KR 🌸 Apr 2026 Part 2: Seoul

It's end-Oct, time flies. Wasn't planning to still have this in the drafts till now but life does get in its own way sometimes. Surprisingly though, the memories still flow and the fingers move. So here's the close of the cherry blossom odyssey!

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Day 4, 4 Apr, Fri (PM): Seoul 

Just as we'd arrived in an overflowing Busan a few days prior, we arrived at an overflowing Seoul station. After trying unsuccessfully to get a cab amidst the throng, we had to fall back to the trusty metro which included negotiating stairs with luggage.

Another handy fall back presented itself at lunch. Since I'm the furthest thing from a foodie, we'd been winging it for meals throughout the trip with some hits and some misses. However, since I've stayed in the same area practically every trip to Seoul (for centrality), I at least had some drawer plans for lunch near our hotel. 

So, we went somewhere I knew as "the not bad place that serves vegetarian (no allium) versions of meals". I later found out that Two Two Chicken is apparently one of the most popular fried chicken places in KR. Well, it suited mummy's taste well enough that she went on to have at least 2 more meals there, including once of her own choosing while I was away for concert.

After lunch, we again tried to call a cab but it got stuck in traffic flowing the speed of marmite so to the metro it was for a 45 min ride, standing all the way. Tough introduction to Seoul so far for mummy...

🌸#6: Olympic Park

Luckily there was only one stop planned for the day and, although it was sort of a happenstance, it turned out pretty worth it! The reason for trudging all the way to Olympic Park was to conduct a ticket handover xD It wasn't my turn to watch the SS10 encore just yet, but I played an important role in enabling J to do so. Luckily, KSPO Dome sits within Olympic Park and so after the whirlwind handover and quick photo ops at the venue, mummy and I were free to commence the Seoul leg of our cherry blossom chase.

Navigating the blue outside of KSPO.

My memory of Olympic Park up till then was as a prime destination for hilly brisk walking, especially amongst the elderly. It presented rather more elegantly when dressed in spring florals and layered in golden hour! The lighting that evening honestly could have brought out the best in anything. 

It didn't take us long to walk from the buzzing blue ocean outside KSPO Dome (where mummy sat interestedly people watching while I settled the ticket) and into the thick of regular flower-admiring park-goers. I noted a public toilet nestled in a copse of cherry trees - intel for my own concert day. 

(KodaColor 100) There were also these vibrant pink magnolias which held their own against the cherry blossoms.

It was a large park and I wasn't exactly sure how much of it contained cherries, but mummy was keen to explore. This led us to the most charming portion of the Olympic Park with its vast meadow and climbable hillsides, then conveniently dotted with cherry trees in full bloom. There were already many locals engaging in the favourite Korean pasttime of picnicking, but there was enough space for everyone. Mummy suggested we sit on the grassy slope and have an impromptu phototaking session. Maybe things are different on holiday but I wouldn't have imagined such willingness to sit on grass in SG haha. It was a special time.

It was getting dark, but this was clearly a prime picnic area in the park since it was flat.

When in Korea, do as Koreans do. So we too sat on the slope and admired the view.

(KodaColor 100) Plenty of head-level blooms for everyone to lock in their new DP haha.

As we moved on in the fading light, mummy expressed horror at some boys skidding down one of the high and steep slopes. But they landed fine since kids are made of rubber. Once in a while, we came across a nice tree and mummy would direct some phototaking, right down to which scarf and jacket to wear.

Definitely a worthwhile cherry spot - there were trees almost as far as we chose to meander in the park.

That night, after too many Korean stews so far, we opted to have macs xD I also introduced mummy to the eomuk skewer (one of my favourite foods for cold weather) and she too enjoyed it.

Day 5, 5 Apr

This was concert day for me and rest day for mummy! But first, there was the promised full-attendance lunch gathering, in literally the only window where it was possible. Quite the whirlwind, since there were flights/concert to catch after that. I have no idea what we talked or laughed about over lunch but again, being able to meet with friends overseas is a special type of luck that I've always felt blessed to have. 

Mummy and me, plus B, J, and R! I like how almost all of us were doing a standard🤞.

The food, for an unresearched location, especially one that seems to be a typical quick lunch stop before a train ride, was also surprisingly good. Mummy gave high approval to the clam noodles and seafood pancake (Mummy Approved #2), such that I was treated to a few rounds of her own version of seafood pancake after we got home!

The highly acclaimed food! Was glad that there were enough of us to sample a few different dishes coz honestly, I have no idea how Koreans manage such huge portions on their own plus sides.

Needless to say, I had a great time at KSPO that afternoon. And as luck would have it, one of mummy's friends was also in town, so she had a dinner buddy while I was out! Of course I came back to hear that they went to Two Two hahaha.

Just for posterity!

