SEOUL - In an emotional and powerful reunion, first-generation K-pop girl group Baby V.O.X held their second-ever domestic solo concert, 'New Breath,' on September 26 at the Kyung Hee University Grand Peace Hall in Seoul. The show marked an astonishing 23 years since their last solo concert in 2002, held at the very same venue.
The five original members—Kim E-Z, Lee Hee-jin, Shim Eun-jin, Kan Mi-yeon, and Yoon Eun-hye—were met with a brilliant sea of the group's signature pink light sticks, an unforgettable sight for fans who are now in their 40s and 50s. The crowd sang along in unison to the group's 2002 hit, "Coincidence," with lyrics that eerily mirrored the moment: “Time has already passed two years... I believed I would never see you again, but fate brought you back to my side.”
An Emotional Time Warp
The reunion was spurred by the group's highly-publicized performance at the 2024 KBS Song Festival Global Festival late last year, which garnered over 10 million views on YouTube and proved their enduring popularity. Riding this wave of renewed interest, the members decided to stage a full concert.
The atmosphere was thick with emotion from the start. Appearing via a lift as the LED screen opened, the members—though visibly nervous—kicked off the show with their charismatic hit, "Get Up." Leader Kim E-Z's powerful stage presence and Kan Mi-yeon's soaring high notes were undiminished by the passage of time, showcasing why they earned the title of "original girl-crush group."
During a performance of the ballad "Missing You," members Shim Eun-jin and Lee Hee-jin were overcome with emotion, shedding tears on stage, reflecting the deep sentiment of the moment. Kan Mi-yeon shared the feeling with the audience, stating, "A concert after 23 years feels like a dream to us, too. Thank you for giving us this opportunity."
New Breath, Timeless Hits
The concert's title, 'New Breath,' was explained by Shim Eun-jin as a way to honor the past while looking forward. "We want to go back to our time with you from 1997 to 2004," she said, "but also infuse a 'new breath' into it. We hope this is a meaningful time where we look toward the future together." She also acknowledged the fans' role in the reunion: "We had our last concert in this very venue, and I never thought we would be back. Your power is what brought us here."
The setlist was a nostalgic journey, featuring classics like "Betrayal," "Hope," "Bond," and "Ya Ya Ya." For their ballad stages, the group embraced 1990s-style performance art, complete with standing microphones and nostalgic fog special effects.
In a special surprise for longtime fans, they performed newly-arranged versions of "Xcstasy" and "Play" from their final 7th album, Ride West (2004)—songs that were ahead of their time with a strong hip-hop vibe and English rap. Kim E-Z mentioned that these tracks "were sadly not promoted for long, so we rearranged them for this concert." Yoon Eun-hye added, "We chose the songs fans would love the most. We hope this is a great gift for all of you."
The members also delivered diverse solo stages, including Shim Eun-jin's "Oopsy," Lee Hee-jin's cover of Kan Mi-yeon's "Paparazzi," and Yoon Eun-hye's cover of Karina's "UP."
Closing the nearly three-hour performance with encore hits "Ya Ya Ya" and "Coincidence," the members bid a tearful farewell. Shim Eun-jin beamed, asking the still-roaring audience, "Did you all enjoy your trip back to 1998?" Lee Hee-jin concluded, "Thank you so sincerely for cheering and applauding with us. You made an unforgettable moment for us."
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