When Travis Scott Took Over Seoul

Studying abroad in Seoul has been full of unexpected moments from late night karaoke to wandering aimlessly through the neon-lit streets of Myeongdong. During my time at Yonsei University, I’ve made some great Korean friends who’ve shown me parts of the city I never would’ve discovered on my own. One day, they mentioned that Travis Scott was bringing his Circus Maximus World Tour to Korea, a tour that would span the entire globe from Brazil to South Africa and to the United Arab Emirates. I knew immediately that I couldn’t miss it.

They introduced me to a website called Interpark Global, which is used to buy tickets for concerts, events, and attractions. Somehow, I managed to snag a ticket about a week before the show on October 25th. At 155,000 won for general admission standing, it felt like a steal especially considering Travis Scott is the sixth most-streamed artist in the world.

The concert was held at Goyang Stadium, and after a packed bus ride full of excited fans, I arrived to find what felt like half the country gathered in one place. Finding out the Circus Maximus tour was completely sold out didn’t come as a surprise; the lines stretched endlessly, and nearly 50,000 people were in attendance. It took almost three hours just to make it through security and into the venue.

By 6:30, I was standing in the heart of a colossal crowd, completely in awe. Coming from Maine, a state with just over a million people, it was surreal to see a single crowd that nearly matched the population of my state’s largest city. The sheer energy and unity of that moment reminded me how powerful shared experiences can be, no matter where we come from.

The show was set to begin at 7:00, and for the next hour and a half, Travis Scott delivered an unforgettable performance of 29 songs ranging from global hits like Sicko Mode, Goosebumps, and Fein which he played 6 times in a row. The energy was unreal. Fans knew every lyric, every beat drop, and took every opportunity to jump, shout, and rage together.

But what made the night truly unforgettable were the visuals and stage effects. With every drop, bursts of fireworks exploded from the stage, jets of colored smoke filled the air, and waves of red and purple light washed over the stadium. Giant LED screens flashed surreal imagery that perfectly matched the intensity of each song. At several moments, Travis even invited fans on stage to perform alongside him sharing the mic, hyping up the crowd, and feeding off their energy. Between songs, he expressed how grateful he was to be in Korea for the first time, shouting out Seoul for giving him an unforgettable night and thanking the fans for their love and passion.

When the final song ended and the lights dimmed, it took hours for the massive crowd to slowly pour out of the stadium. Even as I made my way back to the subway surrounded by thousands still singing his songs, I couldn’t stop smiling. For my first concert experience, it couldn’t have been more chaotic, intense, and absolutely worth it.