Before BTS and Blackpink, there was Big Bang: Now the Kings of K-pop are back

A sea of glowing yellow crowns. Thousands of voices chanting in Korean.

An explosive surge of energy as the opening synth riffs of Fantastic Baby shatter the stadium air. Big Bang is back.

Fourteen years after their first major European shows, and after a decade marked by military service, member departures and legal scandals, the South Korean group played at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London on Saturday as part of their 20th anniversary world tour.

Inside the near-capacity venue, the crowd did not just watch a concert - they stepped into a significant moment in K-pop history.

As the band emerged in their trademark high-fashion, glittering outfits, the crowd danced freely, setting the tone for an evening that felt less like a routine tour stop and more like a homecoming.

For fans, it is a long-awaited reunion. But the significance of Big Bang's return extends beyond nostalgia.

Years before BTS were selling out Wembley Stadium and Blackpink were headlining Hyde Park, Big Bang were already proving Korean pop could succeed far beyond Asia.

The group filled arenas across the West, collaborated with major American artists, experimented with hip-hop and electronic music, and turned their own fashion and creative identities into part of their appeal.

本文の著作権はBBCにあります。