SM world tour debut draws 35,000 fans

On a blisteringly hot afternoon, more than 35,000 fans turned out at a sports stadium in Seoul to see a gathering of their favorite Korean pop stars. 

Marking its 15th anniversary, SM Entertainment, one of the biggest entertainment agencies in Korea, hosted the “SM Town Live World Tour in Seoul” concert at the Jamsil Sport Complex on Saturday.

Boasting a lineup of more than 50 pop acts, including BoA, TVXQ, Girls’ Generation, Super Junior, f(x) and SHINee, the blockbuster concert featured genres including classic ballads, folk, hip-hop and dance.

It was a night for SM, the pioneer of the country’s pop star culture and entertainment business, to display their history and influence over the industry.

Despite temperatures peaking at higher than 32 degrees, the crowd, ranging from early teens to elderly fans, were on their feet during the concert, waving placards bearing their favorite stars’ name and singing along to their songs.