DOH KYUNG SOO ASIA FAN CONCERT TOUR <BLOOM> IN SINGAPORE
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8th August marked Doh Kyung Soo's return to Singapore since his last performance during EXO's concert in 2018. The singer-actor sold out his first solo Asia Fan Concert Tour <BLOOM> at the Singapore Indoor Stadium, an exceptional feat considering its large capacity! On the day of the event, EXO-Ls appeared in various shades of Sky Blue, according to the dress code proposed by Kyung Soo himself.
Even before the concert begun, there was already a festive atmosphere as everyone queued up to take part in events prepared by Company SooSoo and UnUsUaL Entertainment, including a post-it note board, fan letter submissions and a free Photo Booth. This was the first time Kyung Soo prepared a Photo Booth event for his fans during the tour, and the template included designs specially hand-drawn by him, making it the perfect memorabilia for the concert.
Even before the concert begun, there was already a festive atmosphere as everyone queued up to take part in events prepared by Company SooSoo and UnUsUaL Entertainment, including a post-it note board, fan letter submissions and a free Photo Booth. This was the first time Kyung Soo prepared a Photo Booth event for his fans during the tour, and the template included designs specially hand-drawn by him, making it the perfect memorabilia for the concert.
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As the stadium gradually started to fill, it was bathed in a shade of sky blue and when the lights dimmed, silver Eri-bongs lit up the venue like a galaxy of stars. The cheers came to a crescendo as the first VCR played, followed by the first beats of his latest title track, 'Mars'. Doh Kyung Soo took the stage, serenading fans with his smooth, velvety voice as he sang the first verse. He was effortlessly good looking, donning a grey blazer, white tee and a pair of jeans, and his presence shone through even on the large stage. EXO-Ls chanted in unison according to the fanchants crafted by Kyung Soo himself, earning proud and approving smiles from him, especially with the resounding highlight of "오늘 저녁 삼겹살 (tonight's dinner is Pork Belly)".
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"Hello everyone, long time no see! Make some noise!!" Flaunting his eloquent pronunciation, he greeted fans in English. Despite transitioning to Korean thereafter, he was surprised by the fans' ability to understand him even before the translations. "You've waited for a long time right, wow it seems like you can understand me! Thank you so much."
"Because I'm not fluent in English, I would like to welcome our emcee", he shyly added, as April joined him on stage. It was evident that she was a well-loved emcee as well, as the hall cheered enthusiastically upon her entrance. Couches were placed on the stage, creating an intimate setting for Kyung Soo to chat with the fans.
"It's been a really long time since the last time I came, about seven years ago? I've been looking forward to meeting everyone for a long time. We're going to have a good time today, right?"
Going into the reason behind the title of his fan concert, "I chose Bloom as the title because it's closely related to the concept of my latest album. I was thinking about what could be a good title related to my album, and decided that 'Bloom' signifies blossoming together.
"You are, of course, very familiar with English, so the meaning of 'Bloom', is 'to bloom'", he said, while laughing at how it sounded after saying it out loud, "so I hope that we will all blossom together." He also acknowledged how everyone was dressed in line with the dress code!
"Because I'm not fluent in English, I would like to welcome our emcee", he shyly added, as April joined him on stage. It was evident that she was a well-loved emcee as well, as the hall cheered enthusiastically upon her entrance. Couches were placed on the stage, creating an intimate setting for Kyung Soo to chat with the fans.
"It's been a really long time since the last time I came, about seven years ago? I've been looking forward to meeting everyone for a long time. We're going to have a good time today, right?"
Going into the reason behind the title of his fan concert, "I chose Bloom as the title because it's closely related to the concept of my latest album. I was thinking about what could be a good title related to my album, and decided that 'Bloom' signifies blossoming together.
"You are, of course, very familiar with English, so the meaning of 'Bloom', is 'to bloom'", he said, while laughing at how it sounded after saying it out loud, "so I hope that we will all blossom together." He also acknowledged how everyone was dressed in line with the dress code!
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This led to a transition into the first segment, 'Kyung Soo in Bloom', where he would share behind the scenes stories from the tour. A variety of flowers bloomed across the screen and it was revealed that Kyung Soo drew them himself! As April praised his talents "he's handsome, he can act, sing and even draw!", he quickly grew shy and bowed, "no no no". Each flower represents a different theme, and he first selected 'Primrose' which signified 'Waiting'. Singapore EXO-Ls have waited a long time for him, and it was an opportunity for him to share what he has done so far while in Singapore.