Day 6, 6 Apr

Per usual post-concert SOP, I requested a slightly later start on this day. This was probably also the day I introduced mummy to the nearby Tous les Jours which became our regular breakfast/brunch spot. Creatures of habit indeed haha. 

🌸#7: Gyeongui Line Forest Park

For the first location of the day, I'd planned somewhere I'd visited on a work trip in 2019 but haven't had the chance to visit on holiday. The Gyeongui Line park is pretty long as a whole and I didn't find anything familiar as we walked so it must've been a different stretch last time. Anyway, the cherry trees are found only on a specific stretch (between Gongdeok and Daeheung stations) and it rained that morning so they'd definitely taken a beating. The ground was so coated in petals it was practically a pink carpet. Luckily there was still a decent canopy of surviving petals in that stretch of tall, tall trees. 

More pink on the ground than the canopy.

Compared to cherry spots #1-6, the view here was stretched vertically. I wondered again how trees decide or are forced to grow, because this bunch weren't just tall, they were skinny and straight. No need for darting around low hanging branches at this location. Well, a different view every time helped to keep things fresh, but I always prefer a sunny view to that morning's gloom.

Still ok for a cherry blossom spot but a shade compared to the glory of Gyeongju and Jinhae xD

Oh but these were SOOO CUTEEE, just hanging out with their owner on a petal-strewn park bench and happily eating their cabbage leaves while passers by took photos (me included).

Thanks to the spamming (completely worthwhile) in the "Busan" leg, I was in need of film. So mummy and I agreed to follow the Gyeongui Line all the way up to a film lab in Yeonnam-dong - a good 3km away and about 45 mins' walk in total. Good physical condition is very important for trips like this. Mummy was perfectly fine with the plan as it was within her usual daily activity and she also believes in having good long walks for digestive purposes.

Yeonnam Film with its expansive range of film stocks at decent prices. I opted not to get my film developed there since I wouldn't be rounding back to collect the negatives.

Film topped up, we crossed the river to find lunch closer to the next cherry spot. Even I wanted to eat something other than Korean food by then, so we ended up in a Thai restaurant in a mall where once again, I forgot to take a photo of the food. Haha it's not completely a bad thing if it meant that I was more present in the moment, but I recall that the food was decent.

No food photo but got this mall directory coz it was memorable for being so confusing. Yes, L3 was the lowest floor.

🌸#8: Yeouiseo-ro (Yunjong-ro)

I always end up in Yeouido at some point whenever I'm in Seoul. It's done the job of "nice filler walk" anytime I had a break in my itineraries. This time wasn't a filler since Yeouiseo-ro/Yunjong-ro (not sure why it has 2 names) is one of the most famous cherry blossom spots in Seoul. 

Considering that we'd already done a long-ish walk that morning, I suggested that we take a bus closer to the heart of the location. No need to be greedy and cover the whole road, especially since part of it was sloped uphill. This turned out to be a good decision since there was a festival ongoing at the bend of the road. It was definitely crowded but not to the point of a cattle drive, i.e. pretty atmospheric! There were also offshoot paths so there was plenty of space for everyone to enjoy the blooms. 

Best part was that the sun came out and we got blue skies for the first time that day!

The canopy here was still pretty dense, and the bright yellow flowers were a nice complement.

There was petal rain, which I was trying to capture here.

Mummy enjoyed herself at the little popup photo-stations along the way, with their colourful flowerbeds and floral wreaths. She even got me to take a few photos of her wearing the wreaths (I declined myself haha).

(Dubblefilm Jelly 400) Intentionally tried out this funky pre-exposed film I spotted at Yeonnam. Perfect for shaking things up after a few days of cherry views~ 

(Dubblefilm Jelly 400) But like a box of chocolates, the light leak effect is inconsistent across the roll. So this close-up shot turned out completely normal lol.

After we'd gotten our fill of the cherry blossoms in the soft sunlight, I brought mummy down to experience the riverfront walk - a favourite solo activity of mine. But unfortunately there were no hot drinks at the CU (I guess Koreans only drink cold drinks, even when it's cold out).

At day's end, we took a bus back towards Seoul Station for mummy's requested second round of clam noodles xD Since we were there, there was nothing stopping us from going to Lottemart to pick up some of the house favourite crab pasta sauce, office snacks, and an irresistible punnet of strawberries.

One more round of clam kalguksu but with a smaller portion of that amazing chicken side. Was just as tasty and filling for both of us.

Day 7, 7 Apr

Keeping with the "two plans max per day" principle to avoid overstretching, I'd only planned one cherry blossom spot for the morning, since I wanted to bring mummy to Wangsimni for some shopping.

🌸#9: Seoul Forest

Of all the locations, this was probably the one mummy and I were least impressed with haha. Going by the forecast, we should've been in Seoul at peak bloom up till ~10 Apr. However, my confidence dripped away location by location. 

