Jin’s Sold-Out Tampa Weekend and What I Didn’t Expect From a K-Pop Concert
Like an episode of his variety show, Jin of BTS’s first solo tour was filled with fun challenges and endless amounts of joy for ARMY.
The #RUNSEOKJIN_EP.TOUR on 26th July was the opening night of Jin’s record-setting Tampa weekend, establishing him as the first Asian solo artist to perform back-to-back sold-out shows at Amalie Arena. This stop marked the first time a BTS member performed in Florida, which excited those who call the state home (me). Fans battled the summer heat and buzzed with excitement outside the venue, preparing for a night of stunning vocals, flawless visuals, and memories to last a lifetime.
The dress code for the concert is unlike any show I’ve been to before. The most popular was recreations of Jin’s overall outfit in the Super Tuna music video, but there was plenty of variety. ARMY sourced inspiration from Rope It (a country track on Echo), RJ (Jin’s BT21 character), Jin’s signature pyjamas, and so much more. The fashion reflected the uniqueness of not only the fandom but also Jin’s style and personality.
With the recent releases of his debut and second albums (Happy and Echo, respectively), Jin set out on tour for nine stops, performing two shows at each stop. Each concert is based around the concept that it is a tour episode of his variety show, Run Jin, which he began filming the same week as his discharge from mandatory military service in June 2024.
Fans cheered as Jin ran out on stage, opening the show with Running Wild and I’ll Be There, setting the tone for what lay ahead for the rest of the evening. With the lively tracks and pyrotechnics, the energy was through the roof from the very beginning. After a minute’s break, he then followed up by performing With the Clouds and Falling, two pop rock records that had fans jumping and dancing. Lastly, Jin closed out act one with Don’t Say You Love Me, the lead single of his second album. The sound of the audience singing along echoed throughout the arena while Jin’s clear vocals shone in his higher register.
Since the audience were acting as special guests of his variety show, they participated in challenges in between acts. In the first challenge, Connect ARMY, ARMY had to act out the word or phrase on the screen without sound for Jin to guess within 30 seconds. His outfit for the following song depended on how many answers he got correctly. While Super Tuna was easy to guess, the audience got creative in trying to demonstrate Squid Game. Impressed with the audience’s acting abilities, Jin told them that “they ate,” which endeared every fan in the arena. However, despite the results of the challenge, he changed into the outfit that received the most cheers.
90 seconds later, Jin returned in a school uniform-inspired outfit for Super Tuna, a song that started as a joke but became a global hit. The entire audience was hyped beyond belief as everyone performed the choreography and yelled, “Chamchi (tuna)!”
After this song, Jin spun a wheel for the song selection for ARMY Karaoke while he changed for the next act. The Astronaut was chosen, which led to the screens displaying a noraebang video for the audience to sing along to his debut solo track. The light sticks lit the arena up while ARMY sang their hearts out, giggling at the entertaining editing of the video. My personal favourite was the kaleidoscope clips of 12 Jins mouthing the words.
After he returned, he took his place at the piano to accompany himself in performing I Will Come to You, a love song for ARMY, and Abyss, an achingly beautiful song about burnout and anxiety. He revealed on a Weverse livestream that he took piano lessons for around two months leading up to the tour and expressed his nervousness every night about messing up. Fans cheered him on as he serenaded the audience, captivating their hearts even more than he already had.
Jin rose from the instrument to perform Background and Another Level, both featuring his mind-blowing belting ability. His vocals were of a different universe, carried from the front row to the very last seat in the 300s. If fans didn’t walk in with either song as one of their favourites, they definitely left with them on the list.
