Byun Baekhyun – or simply Baekhyun, if you’ve ever had your soul snatched mid-note – is South Korea’s velvet-voiced charmer. He’s a member of EXO, its sub-units EXO-K and EXO-CBX, and the fearless leader of SuperM. Baekhyun walked into K-pop history over a decade ago with honeyed high notes and a cheeky wink.

In 2019, he stepped out solo with City Lights, which stormed through charts, becoming the best-selling solo album of the 2010s. He followed it up with Delight and Bambi, both million-sellers, which are reasons we question how one man can be that vocally gifted and that handsome.

Crowned the “Genius Idol” (and honestly, facts), Baekhyun claimed Mnet Asian Music Awards’ Best Male Artist three years in a row – because when you’re that good, modesty is optional. Onstage, he’s a stunning performer, an artist who simply seduces sound.

When his 2025 BAEKHYUN WORLD TOUR Reverie was announced, we got on our feet and said to ourselves, “We gotta be there.” How could anyone pass up the chance to see a talent like Baekhyun live?

Taking place at the OVO Arena Wembley, Baekhyun entered the stage like a king, surrounded by dancers, and began the show with Young, his 2018 single originally featuring LOCO. The track brought thrilling electro-pop energy to the room. It’s just a pity the sound was a little too loud, with the bass overpowering much of the seated section. Still, the atmosphere was incredible.

Even seven years after its release, the song continues to speak to the unshakable dreams of a younger generation, one that refuses to follow a prewritten path, choosing instead to write their own stories. Baekhyun followed with Ghost and Pineapple Slice, the lead single from his fourth EP Hello, World, released just last year. I was genuinely stunned by how powerful his vocals were even while dancing. You can tell he’s been trained to perfection in both singing and choreography. His high notes were executed well – I was mesmerised. During his ment, he greeted the crowd: “What’s up, London? Welcome to Baekhyun’s concert. Finally, as part of my solo tour, I can meet the Londoners. Since travelling is part of touring, I haven’t been in Korea for a while. So after this show, I will go home. This is the last show of the tour (…). Hope you can enjoy the show without any regrets.” Without a doubt, he’s a charmer, too.

There is no doubt that Baekhyun’s shows are the best class in sensual magnetism. With every glance, every breath between notes, he – honestly – seduces the moment. There’s something about the way he moves, smooth and controlled, that draws you in. You want to look away, but you don’t. You can’t. You’re caught in the pull of someone who knows just how powerful his charm is. Woo and Underwater followed next.

Watching Baekhyun live is something special. It is like stepping into a dream built on rhythm and wonderful vocals. Underwater, from his 2020 mini-album Delight, remains one of my favourite R&B gems. But live? It was something else entirely. And when he hit those high notes, he hit perfectly.

Then came Bambi. With massive screens glowing behind him and stage lights flashing like heartbeat pulses, Baekhyun emerged in an elegant outfit, hat and all, bringing that Michael Jackson finesse with every move; the fluidity, the fire. A brief VCR break gave us room to breathe, and then came Chocolate.

What’s up, London? Welcome to Baekhyun’s concert. Finally, as part of my solo tour, I can meet the Londoners. Since travelling is part of touring, I haven’t been in Korea for a while. So after this show, I will go home. This is the last show of the tour (…). Hope you can enjoy the show without any regrets. – BAEKHYUN

The moment the beat dropped, the rhythm shifted. The stage bathed in warmth and heat. Sweet, cheeky, and seductive, the song lived up to its name. Draped in silky black, Baekhyun owned the spotlight. The choreography was indulgent and delicious. It was chocolate in motion, honestly! It was rich in flavour and impossible to resist. Rendez-Vous brought calm – a breath. Just Baekhyun and a mic, grounding us again. Then came Love Comes Back, the tender ballad from Reverie, and it gave everyone chills. A superb performance!

And just when we thought we’d caught our breath, Lemonade poured in. The stage lit up like summer, a “golden-yellow sea” stretching across the stage on the big screen. Baekhyun didn’t need to try too hard here. With relaxed moves and confidence, he danced like the rhythm was guiding him. The choreography was full of joy. He was playful and light, yet somehow still held the whole arena in the palm of his hand.

UN Village and Truth Be Told followed; each its own universe, each delivered with such care and rich storytelling that you could write essays on them and still miss half the magic. Before moving into Truth Be Told, Baekhyun warned, “The next stage will be conceptual performances.” And he wasn’t lying. Green lasers cut across the stage like the arrival of a superhero, morphing into deep blues as the lighting shifted in sync with the lyrics – a mini-theatre unfolding in real time.

Cold Heart, from Hello, World, was beautifully arranged – a perfect combination of pop, a bit of R&B, and hip-hop groove. But the crowd roared louder for Psycho, the bonus track from his debut City Lights. The stage bled crimson. The red lighting, the intensity, the duality – Baekhyun as himself, and Baekhyun as his devilish alter ego. The colours, the energy, it was, simply, thrilling.

That said, the venue’s bass was overpowering yet again – intense, even jarring. But Baekhyun never lost focus. Another VCR let him regroup, and he returned in a more casual, youthful look for Black Dreams, Betcha, and one of those hit hits: Candy.

Despite the sound challenges, Baekhyun never stumbled. His vocals were strong, clean, and even the highest notes rang clear. His ments were warm and playful, full of cheeky little detours. “The last song is… not really the last song,” he teased. And so, we got Elevator. “Elevator, elevator, going up your heart!” he sang with a wink. The choreography shone with teenage energy. Honestly, credit where it’s due, his dancers were phenomenal throughout.

Late Night Calls, the fan project song, turned into a duet between Baekhyun and the audience, and this time, we sang louder. The first attempt had sounded like we were about to pass out, but by the second try, the kind came out to help us; we were more sure of ourselves and, I guess, more connected.

Then came the encore. Dressed in white, casual clothes, Baekhyun delivered No Problem with a note so pure it cut straight through my heart. It was hard to believe he had already been performing for two hours; his energy still felt unlimited. His cover of BoA’s Garden in the Air followed, the venue glowing with thousands of flashlights and light sticks.

Baekhyun closed with Amusement Park, from Bambi, a gentle and subtle ending to a night filled with emotions and beautiful staging. Sure, I wish he’d sung more songs; however, after everything he gave – the spectacle, the soul, the sweat – how could I possibly complain?

It was a BREATHTAKING show, and it left me hoping that one day EXO will tour Europe – seeing all their talents united on one stage would truly be a once-in-a-lifetime experience for those in Europe and beyond.

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Written by Maggie Gogler

Featured image courtesy of INB100

_{View of the Arts is an online publication dedicated to films, music, and the arts, with a strong focus on the Asian entertainment industry. With rich content already available to our readers, we aim to expand our reach and grow alongside our audience by delving deeper into emerging platforms such as K-pop and Asian music more broadly. At the same time, we remain committed to exploring the vibrant and ever-evolving global landscape of film, music, and the arts, celebrating the immense talent and creativity that define these industries worldwide.}