Fans were treated to a series of food-related photos, from cockles (learning about the colloquial term, 'hum') to steamed crab and even the famous Chilli Crab! Being the food connoisseur that he is, Kyung Soo's face immediately lit up as he recalled the tastes of the previous night's dinner, animatedly describing the tastes and flavours. He exclaimed that everything was absolutely yummy and even tasted similar to what is available in Korea, and raved about the crabs in Singapore being "so delicious".
When asked what food he wanted to try that he hadn't got the chance to, he mentioned chicken rice (but quickly switched it to Laksa thereafter). "So, tonight's dinner is ...?" he asked, casually making reference to his fan chant, prompting the crowd to respond with "LAKSA!".
Fans were treated to a series of food-related photos, from cockles (learning about the colloquial term, 'hum') to steamed crab and even the famous Chilli Crab! Being the food connoisseur that he is, Kyung Soo's face immediately lit up as he recalled the tastes of the previous night's dinner, animatedly describing the tastes and flavours. He exclaimed that everything was absolutely yummy and even tasted similar to what is available in Korea, and raved about the crabs in Singapore being "so delicious".
When asked what food he wanted to try that he hadn't got the chance to, he mentioned chicken rice (but quickly switched it to Laksa thereafter). "So, tonight's dinner is ...?" he asked, casually making reference to his fan chant, prompting the crowd to respond with "LAKSA!".
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He revealed additional photos, including one of him seemingly taking a selfie. 'I wasn't taking a selfie, you're going to be shocked when you see the photo, I was taking a picture of a chicken that was standing like this", as he cutely imitated its posture. Unfortunately, the photo was left out of the photoset during the fan con, but we look forward to seeing it on his SNS someday!
It was evident that Kyung Soo and April had great chemistry - she was able to probe for more detailed stories, while making him laugh and loosen up, while he bounced off her energy with his extroverted personality. Fans got to see the the down to earth, boy-next-door side of Kyung Soo, much unlike the charismatic aura he exudes on stage as EXO's D.O., and it was really endearing, to say the least. It was also the best opportunity to interact with Kyung Soo, as he actively asked questions to involve the crowd, and eagerly listened to their responses. Not only was he able to learn about local cultures, he could also get closer to fans through these conversations.
It was evident that Kyung Soo and April had great chemistry - she was able to probe for more detailed stories, while making him laugh and loosen up, while he bounced off her energy with his extroverted personality. Fans got to see the the down to earth, boy-next-door side of Kyung Soo, much unlike the charismatic aura he exudes on stage as EXO's D.O., and it was really endearing, to say the least. It was also the best opportunity to interact with Kyung Soo, as he actively asked questions to involve the crowd, and eagerly listened to their responses. Not only was he able to learn about local cultures, he could also get closer to fans through these conversations.
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The cheers reached their peak when photos of Kyung Soo eating Kaya Toast and half-boiled eggs appeared on screen, as he looked casual but also ridiculously stunning doing something as simple as eating kaya toast, and drinking coffee/milk tea. Even a photo of him on the streets of Tanjong Pagar looked like it was straight out of a magazine. Company SooSoo uploaded high quality photos after the concert, which you can enjoy below!
April then took the time to share some local phrases with him, such as "wah, shiok la!", "do you want to go makan" and "wah, so chio", all of which he perfectly nailed the intonations and pronunciations! He looked absolutely adorable trying his best to imitate April, and there were constant audible gasps of "he's so cuteeee" in the audience. While repeating 'so chio', he also mentioned 'There are guys here.. I'm so sorry", prompting laughter among the crowd.
April then took the time to share some local phrases with him, such as "wah, shiok la!", "do you want to go makan" and "wah, so chio", all of which he perfectly nailed the intonations and pronunciations! He looked absolutely adorable trying his best to imitate April, and there were constant audible gasps of "he's so cuteeee" in the audience. While repeating 'so chio', he also mentioned 'There are guys here.. I'm so sorry", prompting laughter among the crowd.
