eight members have transformed into a K-pop powerhouse. With multiple world tours, chart-topping albums, and a historic performance at Coachella, ATEEZ has solidified their place in the global music industry. They have grown, evolved, and pushed the limits of what a fourth-generation K-pop group can achieve.

I’ve been fortunate enough to witness this transformation firsthand—not just once, but ten times. Seeing ATEEZ perform on ten separate occasions has given me a unique perspective on their growth as artists and performers. As I reflect on my first and tenth experience watching them live, I can’t help but think about the journey—not just theirs, but mine as well. What changes? What stays the same? And most importantly, what have I learned from watching the same group take the stage over and over again?

My Long Wait for Seeing ATEEZ for the First Time 

Four months after their debut, ATEEZ announced their world tour, Expedition, including a European leg of the tour. It shocked everyone since it was unheard of for K-pop groups to do anything like this. I was 16 at the time and knew there was no chance of attending, but I asked my mum anyway and was met with the rejection that I expected.

I vowed to see them the next time they visited Europe on tour, so I tried hard in the summer of 2019 to get my first-ever part-time job and put almost all of my money towards concerts with the chance of seeing them always staying in the back of my mind. 

The announcement for their next tour, The Fellowship: Beginning of the End, arrived faster than I had expected, and tickets went on sale on 17 December 2019. Again, everyone was shocked, but the Expedition Tour was wildly successful, especially for a group that had yet to reach their first anniversary. I sat in my sixth form’s computer room with my hands trembling as I scrambled to buy VIP tickets. The VIP ticket came with hi-touch, a feature in VIP tiers for K-pop concerts that essentially involved walking past all members and giving them a high five.

I remember seeing the words ‘Sold Out’ in stark white against a black background, but I had waited and worked hard to be able to buy those tickets, so I refreshed. I refreshed the page multiple times, my whole body feeling tense until I was typing my payment details and saw the confirmation page for my tickets. I sat back and sighed in relief. A successful ticketing experience is a feeling like no other, and one which I am sure most of us have experienced. 

Then the COVID-19 pandemic hit. The pandemic was excruciating for multiple reasons, but throughout the pandemic, I had the thought of seeing ATEEZ for the first time constantly looming in the back of my mind. The tour had been postponed indefinitely during the first lockdown. Once we were presented with new dates, my friend and I bought tickets to see ATEEZ in Berlin, my first time leaving the country without adult supervision. Then, the European leg faced another postponement. Many European ATINY were awaiting a cancellation notice, with months of uncertainty causing anxiety to fester. However, after over a year of waiting, the rescheduled dates for the tour were announced, and London and Berlin were granted additional days.

My friend and I agreed that after all that waiting, we deserved to get the tickets for both additional days. In 24 hours, I went from not expecting to see ATEEZ at all to agreeing to see them four times. 

The Fellowship: Beginning of the End Tour – London Day One, 30 April 2022 

Suddenly, I was standing at Wembley Park station with my suitcase that I had overpacked for a two-day trip. I could hear the rattle of my lightstick, which made me feel sick with anticipation and nerves. It was unusually warm and sunny outside after a week of rain. My friends and I took our time getting ready for the concert, in disbelief that it was happening. We went to the OVO Arena early to soak in the atmosphere. 

Due to COVID restrictions, we were required to wear masks, and the hi-touch session changed to hi-wave, trading the closer contact high five for a wave to each member. The tour organisers also explained that there would no longer be an extended stage, some VIP sections would move back, and another section would stand in place of the extended stage. The stage arrangement was complicated and still makes no sense to me, but I was relieved whenever a new announcement was not a cancellation. 

I remember walking to my seat and almost tripping over my feet because I wanted the time to go by quickly. Honestly, I wish I would’ve savoured it a bit more. We took pictures, but I now wish I had taken a thousand more. As time progressed, the nerves started to run through my body, and I could not believe how quickly the concert had come around after I felt like I had waited a lifetime during lockdown.

After a half-hour delay, the lights dimmed, and the screams increased. From the moment they first stepped out until the end of the concert, ATEEZ were phenomenal. Their energy was consistently electric throughout the entire two-hour set.