It was then time for the second challenge. It featured a sing-along game where ARMY sang a selected song clip following the lyrics on the screen, and Jin had to guess the song correctly or receive a punishment of a tray dropping on his head. The first song, ON by BTS, excited fans so much that they kept singing even after the clip ended. The extended version led Jin to guess correctly, but he took the punishment anyway after playfully accusing them of cheating by singing past the stopping point. Fans of Run BTS and Run Jin found it hilarious, as Jin is known to not be above cheating on variety shows if it means he can win. He also guessed the second song, Loser, a track on Echo featuring Yena, sung by the now rule-following audience,
It was the perfect segway into Jin performing the full song after changing jackets on stage (cue the barking). He kept the high energy by donning a cowboy hat for Rope It. The entire audience lassoed along with him, lighting up the arena in a burnt orange reminiscent of a setting sun in the Wild West. He then performed a BTS medley, beginning with iconic disco-pop anthems Dynamite and Butter. He seamlessly transitioned into Mikrokosmos to slow things down before leading into Spring Day, a sentimental track that left the audience vulnerable. As Jin knelt on the catwalk to take in the moment and power through the final chorus, it was an intimate moment with the audience, with scarcely a dry eye in the room.
Jin gave his closing speech, emphasising the energy he received from the crowd and thanking them for coming. He then performed ballads The Astronaut and Nothing Without Your Love, with ARMY becoming supporting vocals as the artist lay on the floor amid the confetti to sing the final chorus.
Jin left the stage, but the show wasn’t over just yet. Shortly after the camera panned to various ARMY in the audience, he returned for an encore. The final segment began with Epiphany, a moving ballad about self-love that featured Jin’s stunning, powerful voice. The crowd hung onto every word with hearts open and voices loud.
He then went into the audience to have a more personal connection with ARMY for Moon, inviting five people to sing the intro for him. He was pleasantly surprised at them all doing well, claiming that Tampa’s audience must be made up of great singers. Throughout the song, he sang with audience members, creating a core memory for everyone involved.
To Me, Today, the last track on his sophomore album was the final song of the show. Jin led ARMY in waving their light sticks as confetti showered them, saying his goodbyes with a final, “Dallyeora, Seokjin!” It was the perfect way to end a night celebrating joy and the beauty of the present.
What stood out to me throughout the day was the difference in experiences at a K-pop concert versus traditional Western concerts. It starts before the show even begins with “cupsleeve events”, fan-organised events typically held in bubble tea cafes or coffee shops. Fans come and go as they please to purchase drinks with a themed cupsleeve, collect fan merchandise, and socialise with other concert-goers. It provides an opportunity for fans to form friendships and bond over their love for the artist.
Next, while I’m used to beaded bracelet freebies, K-pop fans take it to the next level. From custom photocards to phone charms, stickers, mini pickets, and Delulu University diplomas (yes, it was a real thing), K-pop fans dedicate insane amounts of time, energy, money, and creativity into making hundreds of gifts for one another. It was a beautiful moment to watch others excitedly offer their crafts to everyone they saw, while working up my courage to hand out the measly 14 bracelets I made.
Also, whilst similar to the light-up bracelets used in concerts like Coldplay’s Music of the Spheres Tour, light sticks may just have their own fandom. Each K-pop group has their unique light stick that syncs up at the concert via Bluetooth for an impressive display during the show. It becomes an accessory to the outfit rather than simply an interactive item. I loved seeing how everyone decorated their light stick to match their personality or customised it with Jin-themed accessories for the show.
Finally, and possibly my favourite part of K-pop concerts, fan chants are a fun and interactive way for fans to show their support during a performance. They are words or lyrics that accompany the artist’s song, created and distributed by the company and group members. Sometimes, fans may add an additional word or line for special occasions. While we all know that artists thrive on the energy from fans, these chants add moments to the show that invigorate the artists and make the audience active participants in the performances.
Overall, Jin defied the typical expectations of a K-pop concert as he commanded the stage with no backup dancers, no other BTS members, and minimal choreography — only his silver vocals and boundless charisma that I could feel from the 200s. He is a masterclass in audience interaction, making each city feel special with slightly different programs for each show. He has come so far since his solo performance for BTS’ anniversary FESTA last year, and I can’t wait to see where he goes next.
And as for the BTS reunion tour next year, I am saving for a floor seat as we speak.
