(Herald Review) 2NE1 returns better than ever

“Come Back Home” echoed through the Olympic Hall in the Olympic Park, Seoul, on Sunday night, drawing ecstatic cheers from fans as all four members of iconic K-pop girl group 2NE1 took the stage for their first concert in more than a decade.

The group, consisting of Sandara Park, CL, Park Bom and Minzy, dazzled in their signature eclectic outfits that have long defined their unique style.

CL wore a striking red jacket with a large red ribbon, while Sandara Park presented a striking bolero with exaggerated shoulders.

Kicking off “Welcome Back,” the last of their three concerts — “Come Back Home” and “Fire” were the other two — many devoted members of the group’s fandom known as Blackjacks were moved to tears. “It’s been a long time, Blackjacks! Shout out ‘Let’s play’ when you’re ready for the next song,” Sandara Park said, encouraging the crowd.

The proximity of the main stage to the audience enhanced the immersive atmosphere of the concert.

Despite the years apart, the quartet delivered a powerful performance, revisiting classic hits such as ‘Can’t Nobody’, ‘Falling In Love’ and ‘I Don’t Care’.

The choreography was powerful and required much more energy than the routines of some contemporary K-pop girl groups.

The youngest member Minzy, who has been somewhat overshadowed by the talents of other members in the past, seemed to blossom with singing and dancing that really stood out.

After the first part of the concert, video tributes from major K-pop artists – including IU, NewJeans, Ive, Twice, aespa and Stray Kids – were played on screens in honor of 2NE1’s 15th anniversary concert.

CL then captivated the audience with solo performances of ‘The Baddest Female’ and ‘MTBD’, commanding the stage in a long white fur coat before dramatically tossing it aside.

The next segment saw 2NE1 don black outfits to perform heartfelt ballads, including “Missing You,” “It Hurts,” “If I Were You” and “Lonely.”

A nostalgic video montage shows 2NE1’s internship period, where they worked hard to become K-pop idols in 2008, in addition to their journey as a group since their debut in 2009.

The concert culminated with the explosive performance of their hit song ‘I Am the Best’.

The crowd erupted with excitement, dancing and singing along as members made their way through the crowd and connected with fans up close.

“This location is important to us because we held our first concert here. It is also special to celebrate our 15th anniversary together as a group,” says Sandara Park. Park Bom added: “We are incredibly grateful for all the love and support (we have received) while preparing for this concert. We are very happy that we can finally perform for you.”

“I know it felt like an endless wait, but thank you for your patience. Meeting you for the first time in 10 years brings back wonderful memories,” Sandara Park continued.

“We wanted to evoke nostalgia with this concert and show what a classic 2NE1 show looks like. We felt so much positive energy from all of you, and we hope you felt it too,” said CL.

Sandara Park hinted at future plans, saying: “Initially we planned a one-day concert, but tickets sold out so quickly that we added two more days. Shouldn’t we consider an encore concert? We are trying to book a larger location for this!”

2NE1 will now tour Asia, with fifteen concerts planned in nine cities, starting with a show in Manila on November 16.