Seoul Forest is another of my regular haunts in Seoul - I guess I just like somewhere to walk when there's time. So I was definitely excited for my first time there in this season. Compared to the previous day, the weather was spot on. Jacket temps + bright blue skies, somewhat like the Gyeongju day, make for the best walks and photos. 

But then, the cherry blossom walk in Seoul Forest was kinda tiny... On hindsight, it prob felt this way after we were spoiled by the sprawling, endless peak bloom views from the start of the trip, so maybe it's no fault of Seoul Forest itself haha. In the bright daylight, it also was very obvious that the trees were already half botak. In fact, they were losing more petals by the second as the wind dragged through the branches. But that in itself wasn't all bad, since it created a pretty petal rain. 

Thick flurry of petals in the blustery conditions!

Rather than pastel pink, the canopy looked some sort of burgundy as more and more petals were lost to the wind.

Snack time with one of our huge punnet of strawberries and my fav strawberry milk that I've never missed drinking when I'm in KR coz somehow it's not yet imported in SG. We only get thin and artificial tasting binggrae...

Somewhat a heart?

Also unfortunately, the cherry walk was crowded with tourists which made things feel somewhat unspecial hahaha. I brought mummy to see the deer and the tropical greenhouse and then suddenly we were left standing amongst construction hoardings with was nothing more to do in the place. There, I made an executive decision to insert an additional location.

(Dubblefilm Jelly 400) Finished up the funky roll on some non-complicated subjects so I could go back to shooting normally haha.

🌸#10: Yangjaecheon

Still dutifully avoiding Seokchon Lake, Yangjaecheon was one of the other options on my radar, being more popular with the locals. It was a little far out, but I thought no harm since grab was cheap anyway. 

This was the 3rd and final cheon of the trip and as with the previous few, the waterway was lined with cherry trees. Unfortunately, there was also observable baldness. We were in a more regular area since I didn't realise that was another more famous stretch where the petals fell directly onto the water, turning the stream silky pink. Well, it was at least another decent park walk and there were still plenty of trees. We'd really been spoiled by the intense views earlier on in the trip haha.

(Fujicolor 100) Cherry trees aside, if there's any other country that's got ABC Waters dialed, it's KR.

(Fujicolor 100) I've been to a fair few of their waterways just for a stroll and have never not enjoyed it. How not to? When there's top-notch infra lining those many kilometers worth of streams. I could walk until my legs gave out and the walkable paths would still stretch on~

(Fujicolor 100) Keeps their citizens dexterous too - I daresay it's needed for tiny old ladies to be able to cross the waters this way.

The rest of the day was filled with non-cherry blossom activities. Lunch was Korean-style western that we stumbled upon at Wangsimni. Mummy was quite happy with her spicy seafood pasta (her go-to everytime we have western).

Finally a meal photo! Mummy said that the spicy seafood spaghetti was her style which is nothing but high praise, especially for a random Korean-western joint.

I did attempt to catch petals as they flurried around in the wind, but it was impossible. At the restaurant, I found that this one had tagged along haha.

And then, because we could, we went back for a nap. 

For dinner, I think we went to Two Two again LOL. This time, we ordered the tofu stew which mummy was  absolutely intrigued by, because the tofu resembled tauhuey more than regular tofu (Mummy Approved #3). It worked quite well actl, even though I'm not sure it's "traditional". So yep, I got to have mummy-version of tauhuey jiggae at home xD

That night, for post-dinner digestion, I suggested we going to the 12-storey Daiso building across from Myeongdong which I'd never had the chance to visit prior. It's actl quite a skinny building, but I guess the GFA over 12 floors still makes for quite a large Daiso. Mummy sportingly walked all 12 floors (top down) with me and we picked up a number of useful household items, including a simple but effective silicone neck massager.

Day 8, 8 Apr

🌸#11: Gyeongbokgung

Since mummy was a first-time tourist to Seoul, I thought it appropriate to plan a palace day. There were supposed to be cherry blossoms at Gyeongbokgung anyway, so we could kill two birds with one stone. We must've started the day slightly earlier than usual, coz we made it for the 10am changing of guards showcase even though I didn't exactly plan for it. Unfortunately, mummy is not tall so she was having to peek through a throng of limbs to catch a glimpse. We didn't stick around for all of it - better to get into the palace before the crowd. 

Inside, it was already swarming with tourists, even moreso than Seoul Forest. We went straight to one of the ponds where I was sure there would be cherry blossoms. Alas, many of the trees were already bare. I managed to catch mixed shots of the sprinkling of trees with their petals still on, as well as uhh artistic branches. Still ok I guess, plenty of palace architecture and and people strolling around in hanboks to use as subjects.

