And Seventeen said, let there be fireworks. Boy band Seventeen’s fandom Carat became one as they sang, danced and jumped along to the group’s music during a cruise party held to celebrate Seventeen’s encore world tour, “'Follow’ Again to Incheon,” that took place over the weekend.

Friday’s cruise began at 7 p.m. at the Ara Gimpo Passenger Terminal and slowly progressed through the western reach of the Han River carrying some 550 Seventeen fans who came together to enjoy two hours of a DJ party, food and drinks topped off with fireworks on the top deck.

Although it was a Seventeen party without Seventeen, the evening was still a night to remember, with festivities filled exclusively with music by the band alongside people who shared the same love for the members and their music.

While some fans danced enthusiastically to DJ Jin Rico’s remix of Seventeen’s hit songs, which was put together by Seventeen’s famed producer Bumzu, some took to the back of the hall to put on their very own dance performances. Other fans bonded over food and drinks as they shared their favorite moments of the band and their excitement for the weekend’s concert.

Though HYBE, the K-pop powerhouse that owns Seventeen's agency Pledis Entertainment and more, did not provide a demographic breakdown, Friday’s cruise was visibly filled with fans of all nationalities, mostly women. Announcements were also made in Korean, English, Chinese and Japanese.

“We came to Korea for the Saturday concert, but this cruise is so much better than what we expected,” 24-year-old Susan from China told the Korea JoongAng Daily in slow but clear Korean, which she said she learned solely by watching K-pop idol videos.

Susan was joined by her other friends Hatty and Melody, who also flew from China for the Seventeen concert.

“I’ve been a Carat since 2019 but I’ve liked K-pop for more than 10 years now,” Susan said. “I run a blog in China making videos about Seventeen and sharing their news in China because I want everyone to know just how great they are. Their sincerity, love for music and chemistry with each other are just so enticing, you can’t help but fall in love.”

“I didn’t expect much from the cruise party but the fact that we’re all here with the same wishes for Seventeen and can talk, sing and dance [together] is even better than a concert, in a way,” said Hatty. “I became a fan of Seventeen because Susan forced me to watch their videos, but now I’m so glad that she did.”

The cruise came as part of “The City” project held for the first time in Korea by HYBE.

"The City" transforms a city where a HYBE artist performs on tour into a "concert theme park" through various promotional events. Fans can enjoy photo exhibitions, lounges, pop-up stores and cruise parties leading up to the artist's concert.

“The City” for Seventeen was held in five cities across Japan from November to December last year and in Bangkok, Thailand, in February during the band’s “Follow” world tour. It landed in Korea for the first time in tandem with the band’s two concerts that took place on March 30 and 31 in Incheon.

“Seventeen the City” also includes a photo exhibition titled “Follow Fellow,” which is open from Wednesday through April 12 at The Seouliteum gallery in Seongsu-dong, eastern Seoul. The exhibition features behind-the-scenes photos of the members preparing for the “Follow” world tour that ended in January in Macau.

A “lounge” consisting of a resting area, photo zone and merchandise booth is open to the public at IGIS's Seongsu Factorial building, also in Seongsu-dong, from March 29 to April 6. Fans can also buy merchandise at Seventeen's concerts and at the “Artist-made collection by Seventeen” pop-up in Gangnam District, southern Seoul.

The Yeongjong Bridge in Incheon will be lit up in the color of rose quartz, Seventeen’s theme color, until Wednesday.

“The fact that Pledis Entertainment is holding ‘The City’ in Seoul feels good as fans, because the company is heeding the fans’ wishes and trying to cater to our demands,” said 25-year-old Song Yu-na, who came to the cruise with three other Seventeen fans.

“It’s a big consolation for the fact that Seventeen will be celebrating its ninth debut anniversary in Japan. But I know that it wouldn’t have been the members’ choice and we’re happy as long as the oppas are.”

Seventeen held two concerts on Saturday and Sunday at the Incheon Asiad Main Stadium for the Korean leg of their encore concert tour, titled "'Follow' Again to Incheon". The band will be performing in Osaka on May 18 and 19 and in Yokohama on May 25 and 26. May 26 marks the band’s ninth debut anniversary.

To find out more about Seventeen, visit Celeb Confirmed


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