Weekends are fun but even more when you have Weverse Con Festival.

Last weekend (10 and 11 June), HYBE held what has now become an annual festival, which brings together some of today's most exciting Korean music acts. As last year’s festivities took place at year’s end in winter, this edition truly looked like a summer festival with programs and performances running althrough the day. This year's event was divided into two sections: Weverse Park and Weverse Con, the latter of which was livestreamed for fans all across the world. 

Featuring performances from Zico, TXT, ENHYPEN, NewJeans, BTOB, LE SSERAFIM, and even the incomparable Uhm Jung Hwa, this year's Weverse Con Festival was a whirlwind of electrifying performances. Even as we sat in front of our screens, miles away from Seoul, we felt how the city is at the cusp of summer. The rising temperature is almost palpable as the idols power through their sets, but not without catching their breath and sweat drenching their outfits. By the end of the weekend, the stage had already been scorched by one high-octane performance after the other.

Here's what went down at Weverse Con 2023.

DAY 1

Rookies BOYNEXTDOOR, under the Zico-founded label KOZ Entertainment, opened the indoor Paradise Stage at the KSPO Dome. The six-piece boy group, made up of Woonhak, Riwoo, Jaehyun, Sungho, Leehan, and Taesan, performed their 3 debut singles, ‘One and Only,’ ‘돌아버리겠다 (But I Like You),’ and ‘Serenade’ – short and sweet, but leaving an exceptional impression.

While admitting that they had been nervous about performing on such a scale just 12 days after their debut, BOYNEXTDOOR won us over with their buoyant skits and an effortless charm true to their name. “It was our first time performing in front of such a big audience,” said Riwoo. “To be honest, the members were so nervous that we were barely able to sleep. But thanks to your support and cheer, we can do well.”

Hana, Mirano, Anri, Uwa and Ruan, the members of MOONCHILD, switched things up with the blaring horns and feisty spirit of their opener, ‘Don’t Blow It,’ took a sharp turn with the sinister ‘Bzz Bzz,’ and closed with ‘Photogenic,’ determined to make a mark.

Just barely over a month since their debut, Weverse Con is the Japanese quintet’s first live performance to be broadcasted globally, noted Ruan. “I’m honored to make great memories with the many fans here, and also those abroad who are watching this online,” she added.

Seasoned performer and PLEDIS Entertainment artist Hwang Min Hyun was a truly magnetic presence in his first Weverse Con appearance. While he said that it had been some time since he last performed on stage (owing to his role in an upcoming tvN romantic comedy, My Lovely Liar, he shared), he commanded the stage, and his signature velvet timbre was on full display.

Min Hyun handpicked songs from his first solo mini-album Truth or Lie: ‘Hidden Side,’ Cube,’ and the ballad ‘Honest’ – plus the closer ‘Universe (별의 언어)’ (2019) from his NU’EST days. Eleven years since his debut, this was decidedly just a small showcase for a solo act coming into his own. “Like what the song [‘Hidden Side’] says, I hope to show you the new ‘me’ as Hwang Min Hyun,” he said.

This year’s Weverse Con also shone a spotlight on immortal pop diva and entertainment icon Uhm Jung Hwa, the Korean Madonna. Fourth-generation idols TOMORROW X TOGETHER and LE SSERAFIM took the crowd by surprise when they appeared earlier than their headlining sets to participate in this unforgettable moment where a true pillar of K-Pop and some of its rising superstars shared the stage.

Kitted out in scarlet and fans in hand – just like how Uhm Jung Hwa herself did it back in the day – the boys of TXT hypnotized the crowd with their take on ‘Invitation (초대)’ (penned by Park Jin-young a.k.a. JYP). After, the queen herself emerged on stage, joined by LE SSERAFIM, for a scintillating performance of 2017’s ‘Ending Credit.’

Fresh from their comeback, the full-length album Unlock My World, fromis_9 began with more a “bright and hopeful” selection from their catalogue: ‘Stay This Way,’ ‘We Go,’ ‘Up And,’ and ‘DM.’ Chae Young explained, “As it’s summer, we started off with clear and cool songs.”

“It’s been a while since we saw you on such a big stage, the members got together and thought a lot about what songs we should sing,” maknae Ji Heon added, before the group took for a spin two tracks from their new album: the title track ‘#menow’ and the stellar opener ‘Attitude.’

Rocking the Paradise Stage with a string of his hits, XIA a.k.a. Junsu, of JYJ fame and formerly of TVXQ, told the crowd how the opportunity to play at Weverse Con alongside various talents was astonishing for him. “Being with such talented artists on this stage just proves how fresh and amazing this moment is for me,” he said.

The idol showed his impressive range: from upbeat numbers like ‘Tarantallegra,’ ‘HANA,’ ‘COLOR ME IN,’ ‘Incredible’ – to impassioned belters such as ‘꽃 (Flower),’ ‘나비 (Butterfly)’ and a tune from Descendants of the Sun, ‘How Can I Love You.’ With his honeyed voice, XIA shined, captivating the different generations and fandoms in the crowd.

Before LE SSERAFIM and TOMORROW X TOGETHER set out to take the Paradise Stage for their full sets, the two acts performed tunes to their original stories, Crimson Heart’s ‘No-Return (Into the Unknown)’ and The Star Seekers’ ‘Frost’, respectively.