(Fujicolor 100) Credits to this day for being intensely bright though! Enough to break out the sunglasses and for capturing contrasty shots such as this.

(Fujicolor 100) Ok la, there were still some well-placed cherry trees with their petals still fairly intact to create some good frames.

Lunch nearby was also mid, and somehow relatively expensive even though there were quite a lot of locals at the place. After the approved pancake at the clam noodles place, mummy found the pancake here soggy and underwhelming. 

Since there was still time before our 2.30pm reservation for the Changdeokgung Secret Garden, I suggested we take a walk to Ikseondong and find a nice cafe to hang out. We picked one of the many pretty cafes and got two teas as usual. But to my surprise, mummy proceeded to add on a slice of carrot cake. She's not usually a dessert person, but I guess holidays bring out a different side in all of us! 

Such a precious time.

We got to the Secret Garden on time and to my disappointment, it was completely green -.- If I'd done slightly deeper research, I'd have realised the only good time to visit it was in autumn. At any other time of year, exclusivity is prob the only reason tickets get snatched up.

That said, English-language tour guide was a bit of an attraction herself. While hovering around waiting for the tour to start, mummy nudged me and said that the guide had arrived. I was about to ask her how she knew, when I saw for myself and actl laughed a small laugh out loud. I'm sure there was no humour intended, but the guide looked like one of those desert aliens from star wars. Between the wide-brimmed hat, huge shades, mask, lace gloves, long dress and high-cut shoes, she had literally no inch of skin exposed to the sun. Oh and she was carrying an umbrella too for good measure. For the short time we stuck with her, I actl greatly enjoyed her humour. And no photos of her, to respect her request not to find terrible photos of herself online. 

Definitely the wrong time to visit.

In terms of satisfaction, the day's cherry blossom haul so far would've ranked negative. The palaces were the final plan on the itinerary but they unfortunately couldn't cut it as conclusions to a cherry-chasing trip. Therefore, in consultation with mummy and Threads, I placed my bets on one final location. 

And so we crawled in traffic towards the Han river (mummy dozed off and woke up asking why we weren't there yet). I was puzzled at the slow journey too, coz the destination didn't seem all that far off and it was pre-peak hour.

🌸#12: Nanji Hangang Park

Anyway, once we got all the way there, I was nothing but relieved that the real-time posts on Threads held true! As though in compensation for our plentiful view of branches at the previous few locations, we found the trees at Nanji Hangang Park brimming with fluffy petals reflecting gold in the late afternoon sun. This was the fitting end that we were lucky to get!

Shortly after we alighted from the grab, we were greeted by this wide open view adorned with cherry trees, thankfully bereft of crowds and multi-language noise.

Nanji Hangang Park, being a lesser-known hangang park, was absolutely serene even amidst the peak bloom. Apart from some locals cycling or walking their dogs, we seemed to be the only tourists out there. I guess it was rather ulu since the nearest metro was about 30 mins walk away from our location in the heart of the park. But for the situation, it was perfect! We had all the space to ourselves to stroll and admire the blooms. As with almost the whole trip so far, mummy was totally game on walking. I was amazed but maybe I shouldn't be, since this was the fruit of conscientious tending to health and physical fitness. Mummy is an example that one need not succumb to frailty even after receiving the silver EZ-link card.

The most peaceful cherry walk across the whole trip.

(Fujicolor 100) Once again, as with Bomun Lake, it was easy to create frames with the good light and abundant petals.

(Fujicolor 100) One final close-up to round off.

Knowing that this was our final cherry blossom viewing, I shot my final frames, stowed my camera and opened my senses for maximum immersion on the slow walk out to the metro. Plus the mild sunlight and riverside breeze, it was pure luxury. 

For our final dinner, I'm guessing we went to Myeongdong Pizza because I wanted to introduce mummy to toowoomba pasta. I'm quite sure mummy enjoyed both the pasta and the pizza. Haha I really should remember to take more photos with my phone next time, for the sake of preservation here.

Day 9, 9 Apr

It rained, so after a final breakfast at Tous les Jours, it was clearly time to go home. It tends to rain on the days I leave a Korean city for somewhere else haha...

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Wew, I'm glad I had the chance to look back 6 months later and see again how much of a success the trip was. Much much more than I'd dared to hope prior to the trip. We couldn't have timed it any better for what we planned to do, and nature was graciously facilitative.

I'll say it again and again, but I'm thankful for that special luck that helped everything fall into place, and create those sky high moments at various points throughout the trip. Topmost on mind is being able to cross paths with friends on their own agenda. Sure, we can always meet up locally and all, but the memories from holiday will always be innately special. And also, I cannot not mention the concert. The trip was planned to give the best chance for cherry viewing, and if it meant missing out on the encore that I knew was coming, so be it. But as it turns out, fate seems to be fairly facilitative of my interests as an ELF :D

Above all, mummy enjoyed herself, and we were both satisfied and ready to go home at the end of it :D

Super Show(s) 10

In 2023, at the end of my personal SS9 tour, I wrote "Till my SS10 tour!". 

