Kanye West sets Korean stage ablaze with high-energy performance amid lingering controversy

Kanye West performs during the “YE LIVE IN KOREA” concert at Incheon Munhak Stadium on July 26. / Screenshot from Channel Candy’s YouTube channel

“Yeezy! Yeezy! Yeezy!” Yeezy!”

The heat inside Incheon’s Munhak Stadium on July 26 was as intense as the tropical night outside, as hip-hop megastar Kanye West (also known as YE) took the stage. Despite ongoing controversies, including his history of praising Nazism, the stadium was packed with fans who seemed to forget the 30-plus-degree heat, rising to their feet and moving to the rhythm.

Wearing a gray hoodie emblazoned with “KOREA” on the back and leather pants, West appeared on stage right at 8 p.m. He opened with “POWER,” immediately igniting the crowd. He later climbed a massive hill-like structure in the center of the stage and delivered a charged live performance.

Over the course of the night, West performed a total of 39 songs, throwing himself into each one in response to the deafening cheers of the audience. He clapped along to encourage crowd participation, passed the mic to fans during tracks like “On Sight” and “Black Skinhead,” and his hoodie was drenched in sweat by the end. Originally slated for 100 minutes, the concert ran for about 140 minutes, likely extended by the crowd’s enthusiastic response.

West appeared focused solely on the music, seemingly mindful of the controversies surrounding him. There were no religious or politically provocative remarks, and although he is infamous for being late to performances, he arrived right on time this time. While more than half the stadium’s 50,000 seats were empty at the start, fans waiting outside rushed in as soon as the music began. For comparison, West had started 45 minutes late in Shanghai, China, earlier this month and 70 minutes late at his previous show in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, last August.

Audience reactions were overwhelmingly enthusiastic. Most fans stood throughout the concert, singing along and demonstrating the signature fervor of Korean “ddaechang” (mass singalongs). Toward the end, hits like “Flashing Lights,” “Stronger,” and “Runaway” prompted thousands to wave their phone flashlights in the air. Before the concert, long lines had formed at merchandise booths selling designer goods created by West, who is also known for his fashion ventures.

Since debuting with “The College Dropout” in 2004, which earned 10 Grammy nominations, West has won a total of 21 Grammy Awards and established himself as a musical force. However, he remains a deeply polarizing figure due to numerous scandals, including posting pro-Nazi messages on social media, releasing a song titled “Heil Hitler,” and making sexually inappropriate comments about pop star Taylor Swift.

Due to these controversies, his concert originally scheduled in Korea for May, organized by Coupang Play, was canceled. It was only revived after West publicly declared he would “no longer promote anti-Semitism,” and the concert organizer was changed to Channel Candy, allowing the show to go ahead.

Still, the controversy continues. While European venues allowed his performances in the past despite his behavior, many have begun rejecting booking requests from West this year. The Australian government even revoked his visa entirely. In Korea, online debate continues over whether his appearance was appropriate.

Fans at the concert said they were well aware of the controversy. Mr. Bae, 33, who attended with his girlfriend, said, “I know he’s a problematic artist who says the wrong things,” but added, “It was a dream of mine to see him live at least once before I die.”

※This article was translated by an AI tool and edited by a professional translator.