Veteran girl group 2NE1 is ready to show that it's "wholly and absolutely still here," with upcoming Seoul concerts set to take place this week, according to the members.

"We believe that the performance will show that the 2NE1 group is wholly and absolutely still here together," CL said in a press release, prior to the concert that begins Friday.


"It's been a long time but we're back together and going on a tour," she continued. "We really hope that we prove to be a good example and lead a good trend in K-pop."

The veteran quartet will hold the "Welcome Back" tour in Asia starting with three concerts at the Olympic Hall in southern Seoul, followed by stops in Manila on Nov. 16, Jakarta on Nov. 23, Hong Kong on Dec. 8, Singapore on Dec. 21, Bangkok on Jan. 25, 2025, and Taipei on Feb. 8, 2025.

2NE1 will also hold six concerts in Japan: three concerts in Kobe on Nov. 29, 30 and Dec. 1 and three in Tokyo on Dec. 13, 14 and 15.

The tour comes as a celebration of the girl group's 15th anniversary since debut and a partnership between YG Entertainment, Live Nation and avex.

"I really can't believe it's been 15 years already," Sandara Park said. "It's been 10 years since we met [fan club] Blackjack as the whole group. I'm also a fan of 2NE1, and it's just touching to think that we've come back together after all that time apart."

"I've always felt sorry to Blackjack and I'm going to pay you back right with our performance. So, you better be ready," added Park.

The girl group debuted in 2009 with the single "Fire" and has since released numerous hits, such as "I Don't Care" (2010), “I Am the Best” (2011), "Lonely" (2011), "I Love You" (2012), "Missing You" (2013) and “Come Back Home” (2014), earning widespread acclaim.

The girl group has been on hiatus since 2016 when all members parted ways with YG Entertainment to begin their solo careers.

"We're just sad that we can't perform every single song of ours," Park Bom said. "But we've prepared a set list that everyone will definitely be able to enjoy, so I hope you all look forward to that."

"Thank you for waiting for us all," Gong Min-ji, who also goes by her stage name Minzy, said. "Thinking of how someone could love us for 15 straight years is just amazing and so precious. You've seen me grow from since I was young, and I'm going to pay you back like I would to my parents."

BY YOON SO-YEON [yoon.soyeon@joongang.co.kr]