K-pop group BOYNEXTDOOR during the Manila leg of their 'Knock On Vol. 1' concert at the Araneta Coliseum, March 22, 2025. Photo courtesy of KOZ Entertainment

Near the end of K-pop group BOYNEXTDOOR’s concert in Manila on Saturday, exhaustion finally caught up with the six members. After an intense string of performances, Riwoo couldn’t help but blurt out in Filipino, “Pagod na kami!” (We’re tired!)

Sensing the need for a quick breather, Sungho asked the crowd: “We need a favor from you. We just need you to count from 10 nice and slowly. Can you do that for us?”

The fans, affectionately called OneDoor, agreed. But as soon as the countdown began, Taesan realized it was moving slightly quicker than expected. “Too fast! Slowly, slowly,” he pleaded while sitting onstage, hoping to steal a few more seconds of rest.

But before the countdown could even finish, the attention quickly shifted to Jaehyun, the group’s charismatic and playful leader. The big screens flashed him—jacket off, sipping from a water bottle, his arms on full display—a sight that sent the entire Araneta Coliseum into a frenzy. The well-timed distraction, though seemingly unintentional, worked, buying the members a few more precious seconds to recover.

If there was anyone who seemed unfazed by exhaustion that night, it was undoubtedly the fans, whose energy never wavered as they screamed at the top of their lungs and sang their hearts out for over two hours. 

In fact, the fans’ enthusiasm was so intense that the members had to step in to calm them down at times. Early in the show, for instance, after Taesan urged the crowd to “make some noise,” the excitement lingered, prompting Jaehyun to reassure them, “You guys were great. That's enough.”

Photo courtesy of KOZ Entertainment

And the cheers were well-deserved, given how BOYNEXTDOOR—which also includes Leehan and Woonhak—left everything on stage for their first solo concert in the country, produced by PULP Live World.

The show was part of the group’s “Knock On Vol. 1” world tour. Apart from the tour’s title aligning with the band’s constant use of door imagery, “Knock On” sounded similar to the Korean word “nagwon,” meaning “paradise,” Sungho explained.

“When we’re together, it’s like paradise,” Sungho told the crowd.

Confidence

Watching BOYNEXTDOOR perform, it was hard to believe they were only on their first tour. The group, which debuted less than two years ago, commanded the stage with confidence as they powered through their 21-song setlist. Their intricate dance routines were executed with ease and enthusiasm, the movements flowing naturally rather than feeling mechanical or rehearsed.

In the concert-opener “Earth, Wind & Fire,” for example, they swiftly and seamlessly shifted formations, matching the song’s manic pace. In the mellow “Crying,” they glided across the stage with fluid, synchronized movements as they sang, “I’m crying like a baby.”

The setlist also featured singles like the earworm “One and Only,” the cheeky and boisterous “Dangerous,” and the angsty, rock-tinged “But Sometimes.” Fans were also treated to catchy, laidback tunes like “l i f e i s c o o l” and “ABCDLOVE",” while softer, melodic numbers such as “Call Me” and “20” highlighted the members’ vocals.

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The pop-rock anthem “Fadeaway” was another standout moment, bringing the crowd to their feet, hands—or lightsticks—raised and pumping in the air.

Jaehyun explained that the group chose to perform the original versions of their songs rather than give them new arrangements “so that you can get a better sense of who we are.”

BOYNEXTDOOR poses for a backstage photo at the Araneta Coliseum. Photo from BOYNEXTDOOR's X account

BOYNEXTDOOR poses for a backstage photo at the Araneta Coliseum. Photo from BOYNEXTDOOR's X account

Filipino expressions

More than the song-and-dance numbers, the boys’ showmanship also shone through in how they kept the crowd engaged. The group, who visited the country for the second time after their attendance at the 2023 Asia Artist Awards in Bulacan, even made the effort to learn some Filipino expressions. 

“Masaya kami makita kayo,” Leehan said in his opening remarks, naturally drawing giddy reactions from the crowd.

“I heard that I can say, ‘Edi wow.’ Am I correct?” Woonhak, the group’s youngest, asked the crowd, referring to the phrase often used to express disbelief or amusement. When they agreed, he quickly put it to use, saying, “Okay, edi wow.”

In the middle of “But I Like You,” Jaehyun spontaneously said, “OneDoor, mahal kita (I love you).” He repeated the phrase during “ABCDLOVE,” this time in a squeaky voice as he and his bandmates acted cute while holding their BBNEXDO dolls. Taesan followed with, “Gusto kita (I like you).”

Jaehyun also recited his “Skit” line in Filipino before the group engaged in a dance battle.

Photo courtesy of KOZ Entertainment

During “Amnesia,” the members descended from the stage to high-five, wave at and complete hand-hearts with fans along the stage’s perimeter. They also made sure those seated in the upper sections weren’t left out, acknowledging them by scanning the crowd and waving at them throughout the show.

The sextet also prepared a “karaoke” segment, challenging Filipino fans to sing “But I Like You.” It’s safe to say that the task was effortless for the local crowd, who had been singing along from the very beginning. “You guys are amazing,” Taesan remarked, while Jaehyun asked, “Are you pros or what? Shouldn’t you guys be on stage instead?”

The sing-along reached a peak during the final encore number, “So Let’s Go See The Stars,” a shimmering synth-pop track with romantic lyrics. The group stretched the three-minute song, urging the crowd to repeat the chorus. As they pointed their mics towards the audience, the fans’ voices filled the Big Dome while the idols listened intently, fully immersing themselves in the moment.

Just when fans thought the concert was over following “Stars,” the members ran back on stage for another round of “But I Like You.”

BOYNEXTDOOR takes a photo with their Filipino fans. Photo from BOYNEXTDOOR's X account

Fan project

But it wasn’t just the group that had a surprise for their supporters. Filipino OneDoor gifted the members with a video featuring their heartfelt messages, including the line, “Your art inspires us to create,” followed by clips of fan art and Filipino fans dancing to “If I Say, I Love You.”

“It’s so cute just to imagine that you were actually filming this one by one and having it all together. I’m so touched,” Taesan said via an interpreter after watching the fan project.

“You guys came here to watch our concert. We should actually be giving you good memories. But thanks to you, OneDoor, you gave us so many good memories to cherish,” he added.

BOYNEXTDOOR agreed that the energy of the Filipino crowd was “amazing,” a fact that Jaehyun took particular pride in, especially with his parents in attendance. “Today, my mom and dad came here,” he shared. “Today, OneDoor’s energy was so amazing, so I will say to my mom, ‘This is my OneDoor.’”

The members also hoped to return to the Philippines for an even bigger show. “Let’s go [to] the biggest, like, stadium. Let’s go, all of you guys, okay?” Jaehyun said.

“Your cheers are just really, really hot. Today has been a great memory for me. I really want to thank you so much. I hope we can see one another again,” Leehan said. “Magkita tayo ulit. Mahal ko kayong lahat.”