DOH KYUNG SOO ASIA FAN CONCERT TOUR
— Company Soosoo (@companysoosoo_) August 9, 2024
[BLOOM in SINGAPORE] Behind Photo#도경수 #DOHKYUNGSOO #FANCONCERT_BLOOM#BLOOM_in_SINGAPORE pic.twitter.com/j4GIEtyaW4
Moving on to the next segment, he selected 'Rosemary', which signified 'Memories'. He went into detail about how he first got into singing - his interest started when he was in 3rd Grade in elementary school. While he claims to not have been good at singing then, he recalls taking a ride in his dad's car and singing along to his dad's favourite songs. He even sang a snippet of the song, and a short part of a 'rabbit song' nursery rhyme that he used to sing as a child.
As for what he focuses on in his albums, he mentioned that he cares a lot about the lyrics, and hopes that fans can empathise with them when listening to his songs. April brought up Kyung Soo's music video for 'Popcorn', and as the video played on screen featuring his dorky dance, fans chanted 'one more time', instigating a live performance. Although looking jokingly looking agonised/hesitant, he obliged, much to the joy of the fans, which prompted another series of 'awws' and laughter as he re-enacted the comical dance.
They also prepared a quiz for Kyung Soo, asking detailed questions about his own music videos. From "what time did he receive the FaceTime call in the Popcorn MV", to "what is the colour of the cabinet" ("yellow.. (in English)?" he got this right and was so shocked that he gasped and celebrated cutely!!), "what is the time on the alarm clock", "what is his room number" and "how many times did Kyung Soo brush his teeth".
The questions proved to be difficult, and Kyung Soo grew increasingly exasperated, at some point even adorably throwing a mini tantrum by screaming "I DON'T KNOWWWW", and "You guys know the answer? Stop lying!". It was clear that he built a beautiful, comfortable relationship with his fans, easily bantering and joking with everyone casually, as though he was just catching up with a group of friends.
Kyung Soo was clearly also making an effort to interact with as many people as possible, asking questions and trying his best to decipher what people were yelling - even to the extent of standing up, walking closer and making eye contact to hear what they had to say. This sweet gesture definitely made the fancon feel more intimate and personal, and I'm sure the fans felt closer to him too. As his down to earth personality shone through, he captivated the hearts of fans even more that night.
Because he got only two questions right, Kyung Soo ended up having to do a penalty which involved him wearing an oversized pair of sunglasses with a packet of popcorn. Being his playful self, he struck comedic poses without being asked to and EXO-Ls had a great time capturing meme-worthy photographs
As for what he focuses on in his albums, he mentioned that he cares a lot about the lyrics, and hopes that fans can empathise with them when listening to his songs. April brought up Kyung Soo's music video for 'Popcorn', and as the video played on screen featuring his dorky dance, fans chanted 'one more time', instigating a live performance. Although looking jokingly looking agonised/hesitant, he obliged, much to the joy of the fans, which prompted another series of 'awws' and laughter as he re-enacted the comical dance.
They also prepared a quiz for Kyung Soo, asking detailed questions about his own music videos. From "what time did he receive the FaceTime call in the Popcorn MV", to "what is the colour of the cabinet" ("yellow.. (in English)?" he got this right and was so shocked that he gasped and celebrated cutely!!), "what is the time on the alarm clock", "what is his room number" and "how many times did Kyung Soo brush his teeth".
The questions proved to be difficult, and Kyung Soo grew increasingly exasperated, at some point even adorably throwing a mini tantrum by screaming "I DON'T KNOWWWW", and "You guys know the answer? Stop lying!". It was clear that he built a beautiful, comfortable relationship with his fans, easily bantering and joking with everyone casually, as though he was just catching up with a group of friends.
Kyung Soo was clearly also making an effort to interact with as many people as possible, asking questions and trying his best to decipher what people were yelling - even to the extent of standing up, walking closer and making eye contact to hear what they had to say. This sweet gesture definitely made the fancon feel more intimate and personal, and I'm sure the fans felt closer to him too. As his down to earth personality shone through, he captivated the hearts of fans even more that night.