It's finally time. 3 years later, we are now beyond the 20th anniversary celebrations for my favourite ancient Kpop group. It's not always that a long-awaited event ends in satisfaction, and this means that I've got many lucky stars to thank. But before the reflections, let's summarize!

This round, it was my privilege to attend:

- Seoul, 23 Aug 2025

- Manila, 4 Oct 2025

- Singapore, 2-3 Jan 2026

- Seoul (Encore), 5 Apr 2026

5 shows in total, less than the 8 of SS9 and with one less overseas stop. Despite that, the SS10 run came with much deeper contentment and appreciation.

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Seoul, KSPO Dome, 23 Aug 2025

- We made it! SS10 was real! And most importantly for me, I got to watch it! Live! Never shall I forget that (1) I got a ticket (2) to watch my long-time favs (3) on my first birthday (4) after a major health event. It was my comeback as well.

- Ticketing was guaranteed to be a battle, what with the surge of ELFs coming out of hibernation for the big milestone. So I went in single-mindedly to secure a seat (any seat, just get in can alr) on my bday show and came out with nothing left to want. 

- While the terrible Korean summer couldn't kill my spirits, it made things quite challenging. Back then, I'd only just reached the bare minimum of travel-readiness and the typical Korean stairs and walking distances were extra tough. At KSPO, I rmb making a judgement call to decline sprinting between the dome and the nearest CU to meet someone coz it was imperative to stay safe to watch the show.

- It was my first time in the wide, flat KSPO Dome since I'd casually missed the Seoul run of Half-time. If Jamsil was a bowl, KSPO felt more like a plate. The coziness of Jamsil Arena can't be beaten but for SJ, the scale of KSPO was necessary. Even before the explosive 20th anni, SJ's popularity seemed to be steadily growing, alongside their ages. There would've been an uproar if any smaller venue were chosen, and performing any more shows than they did would've been a health risk.

- It was also my first time seeing Heechul perform live! I live with few regrets but one of them was that I held back from going for SS7 - the first SS I could've afforded after I entered the workforce... and also the last before Heechul's hiatus from concerts. They would all continue to be around anyway... right? And so I internalised the lesson on not taking things for granted. After seeing him on stage for the first time, it was clear to me that he was born for it. It probably took tons of physical and mental hard work for him to get back, and hearing him declare at the end of the tour that he was now and forever Super Junior's Kim Heechul melted my heart. Welcome home indeed, Oppa. 

- I prob mentioned it on IG or elsewhere but really, the giant hanging X above the X-shaped stage was so so impressive. My gut feel was right that such amazing logistics wouldn't be feasible to replicate on tour. This is why it is important to attend the Seoul run if possible, because that's where SJ's full intentions are realised before things are cut into a more manageable and sustainable size.

- They went right into the songs and never really stopped till the end. The setlist was crammed with songs from over the years, surprisingly enough to force out their usual chaotic and draggy ments haha. I was counting and other than the songs from the latest SJ25 album, almost all songs were more than 10 years old. We got a good helping of 20 year-old songs too, some of which might have sounded right at home in 2026 if sung by a younger group in modern times. This is why my Spotify age pretty much reflects my true age haha.

- As a long-time ELF who commenced concert-going at a late stage, this was my shining chance to hear their old, less-performed titles live. This refers to the likes of Twins and Don't Don, which I actl like more than the holy trinity. My guess is that now that they've gotten their light of day, they'll be mothballed again until the 25th anni at earliest.

- I've always marveled at their fitness, but moreso for SS10 with that non-stop full-group setlist. In usual Super Shows, the unit/solo stages give the other members time to rest. This time, they only had the VCRs. In other words, even if they're not the same shape as their Bonamana days, their cardio capacity still outstrips regular humans by far. 

- Speaking of Bonamana, they elected to perform the original version, with all of its aerobic moves, rather than the rock version they've been doing for years. It really gave me the motivation to get back in shape. If guys in their 40s can do this much, I can at least do a fraction xD

- Compared to the haphazard opportunity-hoarding that was my SS9 run, I think my prevailing mental state allowed me to be completely satisfied with that one-day concert attendance. It's like I accepted that this run would naturally be more limited, and so I better be immersed as much as possible at each show. In any case, Seoul concerts always signal the beginning of a period of looking forward to the next concert ^^

Manila, SM Mall of Asia Arena, 4 Oct 2025

- The plan for SS10 was always Seoul + SG + 1 overseas stop + encore. It happens that only the Manila date fit nicely for the overseas choice. I was amused at my affinity with Manila by that point haha. This was my 3rd time in Manila for a concert, after SS9 and Fan Party so I really should visit the Philippines for a proper non-concert trip sometime in the future. 

