Kanye West Korea Concert Poster (Image courtesy of Channel Candy)
INCHEON, South Korea, July 26 (Korea Bizwire) — Hip-hop superstar Kanye West returned to the Korean stage on Saturday night, igniting a euphoric crowd of more than 26,000 fans at Incheon Munhak Stadium in his first full concert in the country in over a decade.
Braving sweltering summer heat that lingered near 30°C even after sunset, fans roared “Yeezy! Yeezy!” as the rapper, now legally known as Ye, emerged wearing a gray hoodie emblazoned with “KOREA.” Opening with his hit single “Power,” West launched into a high-energy set that featured signature tracks like “Can’t Tell Me Nothing,” “Heartless,” and “All of the Lights.”
The concert marked a dramatic return following a series of controversies. An earlier performance scheduled for May was canceled after West posted antisemitic content on social media. After public backlash, West issued a statement clarifying that the remarks were metaphorical and declared an end to “any further antisemitism,” allowing the rescheduled show to move forward.
Opting for a minimalistic approach, West avoided commentary during the performance and instead let the music speak for itself. Positioned atop a massive mound at center stage, he delivered an unrelenting string of hits while engaging fans with frequent crowd calls like “Korea, make some noise!”
Kanye West (right) performing during his visit to Korea in August last year (Photo courtesy of Nextis)
One standout moment came during “Heartless,” when West stopped singing entirely, letting the audience take over in a powerful group singalong. Later, in an impromptu gesture, he brought his daughter onstage to perform choreography and rap alongside him during “Bomb,” delighting the crowd.
Despite his sweat-drenched hoodie visibly darkening as the concert progressed, West powered through a nearly two-hour set that included a dynamic dance performance during “On Sight” and explosive visuals to close the night. By the time he wrapped up past 10 p.m., fans waved their phones in the air, lighting up the summer night in sync with his final song.
For many, the concert was a long-anticipated moment. “I regretted missing last year’s show,” said Kim Hwan-young, 20, who lined up at 1:30 p.m. to buy official merchandise with his high school friends. “Tonight, we came ready to sing every word.”
As West continues to rebuild his global image, his Incheon concert offered a glimpse of his enduring star power—and a night to remember for Korean fans.
Lina Jang (linajang@koreabizwire.com)