Because he got only two questions right, Kyung Soo ended up having to do a penalty which involved him wearing an oversized pair of sunglasses with a packet of popcorn. Being his playful self, he struck comedic poses without being asked to and EXO-Ls had a great time capturing meme-worthy photographs
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The next flower he selected was 'Morning Glory' representing 'a relationship formed by affection'. This was related to his acting, to which he mentioned that he enjoys being challenged and prefers choosing roles he's never done before, so that he can show a new side to the viewers. On Bad Prosecutor, it was a character he'd never tried before and he hoped that everyone felt refreshed after watching it. He is also going to start filming for a new movie soon, 'A Sculptured City', playing a villain role (which he's never done), and hopes fans will look forward to it.
The final flower was 'Sunflower', meaning 'I'd only look at you'. This was where he could listen to what fans wanted to tell him the most, as they took time before the show to write down their requests, questions and well wishes on post-it notes. Everyone cheered in excitement as two large boards bursting with multi-coloured post-its were wheeled onto the stage.
'Have you watched Deadpool and Wolverine?", he read, entirely in English. ""YES, YES, it was so fun!!".
"Kyung Soo, can we eat Laksa together?" "Let's eat it at the same time" (everyone burst out laughing at his straightforward response)
As he read several other requests, fans were blessed with acapella versions of 'Don't Go', 'Peterpan', and 'History'. The moment felt like a dream, listening to his soothing, honey-like vocals as he sang renditions of some of the most well-loved tracks by EXO, coupled with nostalgia from their debut days. Showing off his vocal talent, he even belted a line from 'Tell Me What Is Love' flawlessly (and nonchalantly), earning gasps of awe from the crowd. Even though he didn't fully remember the lyrics of 'History' ("it's been a long time!" and he nailed the high notes), he made up for it by comically mumbling certain parts which, once again, earned squeals of delights from his fans from how cute he was.
The final flower was 'Sunflower', meaning 'I'd only look at you'. This was where he could listen to what fans wanted to tell him the most, as they took time before the show to write down their requests, questions and well wishes on post-it notes. Everyone cheered in excitement as two large boards bursting with multi-coloured post-its were wheeled onto the stage.
'Have you watched Deadpool and Wolverine?", he read, entirely in English. ""YES, YES, it was so fun!!".
"Kyung Soo, can we eat Laksa together?" "Let's eat it at the same time" (everyone burst out laughing at his straightforward response)
As he read several other requests, fans were blessed with acapella versions of 'Don't Go', 'Peterpan', and 'History'. The moment felt like a dream, listening to his soothing, honey-like vocals as he sang renditions of some of the most well-loved tracks by EXO, coupled with nostalgia from their debut days. Showing off his vocal talent, he even belted a line from 'Tell Me What Is Love' flawlessly (and nonchalantly), earning gasps of awe from the crowd. Even though he didn't fully remember the lyrics of 'History' ("it's been a long time!" and he nailed the high notes), he made up for it by comically mumbling certain parts which, once again, earned squeals of delights from his fans from how cute he was.
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The next segment was 'To Do List', where Kyung Soo would sing acapella snippets of several songs Much to fans' delight, Seamlessly transitioning from his usual low, soulful melody to a falsetto in 'It's Love' to 'The View', his flawless English and not even having to catch his breath once for 'Small Girl', and 'Wonder' he really proved that he can do it all! Another highlight was when he sang 'Rose', eyes widening and adorably shaking his head when the audience got the timing wrong for the chant. 'Goodbye Summer' was the perfect conclusion to this segment, as he brought everyone back to the past once again with its soothing harmony.
'I'd like to share more of my music with you, but with instrumentals this time.", "Are you having fun? Singapore's weather is really good - it's a little bit hot but it's great for me. Because it's hot, try not to go out for extended periods of time and I hope you enjoy yourselves indoors, like now!"
Kyung Soo then took the stage with 'Simple Joys', its upbeat and cheerful melody bringing the mood to a high as everyone's light sticks bopped in time to the rhythm, with the reminder that it's little moments like this that make life worth living. Next up was 'That's Okay', and the crowd simultaneously burst into cheers as his clear, hypnotic voice captivated the hearts of every fan as they swayed and enjoyed the moment, experiencing healing from the song in real time. Known for its comforting lyrics, it was even more magical hearing it live, feeling very much like a warm embrace.