- Thanks to my friend and her contacts, I had a reallyyyy good seat. Prob closest seat in the house to any part of the stage! A seat like this was worthy of my trusty fanboard and hence I got a few servings of fan service throughout the concert :D 

- The acoustics of SM MOA made the already powerful SS10 opening segment particularly thunderous. I was like whoa and having to "brace" my heart but thankfully the rest of the concert proceeded quite normally. 

- Apart from the fan service, seats like these were also meant for catching details such as adlibs or other random antics. Ultimately, I left Manila so satisfied that I totally didn't mind not snagging any VIP seat for the rest of the tour. It's been a fantastic run so far in that I've gotten up-close seats/standing positions for every tour to-date (where Ryeowook could see my fanboard hehe) - let's hope that this continues!

BONUS: Countdown @ Kallang, 31 Dec 2025

- While waiting for ticketing deets to come out for the original 3 Jan SS10 in SG, this announcement came as a curveball that no one expected! It meant that SJ would be spending a good 4 days on the sunny island (including holding a rare physical fansign that only the craziest/luckiest fans got to attend).

- Honestly, I could do without staying up that late, but I cannot not go if SJ is in my home country, especially not when tix cost only $12. During ticketing, I got in fast and naively checked out 2 tix for the front pens before realising that almost all my friends didn't manage to get anything before they sold out >.< The organisers were compelled to add more tix, showing the importance of guest choice.

- Since the venue wasn't big, the $12 came with a very decent view! The most dedicated ELFs apparently queued to get in since 6am and they were rewarded at the barricade with hi-fives with the SJs. The less-dedicated me was like a mere 20m away from the stage - good enough!

- Physically, I was in a better place by then and able to manage the intermittent standing past my usual bedtime. I was having to keep close tabs on my condition throughout my SS10 run actually. It felt like each of the stops and their unique characteristics fell into place nicely for when I was ready to take them on.

- SJ came out last so we had to wait, but I was sufficiently entertained by the other acts beforehand. Sitting on the floor, I acknowledged that Tabitha Nauser really can sing, and got to add a few songs from Cheng Huan to my dusty mandopop playlist. 

- Over dinner, the group of us speculated that SJ would sing their holy trinity + Miracle and be done with it. But they opened with Express Mode (ok nubbad!) and then at some point Believe came out! The livestream audio was extremely terrible but wow on ground, their vocals were flawless, even after landing around 10pm and zooming over to perform. I got goosebumps at Ryeowook's opening of Believe - a song with beautiful full Korean lyrics, written by Heechul, such as: 

그대의 미소가 지워지지 않길 바래요

언제나 행복한 날들이 계속 되길 빌며

- Believe was followed by Devil which thus became the final song I heard in 2025. But I'm partial to Bonamana and was extremely heartened that that was the song played at the stroke of midnight, right after the 10s countdown ended and alongside the final sequence of fireworks. 2010-me, whose first comeback as an ELF was Bonamana, couldn't have foreseen that so many years later, she would get to open a year with that same song. 

- I think there must've been Sorry Sorry somewhere but last but not least, we were treated to a fitting Miracle. Daresay I could do with believing that "life couldn't get better!". It's not objectively true of course, even now in Jun 2026, since life is still in the process of getting better (slowly). But I think... that feeling is a great state of mind to have, and I definitely totally believe it whenever I'm jumping around to SJ hahaha.

- Must mention that, although I confirm that my bias is still Ryeowook, Heechul was very suave that night. It was the return of his Mamacita bartender look. He's handsome/pretty enough even when styled like an ahjumma, but there are definitely looks that I prefer!

- (My real) Sis somewhat enjoyed herself and acknowledged that SJ were great live!

Singapore, Indoor Stadium, 2-3 Jan 2026

- I took it chill partially coz of the amazing VIP experience in Manila, but also coz I settled easily in face of the fiercest ticketing battle I've fought for SG (3 Jan). 13 tabs opened across 8 devices only yielded a single Cat 4 tix. To this day, I have no idea how other people manage to get their desired tickets after hours of refreshing, coz I never have the stomach for such uncertainty. 

- And then, they added an additional day (2 Jan)! This was historical - the last time SJ held a 2-night show in SG was over a decade ago at their peak. Ticketing for the second show was comparatively easy with ELF membership, but apparently gen sales were just as much of a bloodbath as the original day. Doesn't need a data analyst to show that the returnee ELFs were out in full force. After SS10, my guess is that their vows were renewed for the long run haha. So, hopefully... SG will have 2-night shows again in the future *crosses fingers*.

