(Clockwise from left) Taeyeon from Girls’ Generation, Kai from EXO, J-Hope from BTS, Doh Kyung-soo from Exo and G-Dragon from BigBang.PHOTOS: SM TOWN/FACEBOOK, SM ENTERTAINMENT, NBC/GETTY IMAGES, EXO/FACEBOOK, G-DRAGON/FACEBOOK
SINGAPORE: Once known only as part of a South Korean boy band or girl group, several K-pop stars have been venturing out on their own in a big way and are slated to make their way to Singapore soon.
There will be no bandmates to harmonise with or steal the limelight when these five singers take the stage here.
The Straits Times looks at how J-Hope from BTS, Taeyeon from Girls’ Generation, G-Dragon from BigBang, and Kai and Doh Kyung-soo (D.O.) from Exo manage to shine in and out of their units.
1. J-Hope (from BTS)
Fresh from being discharged from military service in October 2024, the singer-songwriter and record producer wasted no time in announcing his first solo world tour, Hope On The Stage, in January.
Through it, the 31-year-old aims to express his artistic vision and showcase his versatility. The tour started in Seoul in February, and has travelled to several cities in the United States, as well as the Philippines and Japan. He will play two sold-out nights at the Singapore Indoor Stadium on April 26 and 27.
The tour is in support of J-Hope’s debut studio album, the hip-hop-influenced Jack In The Box (2022), as well as his EP, Hope On The Street Vol. 1 (2024). According to video clips from other stops, it will likely open with the fiery number What If... (2002), where he is bathed in red light. The set list is expected to include most of the tracks from Jack In The Box and all of Hope On The Street Vol. 1.
J-Hope last performed in Singapore in 2019 alongside the other six members of BTS at the National Stadium, during the septet’s Love Yourself world tour.
In the group: BTS’ resident prankster has a sunny demeanour that makes others smile. Despite his mischievous side, J-Hope’s stage name comes from his desire to represent a sense of hope to fans.
As a soloist: He was the first BTS member to enter the Billboard Hot 100 solo, when his single Chicken Noodle Soup debuted at No. 81 in 2019.
In 2022, J-Hope made history as the first South Korean artiste to headline the main stage at a major American music festival, when he closed Lollapalooza in Chicago.
In early April, his track Mona Lisa topped Billboard’s Digital Song Sales chart. He will also hold an exhibition highlighting his solo music career in Seoul from May 30 to June 22, featuring stage props and outfits.
2. Taeyeon (from Girls’ Generation)
Less than two years after her last concerts at the venue in August 2023, Taeyeon will return to the Singapore Indoor Stadium on May 3 and 4 with The Tense tour.
The singer has consistently been popular here, having also performed solo in 2020 and 2019.
The upcoming shows are in support of her two EPs To. X (2023) and Letter To Myself (2024), and celebrate her 10th anniversary as a soloist. The tour kicked off in Seoul in March and has taken in Taipei, Macau, Jakarta and Pasay in the Philippines.
One outfit she is expected to don is a regal white get-up resembling a Greek goddess’, complete with a gold leaf headpiece. She is also likely to belt out tracks such as Fabulous (2023) and I (2015).
Among her newer material, the most successful track has been the R&B number To. X, about a break-up with a controlling partner. It peaked at No. 2 on South Korea’s Circle Digital Chart, and won the Digital Bonsang (Best Digital Song) award at South Korea’s Golden Disc Awards in January.
In 2024, the 36-year-old collaborated with British musician Sam Smith on the duet version of the latter’s ballad I’m Not The Only One (2014), with Taeyeon singing in both Korean and English, and Smith in English.
According to recent reports, her April 19 and 20 concerts in Japan were cancelled just two days before the first show due to delays in equipment delivery. But the organiser of her Singapore concerts has said her shows here will not be affected.
In the group: Fans first got to know Taeyeon as the leader and main vocalist of girl group Girls’ Generation, which currently has eight members.
Girls' Generation's (from left) Hyoyeon, Seohyun, Yoona, Taeyeon, Sooyoung, Tiffany and Sunny performing at the opening concert of the inaugural Busan One Asia Festival held at the Busan Asiad Main Stadium on 1 October 2016.
As the eldest member, she has been described as the group’s Beyonce, who was considered the face of American girl group Destiny’s Child before becoming one of the music world’s most successful female artistes.
As a soloist: Launching her solo career in 2015 allowed Taeyeon to explore a more mature sound, like pop-rock in her debut single I and jazz and R&B in the mid-tempo number Rain (2016). She has been lauded for her ability to convey deep emotions, such as pain and regret, through her voice, with South Korean composer Yoo Young-seok once saying she sings as expressively as “a woman who has been divorced seven times”. She has released three studio albums – My Voice (2017), Purpose (2019) and INVU (2022) – to date.
Book it/Taeyeon Concert – The Tense In Singapore
Where: Singapore Indoor Stadium, 2 Stadium Walk
When: May 3 and 4, 5pm
Admission: $178 to $298 via Ticketmaster (go to ticketmaster.sg or call 6018-7645)
3. Kai (from Exo)
South Korean singer Kai is from K-pop boy band Exo.PHOTO: SM ENTERTAINMENT
The members of third-generation boy band Exo have enjoyed immense popularity in Singapore, with at least three of their nine current members – Lay, Baekhyun and D.O. – having held solo performances here.