A VCR showing the different facets of Doh Kyung Soo played, before he returned with 'I Do', this time in a sky blue denim top and black pants. The set looked mesmerising, as a galaxy of stars shimmered in the background.
Keeping the momentum with 'My Dear', he showed off the versatility of his vocal range, easily switching between low notes and falsettos without missing a beat. His appreciation for his fans was clear as he gazed adoringly at the sea of silver with admiration.
"I wanted to apologise for something - the songs that I'll be singing next may not be so upbeat. I'm so sorry - is it ok? ... Really? (in English)" he glanced sideways while saying this, with the cutest expression that had fans swooning once again.
"Thank you so much for spending your precious time to be with me today! It seems like you're all really good at Korean? How do you understand everything - you're amazing! Of course, there may be some who may not understand, but when I'm singing, the lyrics will appear on the screen behind me. The songs that are coming up have really meaningful lyrics, so please listen closely!"
'I'd like to share more of my music with you, but with instrumentals this time.", "Are you having fun? Singapore's weather is really good - it's a little bit hot but it's great for me. Because it's hot, try not to go out for extended periods of time and I hope you enjoy yourselves indoors, like now!"
Kyung Soo then took the stage with 'Simple Joys', its upbeat and cheerful melody bringing the mood to a high as everyone's light sticks bopped in time to the rhythm, with the reminder that it's little moments like this that make life worth living. Next up was 'That's Okay', and the crowd simultaneously burst into cheers as his clear, hypnotic voice captivated the hearts of every fan as they swayed and enjoyed the moment, experiencing healing from the song in real time. Known for its comforting lyrics, it was even more magical hearing it live, feeling very much like a warm embrace.
A VCR showing the different facets of Doh Kyung Soo played, before he returned with 'I Do', this time in a sky blue denim top and black pants. The set looked mesmerising, as a galaxy of stars shimmered in the background.
Keeping the momentum with 'My Dear', he showed off the versatility of his vocal range, easily switching between low notes and falsettos without missing a beat. His appreciation for his fans was clear as he gazed adoringly at the sea of silver with admiration.
"I wanted to apologise for something - the songs that I'll be singing next may not be so upbeat. I'm so sorry - is it ok? ... Really? (in English)" he glanced sideways while saying this, with the cutest expression that had fans swooning once again.
"Thank you so much for spending your precious time to be with me today! It seems like you're all really good at Korean? How do you understand everything - you're amazing! Of course, there may be some who may not understand, but when I'm singing, the lyrics will appear on the screen behind me. The songs that are coming up have really meaningful lyrics, so please listen closely!"
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Taking a seat at the extended stage, he filled the stadium with the melody of 'Ordinary Days' and 'Good Night'. Like 'That's Okay', the lyrics of 'Good Night' are a reminder to let go of your worries and have a good night's sleep (whatever it may be, leave it to tomorrow's me). Kyung Soo sang with such powerful, resounding emotions, and together with his beautiful voice, turned it into a comforting lullaby.
"Did you enjoy it? Personally, when I hear lyrics that resonate with me, I think about them a lot. I hope that when you hear my songs, you too, will feel like the lyrics resonate with you. It'll make me really happy." He ended off this segment with 'About Time', and his passionate, soulful performance was chill-inducing, elevated by the fog and lighting.
Immediately switching back to his cheerful self after the song, he proceeded to hype up the crowd by splitting the stadium into the various levels and asking for cheers. "3rd floor... no no no not yet! Not now, wait for me. Calm down (in English)", "Everyone, you won't lose to the 2nd floor right? 2nd floor, you're angry, right? I'll anticipate your cheers!" The 2nd floor proved everyone wrong, with their screams shocking Kyung Soo himself. His already large eyes doubled in size as he gaped in awe at the sheer volume. "Is this really the 2nd floor?! WOW!! Ok, ok, calm down please."
Returning to the main stage, he introduced the final song, 'Somebody' bringing the atmosphere once again. His charisma and charm commanded the entire stage as everyone enthusiastically sang along.