LE SSERAFIM brought no shortage of earworms. Crowd favourites ‘FEARLESS,’ ‘ANTIFRAGILE’ and the newest single, ‘UNFORGIVEN,’ were in the mix. They even played a handful of noteworthy B-sides like ‘The Great Mermaid,’ and ‘No Celestial,’ for good measure.

Ever the consistent hitmakers, the girls also put on that “boom boom boom” song, ‘Eve, Psyche & the Bluebeard’s Wife (이브, 프시게 그리고 푸른 수염의 아내),’ which had recently been taking the social media sphere by storm. Yunjin even strongly urged the crowd to join in on the fun. “This song becomes even better with your chants,” she said.

Capping off the day’s schedule, TOMORROW X TOGETHER promptly amped up the energy as they hit the stage, performing ‘Good Boy Gone Bad’ and ‘Devil by the Window.’

“We have the honour of wrapping up the first day as the finale,” said Yeonjun. “Thanks to the many artists who heated up the Paradise Stage beforehand, we were able to kick off our performance with great energy.”

DAY 2

The nerves have settled and now, it's all about having fun. The last day of Weverse Con brought no shortage of excitement and adrenaline as another set of artists took over the indoor Paradise Stage. Beloved rookies &TEAM kicked off the night with power and tenacity with the newly released 'Road Not Taken'. 

Greeting the crowd in Korean, Chinese, Japanese, and English, the HYBE Labels Japan boy group was beaming with glee as they closed out one of their biggest performances yet with 'Scent of you' and 'FIREWORK'. 

LIGHTSUM brought out the beach party of our dreams with 'ALIVE' and 'I'. While the girl group's set was short and sweet, they were the refreshing breeze we needed on this warm summer evening.

BAEKHO took the stage next, taking everyone on a ride through love and desire. It's been a while since the singer stepped on a stage, he admits but as if picking up right where he left off, the long-time idol instantly commanded the stage with his vocal prowess.

As soon as he opened his set with 'Need It', BAEKHO engulfed the crowd with his angel-like voice and jaw-dropping falsettos all while never missing a beat in his alluring choreography. He continued on with 'BAD 4 U', 'LOVE BURN', and the crowd favourite 'No Rules', taking breaks in between to thank everyone for their unrelenting support. 

Revered Korean singer Lee Hyun then welcomed everyone to the Paradise Stage with a short speech on life and art as he introduced his latest project as MIDNATT, which puts together music and AI, and praised the incomparable Uhm Jung Hwa. Like Day 1, Weverse Con paid tribute to Korean music icons as &TEAM, BAEKHO, and ENHYPEN take the stage to perform 'Festival', 'D.I.S.C.O', and 'Come 2 Me'. 

All before Uhm Jung Hwa herself graced the stage once more to give a performance of 'Hop In' with dancer and choreographer Lia Kim that's so infectiously fun that you wanted to hop in yourself. 

NewJeans made quite the entrance to the Paradise Stage. For what was probably the most anticipated performance of the weekend, the rookie powerhouse greeted the crowd with unit dance stages before sending everyone aroar with the anthemic 'OMG'. This is the girls' first time at Weverse Con but everyone, including us at the livestream, made them feel right at home.  Their set continued with 'Ditto', 'Attention', and 'Cookie', before bidding farewell with everyone's favourite: 'Hype Boy'. 

ENHYPEN wasted no time getting the energy up to the 100s, erupting in a flurry of energy and intensity as they opened with back to back performances of 'Drunk-Dazed' and 'Blessed-Cursed'. The boy group are always a wonder to watch perform and their Weverse Con set was no different. 

The award-winning boy group continued their performance with captivating renditions of 'FEVER', 'Bills', 'Karma', and 'SACRIFICE' before ending on high with the alluring 'Bite Me'. 

As a little intermission, Lee Hyun returned to the stage as MIDNATT, performing the ever-fascinating 'Masquerade' which was followed by &TEAM and ENHYPEN giving live renditions of 'W.O.L.F' and 'One In A Billion' respectively from their original stories. 

The party at the Paradise Stage continued with BTOB, who brought a touch of endearing chaos to Weverse Con. Never failing to give a show that will make you laugh and smile, the boy group brought their signature banter and playfulness to the stage, giving fans that pick-me-up we all needed three hours into the festival. 

But of course, BTOB's musical talent and command of the stage are not ones to be left unmentioned as they showcased incredibly dazzling performances of 'Wind and Wish', 'Only one for me', 'It's Okay', 'Beautiful Pain', and 'Missing You'. 

Closing out the entire festival run is none other than Zico, an incredible headliner that knew how to bring a party. Prompting everyone to let loose, the rapper ran through some of his biggest hits including 'Tough Cookie', 'Freak', 'Artist', 'I Am You, You Are Me', and 'New Thing'. 

Despite Zico's intimidating demeanour, the rapper engulfed the crowd with such warmth and familiarity. "We are best friends now, there's no way out," he said. Bearing no objections to our new friendship status with Zico, he commanded everyone to their feet as he closed out this year's Weverse Con with encore performances of 'Okey Dokey' and 'Boys and Girls', that even got us dancing in front of our screens.