- SJ aside, what made those two days the utmost joy for me was that I got to meet so many of my real-life friends from across years and circles. It was two days worth of compressed catch ups and phototaking. A shared love for SJ really brings people together and my heart was filled to the brim even before entering the stadium. It really was a good start to the year.💙

- Rather than a ticketing concession, I saw this as my first chance to experience the second floor of the Indoor Stadium from the front and side views. No much fan service up there, but the immersion remained potent! That high up, as I'd already experienced in KSPO, the view expands to include the bobbing lightsticks of other ELFs enjoying themselves.  

- SG ELFs are not known for enthusiasm. But this time, I felt a change from previous Super Shows. Maybe it was the excitement from the returnee ELFs or maybe everyone was just extra charged up for the 20th anni, but WOW the fanchants. The stadium literally echoed at "the last man standing!", particularly on Day 2. For the first time, I was proud to be an SG ELF. 

- SJ themselves seemed to be responding very well to the enthusiasm! Or maybe it was just coz it was the first concerts of the new year. This also meant the start of their "40s" branding lolol. The whole group insists on saying that they are all in their 40s (in Korean age) even if the maknaes are still 38 and 39 in international age. Cue lots of self-generated age humour but the best was Leeteuk's "I'm your superstar, I'm your idol, I'm your uncle" xD

- Despite the humour, there were real signs of physical wear and tear, with the most obvious being Heechul's wrist guard. I was thus surprised to see him play the Sorry Sorry drum set on Day 1, but he didn't do so on Day 2. As the members explained, adjustments were made along the way in consideration of their various conditions. The drum segment was an unexpected occurrence in SG, especially since I didn't see it in Manila and thought it was gone for good (or at least until the real powerhouse stops). 

- Each of the SS10 stops I attended belonged to a different setlist "era". SG was my first encounter with the very singalong-able Too Many Beautiful Girls, and there was also the second encore (Miracle) after Finale. So although I could sense that the setlist was shorter than before (bye Don't Don), it still felt whole. This I try to explain to Mummy every time she asks why I was going for the same concert again and again. It's like going to a playground right? The playground stays the same but it's always fun haha. 

- I couldn't see amidst the flurry of confetti, but the whole group actually did a deep bow to the audience during the encore segment on Day 1. Special, first concert of the year things! I'm not sure how the tour lineup was planned, but seriously, it was insane luck that we were able to start the year with SJ right here at home. 

- And that was the end of my SS10 run in its existing form. All there was left was to watch fancams to pass time and wait for news of the encore...

Cr: orenji_sg2 on X.

Seoul (Encore), KSPO Dome, 5 Apr 2026

- Not sure about other groups, but SJ has shown time and again that they don't simply... settle. As a group, they have an obsession with outdoing themselves.

- Some of the members have described the encore as "SS11" and I can't blame them haha. It is SJ's self-inflicted tradition for their encores to be a vast overhaul from the main runs. This was taken to a whole new level for the 10th edition and the end of the 20th anni. I can't think of any reason why anyone would work this hard when they don't need to, other than that they genuinely enjoy it. 

- The seatplan came out showing that it'd be their first ever 360 degree concert, breaking the mould for many other groups that've come before and after them. I was amazed... but not totally surprised. It's so SJ to have pushed for this.

- Again, my mindset was just to get into KSPO Dome. I'd be in the country any way and it would've been the icing on a very sweet trip as is. Thanks again to zero hesitation, I got my intended tix and got out. And then, because of an SOS, I went back in to grab whatever I could on another day and miraculously managed to. It really is all thanks to the higher availability across 3 days of 360 degrees, which SJ managed to sell out. I've been lucky to have secured most of my own tickets thus far, but with the steady increase in difficulty, it might only be a matter of time before other options have to kick in. This is especially after SJ specified that the 360 degree setup was a special occurrence since it was particularly difficult to prep for. 

- When I got to Seoul this time, conditions were much better both in terms of the weather and my physical health. The reduction in overall worry and caution meant that more resources could be allocated to simple enjoyment. 

- One of SJ's problems is having too many great songs. How do you commemorate a 20-year, extremely decorated and active career? It's not like they were dusting off a limited song selection for a reunion every 5 years. This problem manifests in the concerts and things like Killing Voice where they kinda self-limit to an overflowing best hits compilation. 

- If SS10 was the grand commemoration, SJ-Core was more like SJ doing just what they and ELFs really wanted - somewhat like the mood of the SS9 encore actually. And so, I think they had a bit more freedom in selecting songs. Yes, Dorothy and In A Dream deserved their spots in SS10, but they were put away just for a while and hence, I got to hear the likes of Angela, Storm, Evanesce, and Raining Spell for Love :') My manifest list was pretty spot on since my tastes align well with the typical ELF's, but live Angela was something I didn't dare dream of. Count on SJ to know their fans, but it could also be that they enjoy such songs themselves haha. Of all their songs, Angela sounds like it was pulled right out of an old mp3 player and Heechul was singing along enthusiastically (off-mic) outside his own parts xD

- I'd kept mostly spoiler-free and went in confident that whatever songs they chose from their 20-year catalog, including solos/units, I'd know the entire setlist. I should've expected to be proven wrong haha, give it to SJ to pull a surprise every single time! There were 2 songs I didn't know but this was no fault of my own coz they were new and yet-to-be-released. 

