Korean boy band JYJ starts world tour in Bangkok

The Thai song “An Elephant Song” resonated at Impact Arena in Bangkok in front of 11,000 people Sunday evening.

The main vocalist was Kim Jae-joong of Korean boy band JYJ. When he visited Bangkok to promote the group`s worldwide album last year, he promised to write a song in Thai.

Though it was a simple rhythm describing elephants, a favorite animal of Thais, enthusiastic fans sang along with the second verse of the song.

The concert in Bangkok was held on the first day of JYJ’s world tour. The ticket price was 900 to 6,000 Thai baht (33 to 220 U.S. dollars), expensive by Thai standards, but 22,000 tickets for the two-day concert Saturday and Sunday were sold out far in advance.

Fans from Thailand to Japan, China, Singapore, the Philippines, Hong Kong and Taiwan wearing red headbands entered the concert hall in line with red glow-in-the-dark plastic bars. A 36-year-old Thai woman who said she had listened to Korean pop for more than a decade said, “I like JYJ because they write lyrics and songs by themselves.”

When the three members appeared on the stage, hardcore fans shouted. Fans from across Asia loudly welcomed Kim, Park Yu-chun and Kim Jun-su. The group started with “Empty” and continued with “Nine,” “Piero,” “Be My Girl” and “I Love You.”

When JYJ said “Sawadika (hello)” and “Kapkunka (thanks)” in Thai between songs, the audience cheered.

When dance music began, the audiences waved sheets of pink heart-shaped paper bearing the members’ names in Korean in tune with the rhythm. When JYJ sang “Found You,” a soundtrack of “Sungkyunkwan Scandal,” a TV series starring Park Yu-chun, fans sang along in Korean.

Asako Saito, 33, who came from Tokyo said, “I saw the concert for two days yesterday and today. JYJ’s concerts are always the best.”

Kim Jae-joong directed the concert. “I paid attention to every single detail from the texture of the costume to the movement of lights. I wanted a more perfect performance by making up for the part I felt was insufficient.”

Kim Jun-su said, “We made the stage by discussing from the planning stage and as a result, our understanding of the stage as a whole has increased. This was the most comfortable first concert I`ve ever had.”

On his feeling over starting the world tour, Park said, “I`m confident and proud that we can have a concert with our songs, all three of us,” adding, “Unlike the showcase that was focused on promoting JYJ, we will get an assessment over the level of our position (through this concert).”

JYJ sang 19 songs in the two-day concert, including new songs such as “Get Out” and “Voice Letter” as well as their repertoire.

More than 300 Thai reporters and some 40 journalists from Japan, China and other countries flocked to the concert hall. JYJ`s world tour will continue in eight world cities including Beijing, Vancouver, New York and San Francisco and conclude in Busan June 11-12.

kej09@donga.com