EXO’s main dancer and solo artist KAI made his long-awaited return to Manila on July 27, 2025, for his first solo concert, KAION in Manila, held at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. This marks his first visit to the Philippines in six years, following EXO’s EXplOration tour in 2019. Fans, known as EXO-Ls, turned out in full force, selling out the venue and proving the idol’s unwavering popularity in the country.
KAI lit up the stage in Manila as he kicked off his performance with fan-favorite tracks from his first solo album. Songs like “Sinner,” “Mmmh,” “Nothing On Me,” “Hello Stranger,” “Slidin’,” and “Ride or Die” had the crowd cheering and singing along from the start.
He then greeted fans with a big smile and a warm, “What’s up, Manila!” followed by, “Hello po, I’m KAI. Nice to meet you, guys! Did you miss me?!” sending the crowd into loud cheers and excitement. “I really miss all of you! Masaya ako”
Showing his love for EXO, he included a special medley of songs from the group, “My Lady,” “Baby Don’t Cry,” and “Angel.” These songs hold a special place in his heart and brought a wave of emotion for long-time EXO-Ls in the audience.
No K-pop concert is complete without heartfelt fan projects, and KAI’s Manila stop was filled with them. During the second part of his show, Erigoms (KAI’s individual fandom name) had something special prepared. One of the highlights was the Field of Peaches project, where the entire coliseum lit up with glowing peach-colored flowers. The beautiful scene unfolded as the Korean idol performed songs from his second album, including “Come In,” “Vanilla,” “Peaches,” and “Bomba.”
The energy stayed high as he transitioned to tracks from his latest release, Wait On Me. Performing “Adult Swim,” “Wait On Me,” “Pressure,” and “Walls Don’t Talk,” The idol showed his evolving sound and strong stage presence, leaving fans in awe throughout every beat and movement.
Turning up the intensity inside the Araneta Coliseum, KAI brought the crowd to a whole new level with the much-anticipated performance of “Confession”, a track he also performed during EXO’s EXplOration concert. The moment the intro hit, fans screamed in excitement, knowing what was coming.
He kept the momentum going with powerful performances of “Domino” and “Reason,” before launching into his hit song “Rover.” The crowd came alive, waving yellow bandanas in sync, a part of the special fan project that made the performance even more unforgettable.
Both KAI and his fans clearly didn’t want the night to end. When fans shouted that no one was going home, he didn’t want to leave either. He expressed his hope that the memories he created with his EXO-Ls in Manila would last forever.
During his final ment, fans called out for a glimpse of “Love Shot,” and the Korean idol happily obliged, performing the iconic point choreography, a moment that had the crowd roaring with excitement.
KAI took a moment to thank everyone behind the production and, most importantly, his EXO-Ls. He mentioned how the energy from Manila would always stay with him and expressed his gratitude for all the thoughtful fan projects.
For the encore, he closed the show with his final songs, “Blue” and “To Be Honest.” The crowd sang along, filling the venue with energy as the concert drew to a close.
Before saying goodbye, he left fans with one last message: “Don’t forget me, and keep rewatching the videos until we meet again.”
We can’t wait for the next time, KAI!
This event was made possible by PULP Live World.
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