Fangirling for WINNER was always me wishing (on Twitter esp) that I could attend their events in Korea. And I finally did! 🥹 It's for Mino only tho, but with his impending e word, I really really wanted to see him. I longed so hard for my visa to get approved just in time for his stint in this festival. As yall know, I did get approved and am now telling you the deets of my first concert experience in Seoul~
The festival was at 4PM, earlier than most, and understandable, because this was the 31st and the last day of the year! Hanna and I met in Myeongdong first so we can just go together to the arena.
But first, here are some snaps of Lee Jehoon and my ever fave, Gong Hyojin 🥰 Gaaaahd, I miss seeing all these celeb ads everywhere, even subway alone~
LOTTE YOUNG PLAZA
🔹 Euljiro 1 Station, Exit 7
Anyway, Hanna had to buy stuff in Uniqlo here in this Lotte mall. Fun fact: you can count the Uniqlo branches there with your fingers, maybe even one hand?? That was interesting.
And Uniqlo price is same-same with Philippines, but when you buy in tax refund-eligible shops like Uniqlo from 30,000 - 500,000 won, you can get, yeah, a tax refund. Do say that when you pay so they can give you the corresponding receipt. Keep it and get your refund money at the airport. Stores like Lotte Mart do give the discount during your transaction, and that's really convenient. Just bring your passport, they'll ask for it!
Lotte Young Plaza also houses Muji, YG Select and Kakao Friends store, among others 👌
@_pearlyjane Nxt time I’ll buy in store!! #yg #winner #bigbang #blackpink #treasure #kpopfyp ♬ เสียงต้นฉบับ - mirai.
I kinda regret not buying anything here, but as someone who didn't think I'd be in SK anytime soon, I've already bought albums and stuff online. And since this was like, my 3rd day?, I really didn't wanna spend any real money yet... That's my excuse, I guess 😅
JANGCHUNG ARENA
🔹 Dongguk University Station
Funny and interesting thing happened to us here: because it was tiring to go out of the subway, I suggested we go on the elevator. From there we just followed the signs to Jangchung Gym, and what have you, we got to this door where there was a guard and we hear Mino's voice rehearsing Tang! 😳
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Screenshots from a video I hurriedly started, where we met eyes with a guard, and he immediately escorted us out while we were squealing. It was such a happy coincidence, and I hope he didn't think we were sasaengs / stalker fans tho! 😂
When we were outside, there was the car and there was this little area with barrier with fans there. I was nosy and thought they MIGHT be waiting for Mino, but I wasn't nosy enough to ask, because to be honest, they weren't really friendly-looking 😅 This was noon, we were hungry and cold, but I told Hanna we should wait, especially when I saw one or two bring out their DSLR cameras. Right then, I just knew they were fansite masters. Mino was rehearsing... I connected the dots!
221231 송민호 Mino at Jangchung Gym!
— 펄리 ‣ pearlee (@pearl4minhoon) December 31, 2022
🧡🧡🧡🧡 @official_mino_ pic.twitter.com/sMDAL3Tvb5
And after 30 cold minutes, Mino did come out of that same door we came out of! OMGGGG
Like, imagine, if we arrived 30 minutes later and exited the same way!? We would've bumped into THE Song Mino!? Sadly, we can only imagine but dang, the possibility was HUGE there~
Moving on... We met with another IC who bought our tickets. The thing with Korean ticketing sites like Interpark, you can't register for an account unless you have Korean phone number. Their verification is srsly strict. While there is global Interpark— I even booked my ticket for Mino's exhibition there— but this particular festival is not on there. Of course, we booked with a mutual / trusted global IC that was living in SK, don't worry.
We met a nearby Starbucks, as well as another IC I transacted the night before to buy photocards from 😄 I searched on Twitter and asked them if they were gonna watch the festival too so we can just directly meet. It was uneventful; literally just exchange money and PCs 🤭
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See my different Mino photocard from the earlier one? 😉 I said here I wanted Mino pearl PC and yay. I got it! About the ticket, they put the buyer's name on it, so I'm really sad about that. I'm still keeping it for memories, but it would've been soooo much better to have my name 🥺
For late lunch, we just chose whichever was near~ We ate at 돈돈돈까스 or Dondon Tonkatsu, and this was my first time to have rice. And their servings were huge. I, again and again, don't have a huge appetite, and uniquely, even less when I travel 🫠 But this was filling and we needed the energy!
We get strapped, take photos here and go in. This was already past 3 PM, and gates open at 3 so barricade? Don't even think about it, girl. I still wonder why we didn't like, plan, to line and enter early. Concerts in PH, I'd be there at 8 AM and the concert's at 7-8 PM 🤡
Now, welcome to Ride The Beat Festival~
This was a hiphop concert so I get it, but there were a LOT of fanboys. What an experience to be in a male-dominated audience. But what was annoying was most of them were tall and they were blocking the stage 🥲
It got hard to move but thankfully, I got to remove my jacket before it did. The arena had a heating system, of course, so it eventually became hot. Another trivia: bouncers gave out free cups of water to anyone who needed to replenish. It's nothing big, but I've never been on a concert that had that happening. So cool 👏 We did ask but not a lot because we couldn't afford a bathroom break. Duh.
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| Leellamarz and Ash Island |
No, but Ash Island is not how I remember him, tho I don't know him much to begin with. But I thought he was a bigger guy or something. He was rather slim and cute too 😊
And here's the one I'm most happy to see, aside from Mino! Be'O-ya~ And I've FINALLY heard and jammed to his legendary Counting Stars 🥹😍
@_pearlyjane 밤하늘에 pearl 🎶🫶 #beo #khiphop #ridethebeat ♬ Counting Stars (Feat. Beenzino) - BE′O
Justhis! He was kinda hot 🥵 (this is me downplaying the attraction) I tried listening to his songs beforehand tho, and then live, and I have to say his music is not my style, or hmm, I haven't found a song of his that I really like. I enjoyed his set tho!
Trigger as opening song w band? *chef’s kiss*
— 펄리 ‣ pearlee (@pearl4minhoon) December 31, 2022
FESTIVAL HEADLINER SONG MINO#MINO_RideTheBeatFestival2022#MINO #송민호 @official_mino_ pic.twitter.com/BoQM00FeuY
My OMO OMO bec LOVE IN DA CAR live, my faaaave 😄😭💙
— 펄리 ‣ pearlee (@pearl4minhoon) December 31, 2022
FESTIVAL HEADLINER SONG MINO#MINO_RideTheBeatFestival2022#MINO #송민호 @official_mino_ pic.twitter.com/iMGpONphjg
His swag dance at the end of LIDC 😍🥵
— 펄리 ‣ pearlee (@pearl4minhoon) December 31, 2022
FESTIVAL HEADLINER SONG MINO#MINO_RideTheBeatFestival2022#MINO #송민호 @official_mino_ pic.twitter.com/lyxPxpgnmj
리무진 라이브 드디어 들억어 pic.twitter.com/dsU8d6YPZy
— ʏᴇᴥɴ (@yn0121_) December 31, 2022
221231 송민호 Mino leaving Jangchung Arena
— 펄리 ‣ pearlee (@pearl4minhoon) December 31, 2022
🥺🥹💙 Saranghae @official_mino_ 👋🫶
FESTIVAL HEADLINER SONG MINO#MINO_RideTheBeatFestival2022 pic.twitter.com/0ETaCy4OL2
@pearlyjane.com Finally can do this 🥹💙 #송민호 #mino #southkorea #kpop #fyp ♬ original sound - Hajjisultanwaeel
