[On Stage] '10th Anniversary' AKMU "May Our Voices Become Fans' Longtime Pride"

2024 AKMU 10th Anniversary Concert '10VE'
IU Makes Surprise Guest Appearance "Truly Amazing"
Showcases the Essence of Performance-Type Live Show

"No matter how I was born, I would have become a singer. I hope my existence and my voice will be a source of pride for my friends and fans for a long time!" - Suhyun

AKMU held the '2024 AKMU 10th Anniversary Concert [10VE]' on the 16th at KSPO DOME in Olympic Park, Seoul, showcasing their performance.
[Photo by YG Entertainment]

The duo AKMU, celebrating their 10th anniversary since debut, shared heartfelt thoughts during the second performance of their commemorative concert '2024 AKMU 10th ANNIVERSARY CONCERT '10VE'' held on the 16th at KSPO DOME in Songpa-gu, Seoul, themed around time travel.

Composed of older brother Lee Chan-hyuk and younger sister Lee Su-hyun, the sibling duo AKMU won the SBS audition program 'K-pop Star 2' aired from 2012 to 2013 and officially debuted in 2014.

The two decorated the stage impressively with their first song "Long Day, Long Night." The stage began with a choir of twenty children in front of media art filled with a red sunset, followed by an orchestra performance, and then seamlessly transitioned into "From Small Things," presenting a stage production reminiscent of a musical.

Next, AKMU performed Chan-hyuk’s solo song "BENCH," which evoked Michael Jackson, and Suhyun’s solo song "RE-BYE," which adorned the venue like a splendid European ballroom. They then joyfully engaged the audience in a sing-along of "Pretending to Be Ugly," featuring a standing microphone and highlighting their charming vocal tones.

AKMU is performing on stage at the '2024 AKMU 10th Anniversary Concert [10VE]' held on the 16th at KSPO DOME, Olympic Park, Seoul.
[Photo by YG Entertainment]

"Fall" and "Ice" featured a bleak yet emotionally intense stage composition blending vocals with theatrical performances by musical actors. During the "DINOSAUR" stage, Chan-hyuk passionately played the guitar while Suhyun delivered the high-pitched highlights with her uniquely clear voice, eliciting cheers from the audience.

Following that, "Fish in Water" was performed with fans harmonizing alongside AKMU, creating the stage together. The atmosphere heated up with hit songs filled with heavy band sounds such as "Is It Ramen?"?which began with Chan-hyuk’s witty flirting line "Would you like some ramen?"?and "Time and Fallen Leaves."

Especially captivating was the sight of Chan-hyuk and Suhyun appearing as if they had traveled back to 12 years ago when they won 'K-pop Star 2,' with Chan-hyuk wearing large glasses and a checkered shirt and Suhyun donning a cute headscarf, capturing the audience’s attention and evoking nostalgia.

They greeted the audience once again, saying, "Hello. We are the sibling acoustic duo AKMU," receiving applause and cheers.

Chan-hyuk then said, "We tried to recreate ourselves from 12 years ago, and we thought we were really cute," adding meaningfully, "Sadly, but as a memory, let’s give a round of applause and say goodbye to 'Akdong Musician' (AKMU’s former group name)!"

AKMU is performing on stage at the '2024 AKMU 10th Anniversary Concert [10VE]' held on the 16th at KSPO DOME, Olympic Park, Seoul.
[Photo by YG Entertainment]

After emerging from a cave that served as a time machine, Chan-hyuk expressed surprise, saying, "Is this all our fans? Are we really singing in front of so many fans 10 years from now?" Suhyun chimed in, "I can’t believe it! What on earth have we been doing for 10 years?" which brought great laughter to the audience.

Then, an actor who introduced himself as the officiant appeared and announced, "Lee Chan-hyuk and Lee Su-hyun promise to be AKMU and stay with their fans for 10, 20 years, or even longer, until their black hair turns gray," hinting at a congratulatory song. Suddenly, singer IU made a surprise appearance as the guest for the congratulatory performance.

Enjoying the stage with "The Meaning of You," IU said, "I feel like a family member’s success, so it’s amazing to be able to greet you meaningfully even for a moment on your 10th anniversary." She sincerely congratulated them, saying, "I saw these friends when they were 14 and 16 years old, and now seeing them fill the gymnastics arena as leading domestic musicians, I truly congratulate them." She then joked, "My concert is fun too, so please come a lot," which made everyone laugh.

During the concert, AKMU presented their recently released new mini-album title track "Hero" and an unreleased song "REMEMBER," creating a meaningful stage with their fans.

AKMU is performing on stage at the '2024 AKMU 10th Anniversary Concert [10VE]' held on the 16th at KSPO DOME, Olympic Park, Seoul.
[Photo by YG Entertainment]

Before the "Hero" stage, Chan-hyuk introduced the message he wanted to convey through the song, saying, "'Being the best' is an important and true message, but since the mainstream says it that way, I wanted to say something different: 'You are the best, you are my hero.'

AKMU closed the concert with the last song "Those Kids Back Then," shedding tears. They shared their thoughts, saying, "We tried to put our lives, joys, sorrows, and emotions into this performance," and "While reminiscing about the past years and our childhood, we hope to create a big bubble of memories here with those recollections," ending the stage.

After a VCR screening, AKMU returned to the stage for the encore, performing "Give Love," "Frustrated," "Long Distance," "LOVE LEE," and "People Are Moving," concluding the concert with "Let’s Take Time."

Previously, AKMU held a nationwide tour called "AKMUTOPIA" from last November to January over three months, sharing meaningful moments with their fans. Marking their 10th anniversary this year, AKMU released their third mini-album "LOVE EPISODE" on the 3rd.