ENHYPEN were formed in 2020 through BELIFT LAB‘s survival show I-Land, bringing together seven members with different backgrounds: Jake (Korean-Australian), Jay (Korean-American), Jungwon, Heeseung, Sunghoon and Sunoo (all Korean), and Ni-Ki (Japanese). To date they have released three studio albums: two Korean  – Dimension: Dilemma (2021) and Romance: Untold (2025) and one Japanese – Sadame (2022),  two repackages: Dilemma: Answer and Romance: Untold Daydream (2025), six EPs: Border: Day One (2020), Border: Carnival (2021), Manifesto: Day 1 (2022), Dark Blood (2023), Orange Blood (2023) and Desire: Unleash (2025) and a webtoon soundtrack, Memorabilia (2024).

Despite having toured extensively since their debut, this was the group’s first time in Europe, specifically in London. The O2 Arena was at full capacity, its atmosphere thick with excitement as the opening VCRs played and the audience awaited the group’s entrance. The crowd was diverse, with more females than males, and families were also present, spanning a wide age range. Fashion was on full display, particularly the prevalence of sparkly Gothic styles, although standard concert attire, including T-shirts and jeans, was also visible. The roar was deafening when ENHYPEN took the stage, and even for someone who didn’t know the group well, it was impossible not to be swept up in the energy of the experience.

The concert began with the funk/dance-pop track Brought The Heat Back, with the members dressed all in black, before transitioning to Fever, with the gothic theme dominating most of the concert. Bite Me captured the audience’s imagination, despite not being authentic to Stoker’s decrepit and aging Dracula, instead drawing on Byron’s romantic vampire. However, the staging for XO (Only If You Say Yes) drew on nature, with greenery and flowers framing a delicate and lyrical performance. Instead of desire and obsession, romance and love took centre stage. This performance displayed ENHYPEN’s versatility and range. While the group is known for its dark concept, they don’t need to be limited by it, and it is exciting to think about what the future may bring. This was followed by No Doubt and their latest hit Bad Desire (With or Without You). The encore of Helium and Paranormal rounded out the set.

Interspersed with three direct addresses to the crowd, including the ending ment, the set consisted of 22 songs spanning from their debut to the present. There were two mesmerising unit performances: Lucifer featuring Jay, Sunghoon, and Jake, and Teeth with Jungwon, Heeseung, Sunoo, and Ni-Ki. In addition, Jay and Heeseung demonstrated their musical proficiency through instrumental intros: Jay’s electric guitar solo for Blessed-Cursed and Heeseung’s emotional piano opening for XO (Only If You Say Yes). The energy remained high throughout, even though there were no solos – common in K-pop concerts to allow members to recover. The VCR breaks were very short, and it was extraordinary how the members were just as energetic at the end as they were at the beginning.

There is a definite house style to the choreography, as with all major Korean entertainment companies; at HYBE, this includes connections between idols, fluid movements, and complex hand and footwork. ENHYPEN executed the moves precisely, and their vocals were consistently on point, as were their microphones. In addition, there were no backing dancers, keeping the emphasis entirely on the group. It’s unclear whether this was due to stage limitations at the O2 or a conscious creative choice, but nothing felt missing, and a larger production would not have improved the performance.

As important as the performances are, engagement with the audience is key, and the addresses to them were heartfelt and meaningful. In the ending ment, the comments were delivered in a mixture of English and Korean, with translations provided. The members talked about loving London, watching tennis, and eating fish and chips, all expressing their desire to return. It was also refreshing to hear idols speak honestly about the toll of the profession and the pressure of living up to fans’ and the industry’s heightened expectations. Jake mentioned dealing with jet lag while juggling multiple activities, including a tour, a new album, and other associated engagements. It is difficult to measure the physical toll of a two-hour concert with minimal rest and explosive choreography, yet there was no evidence of fatigue whatsoever.

The set design effectively captured the gothic aesthetics, which are key to ENHYPEN’s dark concept, especially with their vampire-themed universe and lore. Red and blue dominated, casting a ghostly aura over the performances and creating a sense of the uncanny. There was something cinematic about the design and its execution, especially given the stage limitations. Often, going to a concert is watching performances of the greatest hits, which may not connect to each other, or often don’t. Here, storytelling and continuity were key, and there was a narrative flow from beginning to end. Stories are the way in which we make sense of the world and are especially important at times of struggle as a way of helping us negotiate difficult moments and giving us hope for the future.

Most of the time, storytelling is at the heart of K-pop, making the genre uniquely engaging for fans. It enables the emotional connection between the fans and the idol, allowing fans to immerse themselves in the surrounding narratives that are part of the music.

As an introduction to ENHYPEN for European audiences, this tour is a huge success, demonstrating the reasons why the group is so popular globally. Indeed, one night in London was not enough, and they could’ve easily sold out another one or two nights. The arena was packed, glowing with light sticks and sparkly fashion, some gothic, some not. What is clear is that everybody had a good time, and nobody wanted the night to end.

Rating:

Written by Dr Colette Balmain

_{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.}