They were joined by Maddox, a soloist in the same company who was incredibly moving with such beautiful vocals. The crowd roared throughout the show, even while being muffled by masks. The concert was one of the happiest times of my life, immersing myself in a community of all different types of people who shared the same affection for ATEEZ.

Hi-wave was the strangest experience of my life. The concert ended at around 11pm due to the late start, and the bright overhead lights were blinding as we waited to hear about the next steps for our VIP experience. I was so exhausted, physically because of my constant jumping and screaming but also mentally because of my months of stress, so I fell asleep whilst waiting. 

Just before midnight, my section was called to start our hi-wave session. It was exactly midnight when I walked past ATEEZ. I was granted five seconds for eight members as one of the last sections to go into hi-wave. When it ended, I was in agony. Admittedly, I was slightly dramatic at the time. However, the chaos and the lack of anything substantial from my hi-wave experience were painful. I have since reflected and understood that ATEEZ were probably tired after such an energy-packed show, and they still needed time to rest before the second London show. It hurt me then, but it also humanised them for me. 

ATEEZ were incredible! This disappointment was no fault of their own nor a testament to their performance quality. I had painted a perfect experience in my head, but with COVID-19 restrictions and extreme nerves, it fell short of my unattainable expectations. 

The Most Recent: Towards the Light: Will to Power – Manchester, 30 January 2025 

This was ATEEZ’s fourth world tour and their first time in Manchester. I am from the UK, but I do not have a particular affiliation with Manchester, and it is not closer or easier to get to than London. However, I braved a five-hour coach trip with one of my closest friends, and we travelled up north to see ATEEZ. 

We also went to the first London date on this tour (my ninth time seeing ATEEZ) together, and ATEEZ were insanely impressive. I had doubts about this particular setlist since I thought it was not as well-rounded as their previous tours (disregarding their unit songs, which showcased each member’s strengths perfectly), but they showed how much they’ve grown and matured. My heart surged with pride as I watched them in a crowded section of the O2 Arena, my favourite concert venue ever. 

For Manchester, we had the third tier of VIP, which granted us a gift and access to Soundcheck with the other tiers of VIP. We showed up about an hour before the doors were supposed to open and were greeted by over a thousand cold and irritable fans waiting in the car park of the AO Arena. I have had strange concert experiences, but this was one of the most bizarre. It felt like a complete maze, and we wandered around (and squeezed in a few pictures) until we figured out where to line up.

We were let into the arena and stood near the back of the floor as we had agreed because we just wanted the space to jump around and let loose. We threw our stuff on the ground in front of us (far from anyone else to avoid a tripping hazard), took even more photos and waited excitedly for the show to begin. 

I had the time of my life! I was exhausted from screaming, dancing, jumping, and the after-effects of doing the same at the London show. Despite the tiredness, I was so happy! I felt so carefree because we didn’t care too much about our view of the stage as long as we could see ATEEZ and just had fun. 

Compared to my first time seeing them, ATEEZ had grown tremendously in confidence. Their technical ability in vocals, rap, and dance had skyrocketed, which is to be expected after years of establishing themselves and continuous training and practice. However, regarding confidence, ATEEZ exudes an aura that is impossible to emulate. I have been asked if I ever get bored of seeing them and if it feels repetitive, and I do not think that can ever happen because they are so mesmerising to watch perform.

What I learnt, and ultimately, was it worth it?

I often get asked if seeing an artist multiple times is worth the money, time and effort. I do think it’s circumstantial. I had a lot of disposable income because I had been determined to save significant money to attend concerts. I would say that the experiences were worth it. I met many incredible people and visited different countries while seeing one of my favourite artists. It was tiring and took a lot of planning and organisation, but I have learned so much about myself. 

Some of my recent VIP experiences (for ATEEZ and other artists) have been extremely fun because I try to forget about the VIP label. It can be difficult not to worry, especially when seeing artists with a large fanbase, which means you must grapple with a ticket-buying service and pay a substantial amount for VIP. However, the main thing I learnt from this experience is that you will have a more fulfilling experience if you focus your energy on enjoying the valuable, fleeting time you spend with friends seeing artists you love and cherish. The whole day at a concert will not last forever, so you’ll feel better when you look back on it if you savour the moment and forget about your worries.