Korea On Stage - OVO Arena Wembley 2023

Walking into the OVO Wembley Arena already felt surreal. Wembley is one of those venues that always carries a sense of occasion, but this night felt different. A sold out show celebrating Korean culture, not as a novelty or a trend, but as something expansive and confident enough to fill a room this big.

I went primarily for ATEEZ. After seeing them in January at The O2, I knew what they were capable of live. That show had left a mark on me. I wanted to feel that again. And I did, just in a different way.

ATEEZ on this stage felt celebratory rather than confrontational. Still powerful. Still sharp. But there was a warmth in how they interacted with the crowd that made the performance feel communal. Less about domination. More about shared energy. Watching them, I was reminded why live music deepens attachment in a way streaming never can.

What surprised me most was how strong the entire line up was. P1Harmony brought a relentless, almost electric energy. BOYNEXTDOOR felt bright and charming in a way that translated effortlessly to a large room. Youngji commanded attention the moment she stepped on stage. STAYC were pure joy.

Hearing Poppy live was one of those moments where time slows just slightly. Even though my brain kept looping back to Jeno’s cover, the song still landed exactly how it was meant to. Loud. Fun. Infectious.

One of my favourite details of the night was the custom lightsticks created specifically for the show. It felt like a small but thoughtful gesture. Instead of separate fandoms waving different colours, the room moved as one. It made the night feel unified.The show was hosted by Jeongyeon’s sister, who also made a cameo. It was brief, but it added an unexpected intimacy to such a large scale event.

Korea on Stage felt less like a concert and more like a statement. Korean culture does not need to be explained or softened to belong on stages like this. It already does.