Kai is set to join this list with his first solo concert here at The Star Theatre on June 21, part of his Kaion world tour. It commences in Seoul in May and will stop by Kuala Lumpur, Macau and Jakarta.
He has said in interviews that his concerts might include a medley of Exo songs, and the shows will be a good opportunity for him to give back to his fans. He reportedly said: “I am using the concert as an excuse to see fans around the world.”
The 31-year-old previously performed at the Singapore Indoor Stadium in 2019 with the rest of his bandmates, during which he sang the sultry solo number Confession (2020).
In the group: Much of Exo’s music blends pop, hip-hop, R&B and electronic dance music, with big beats, rap and dance segments. The versatile Kai excels in all these and has been described as a perfect embodiment of Exo’s identity and its “centre”.
As a soloist: In November 2020, Kai struck out on his own with a self-titled R&B-inflected EP.
The choreography featured in the song Mmmh’s music video went viral, with tens of thousands of users attempting the dance challenge on TikTok. It became his biggest hit, with more than 195 million plays on Spotify.
The EP also earned him Best Male Artist (Overseas) and People’s Choice Award (Overseas) at the Asian Pop Music Awards in 2021.
Kai has since dropped three more EPs: Peaches (2021), Rover (2023) and Wait On Me, which was released on April 21. The latter is his first offering since he was discharged from military service in February, after serving from 2023.
He told American publication The Hollywood Reporter that the track Adult Swim was very meaningful. “I think this actually shows my mindset throughout those two years.”
Book it/2025 Kai Solo Concert Tour Kaion In Singapore
Where: The Star Theatre, 04-01 The Star Performing Arts Centre, 1 Vista Exchange Green
When: June 21, 5.30pm
Admission: $148 to $288 via Ticketmaster (go to ticketmaster.sg or call 6018-7645)
4. Doh Kyung-soo (from Exo)
He is known as D.O. when performing with the rest of Exo. But as a solo artiste, he goes by his birth name Doh Kyung-soo.
After holding his first solo fan concert at the Singapore Indoor Stadium in August 2024, during which he performed tracks such as Mars (2024) and Simple Joys (2024), the 32-year-old will return to the Republic on Aug 23. The announcement was made on April 11, although details of the venue and ticketing are not yet available.
The Singapore show is part of an Asian concert tour titled Do It!, which will kick off in Seoul in July and travel to Taipei, Jakarta and Manila, among other stops.
In the group: One of Exo’s main vocalists, the quiet, shy and clean-cut member cooks for the rest and nags them when their dorm rooms are untidy.
As a soloist: Of his three solo EPs – Empathy (2021), Expectation (2023) and Blossom (2024) – the first has been the most successful, having topped South Korea’s Gaon Album Chart. Two of its tracks, I’m Gonna Love You (played more than 100 million times on Spotify) and Rose, are among his more popular numbers.
5. G-Dragon (from BigBang)
BigBang’s Taeyang and Daesung were part of the line-up of the inaugural Yuewen Music Festival Singapore in December 2024, so it is about time the group’s third and final member follows suit.
Often dubbed the “King of K-pop”, G-Dragon last performed here at the Singapore Indoor Stadium in 2017, as part of his Act III: M.O.T.T.E world tour. More recently, he “appeared” in a video tribute flashed on the Jumbotron screens during K-pop girl group 2NE1’s concert in December at the same venue.
G-Dragon is set to take on the bigger Padang Stage as a headlining music act of the Formula One Singapore Airlines Singapore Grand Prix 2025 on Oct 3.
His third studio album, Ubermensch, was released in February. Given that it is his first full-length solo project in more than 11 years, his set is expected to be among 2025’s biggest comeback concerts.
G-Dragon’s Ubermensch world tour, which began in March in South Korea, marks his return to touring after eight years. It is slated to stop in Tokyo, Osaka, Macau and Taipei in the coming months.
In the group: Apart from being BigBang’s leader and rapper, the glamorous and androgynous star is considered the band’s most fashionable member, rocking every accessory from scarves to jewellery. His sartorial choices have sparked fashion trends, and he has gained the moniker of “iguana idol” because of his frequent hair colour changes.
As a soloist: With two EPs – One Of A Kind (2012) and Kwon Ji Yong (2017) – as well as three studio albums – Heartbreaker (2009), Coup d’Etat (2013) and Ubermensch – under his belt, he is generally considered BigBang’s most successful breakout.
Heartbreaker was crowned Album of the Year at the Mnet Asian Music Awards and Melon Music Awards that year. In 2024, lifestyle publication Prestige Online labelled him the member with the highest net worth, at about US$60 million (S$79 million).
Book it/G-Dragon at the Formula One Singapore Airlines Singapore Grand Prix 2025
Where: Padang Stage, Zone 4, Marina Bay Street Circuit
When: Oct 3, timing to be confirmed
Admission: Single-day Zone 4 walkabout tickets for Oct 3 are available at $148 via singaporegp.sg - The Straits Times/ANN