EXO-Ls weren't ready for a goodbye, and chanted "Doh Kyung Soo" at the top of their lungs. The lights dimmed and a video showing Kyung Soo recording behind the scenes started to play. Kyung Soo then resurfaced on stage, this time with 'Popcorn'. The fan chants were at an all time high, as Kyung Soo walked around the stage while singing, he took the time to personally greet as many fans as possible and it was really sweet to witness how genuinely sincere he was. He tried his best to make eye contact with everyone while waving, and it was apparent that he grateful for all the support he has received over the years. At the peak of the song, a burst of rainbow confetti poured down onto the audience, engulfing the fans.
"I heard your powerful voices, and really received a lot of energy from you. I will always remember this very precious moment from this fan con."
While preparing to take a photo with the fans, another video flashed on screen. But this time, it was a surprise prepared by the fans! From photos of various Singapore delicacies to photos of Kyung Soo dolls and fans holding up hearts, Kyung Soo looked visibly touched and couldn't hold back his smiles. When he turned back to thank the fans, everyone was holding up banners with the quote "첨 그날처럼, 그댈 보면, 행복해져 (just like that first day, I'm happy whenever I see you)", aptly representing their love and support for him.
Before leaving the stage, he sang a snippet of 'Popcorn' one last time, "Everyone, I'll come back again soon, okay? Please get home safe, enjoy your Laksa, and please be happy! Okay?! See you everyone, goodbyeeee~ Let's meet again, byeeee~"
We look forward to seeing you again, hopefully soon!
"Did you enjoy it? Personally, when I hear lyrics that resonate with me, I think about them a lot. I hope that when you hear my songs, you too, will feel like the lyrics resonate with you. It'll make me really happy." He ended off this segment with 'About Time', and his passionate, soulful performance was chill-inducing, elevated by the fog and lighting.
Immediately switching back to his cheerful self after the song, he proceeded to hype up the crowd by splitting the stadium into the various levels and asking for cheers. "3rd floor... no no no not yet! Not now, wait for me. Calm down (in English)", "Everyone, you won't lose to the 2nd floor right? 2nd floor, you're angry, right? I'll anticipate your cheers!" The 2nd floor proved everyone wrong, with their screams shocking Kyung Soo himself. His already large eyes doubled in size as he gaped in awe at the sheer volume. "Is this really the 2nd floor?! WOW!! Ok, ok, calm down please."
Returning to the main stage, he introduced the final song, 'Somebody' bringing the atmosphere once again. His charisma and charm commanded the entire stage as everyone enthusiastically sang along.
EXO-Ls weren't ready for a goodbye, and chanted "Doh Kyung Soo" at the top of their lungs. The lights dimmed and a video showing Kyung Soo recording behind the scenes started to play. Kyung Soo then resurfaced on stage, this time with 'Popcorn'. The fan chants were at an all time high, as Kyung Soo walked around the stage while singing, he took the time to personally greet as many fans as possible and it was really sweet to witness how genuinely sincere he was. He tried his best to make eye contact with everyone while waving, and it was apparent that he grateful for all the support he has received over the years. At the peak of the song, a burst of rainbow confetti poured down onto the audience, engulfing the fans.
"I heard your powerful voices, and really received a lot of energy from you. I will always remember this very precious moment from this fan con."
While preparing to take a photo with the fans, another video flashed on screen. But this time, it was a surprise prepared by the fans! From photos of various Singapore delicacies to photos of Kyung Soo dolls and fans holding up hearts, Kyung Soo looked visibly touched and couldn't hold back his smiles. When he turned back to thank the fans, everyone was holding up banners with the quote "첨 그날처럼, 그댈 보면, 행복해져 (just like that first day, I'm happy whenever I see you)", aptly representing their love and support for him.
Before leaving the stage, he sang a snippet of 'Popcorn' one last time, "Everyone, I'll come back again soon, okay? Please get home safe, enjoy your Laksa, and please be happy! Okay?! See you everyone, goodbyeeee~ Let's meet again, byeeee~"
We look forward to seeing you again, hopefully soon!
행복한 시간이었던
— Company Soosoo (@companysoosoo_) August 9, 2024
BLOOM in SINGAPORE□
⠀#도경수 #DOHKYUNGSOO #FANCONCERT_BLOOM⠀#BLOOM_in_SINGAPORE pic.twitter.com/XIPmYv76S3
We would like to extend our thanks to Unusual Entertainment for giving us the opportunity to cover this event.
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Writer: Kai Lin
Photographs: Zhi Heng, Company Soo Soo