- Never in my wildest dreams did I expect to see the coming of 83z and dare I say that theirs was my favourite performance in the entire concert. I smiled through the entire song I was hearing for the first time :') First, well, music always comes first and it was 100% my type of song - a dramatic rock ballad somewhere between the likes of MLTR and Nickelback. I imagine that Onsaemiro will enter my 2026 top songs rather easily once it's finally released on Spotify. Second, that combination OMG. Those two... As a long-time ELF I think I understand how much character development it took over these decades to finally make it possible for them to stand on stage together. No other duo in SJ would've caught my interest like that, period. Not even if it were Ryeowook + another member. I am currently eagerly awaiting their official debut and fancon tour pretty much as eagerly as that of my real bias hahaha.

- The other song I didn't know was the D&E version of Rocket - one of the songs in Donghae's then yet-to-be-released album. They chose well for the whole KSPO to manage to sing along to a new song that included "Super Junior" in the lyrics. As it is said, no one loves SJ more than SJ.

Acha survived the overhaul, so here's the awesome rainbow view from the 山顶.

- Throughout the SS10 tour they all used the same shiny blue-cased mic. For SJ-Core, each member used their own personalised mics gifted by fans (except for 83z since Heechul didn't have his own and Leeteuk... probably didn't want to let his 搭档 feel alone). Quite symbolic actually. 

- The only end that SJ-Core signified was that of the 20th anni celebrations. For many other groups, this would mean a quiet spell but not SJ lol. The members were all raring to go and were busy promoting their upcoming solos/subunit activities... and also SS11. They never spoke of it as an "if", merely a "when".

-  I came out of KSPO Dome contented and eager for things to come. 

+++++++++

As the members have joked of ELFs and of themselves, once you've been in it for this long, you've missed the opportunity to get out and you're in it till the end. 

I was always confident that they'd reach the 20th anni and SS10. Before SS10, I'd primed myself not to see them again for a while after the tour ended but now I know that I needn't have worried that much haha. SJ is now well into their 21st year and I have absolutely not been able to keep up with them. Full group activities are on hold for now but ironically this means that ELFs are more busy than ever since there's at least one Suju doing something in every week of 2026. And their support for each other means that they appear in countless combinations all over social media. I shall be well-fed with contents from my dear show window group. It's clear now that the only time they really go silent is in preparation for group comebacks, under strict orders to avoid spoilers haha. 

I can trust SJ on SS11. On hindsight, parallels can be drawn with the release of their 11th album. Back at the 15th anni in 2020, the 10th album was such a hyped up milestone and although it was a solid album, the rollout was delayed to 2021 and was quite meh due to SM's antics and covid. Then suddenly and with comparatively less fanfare, as the world was cautiously coming back to life in 2022, SJ started releasing a collection of singles/minis that would collectively make up the 11th album "The Road". One of those minis was subtitled "Keep On Going". There was their intention right there, shining strong. 

From then, I got the sense that SJ doesn't stop at nice, big milestones. It's like the 10th album was just another work project and they moved on to the next one right after without taking time to bask. Maybe next year, the 20th anni will feel that way too. But still, there are no guarantees in life, not even things slated to happen at 7.30am on the next day. So I will hold on to their intention and hope that it comes to fruition. 

Life so far has moved in ways that reinforce my belief that things happen as they are meant to. It doesn't mean there's no point putting in effort and waiting for things to occur, quite the contrary... I still had to fight for the tickets and plan the trips. But for a bunch of random seats buried on the remote 山顶s, there were those shining VIP ones and all those people who were with me along the way. Just like the rest of life, right?

Looking back, it was a miracle for me to be there at the start and at the end. There are endless what ifs and one of the milder ones is: what if SJ had kicked off SS10 earlier in 2025? Knowing myself, I'd have stayed home safe and watched on Weverse haha. But since I was there, I was meant to be there. On my birthday ^^

SJ is still here (as a group), and I'm still here. Well, now they are more of dispersed agents but I think the periodic separation does help keep them together hahaha. For the moment, I am very very excited about the upcoming releases from Ryeowook and 83z most, and there's definitely more than that to come. Looking forward to SS11 is not the priority since my concert run for 2026 is far from over, but I shall still say for good luck:

Till my SS11 tour!

시작부터 

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