Manila’s live entertainment calendar is heating up as a wave of South Korean musical acts prepares to land in the Philippines this September. K-pop fans across the archipelago are gearing up for a bustling month of live performances, featuring major girl groups making long-awaited debuts alongside returning favourites, though the schedule has also experienced unexpected setbacks.
Headlining the month’s festivities is Babymonster, the latest powerhouse girl group from YG Entertainment, the legendary agency behind global icons like 2NE1 and Blackpink. Promoted by Live Nation Philippines, the concert is scheduled for September 5 at the massive Mall of Asia Arena. This landmark event marks the septet’s maiden performance in the country since their official debut in 2024. The gig forms an integral leg of their ongoing “Choom” world tour, named after the four-track extended play released in May. Local fans will see six members—Ruka, Pharita, Asa, Ahyeon, Rora, and Chiquita—take the stage, as main vocalist Rami remains on a temporary hiatus to recover from health issues. True to their agency’s signature style, Babymonster is celebrated for fierce hip-hop beats and powerhouse vocal deliveries, elements prominently displayed in high-energy tracks like “Drip,” “We Go Up,” and “Choom.”
Later in the month, the vibrant six-member act STAYC will return to Philippine shores for their “Stay Closer” fan concert tour. Organised by CDM Entertainment, the event will take place on September 20 at the University of the Philippines Theater in Quezon City. This visit follows their memorable appearance at Waterbomb Manila in February 2025. Formed under High Up Entertainment by celebrated producer duo Black Eyed Pilseung, STAYC—an acronym for Star to a Young Culture—debuted in 2020. Comprising Sumin, Sieun, Isa, Seeun, Yoon, and J, the group has cultivated a loyal global following with their signature “teen fresh” musical identity, boasting over a million monthly listeners on Spotify through bubbly, infectious pop hits such as “ASAP,” “Teddy Bear,” and “Bebe.”
Not all scheduled events, however, have survived the planning stages. FIFTY FIFTY, the girl group that captured global attention with their 2023 viral sensation “Cupid,” was originally slated to host a fan concert in Manila on the exact same day, September 20. Unfortunately, promoter Hello Live announced the cancellation of the event via a social media statement. Organisers cited careful internal discussions and contextual assessments for the decision, expressing profound regret and extending apologies to their dedicated fan base, known as TWENY, for the abrupt change of plans.
Complementing the concert lineup, solo schedules are also drawing considerable attention. Former CIX member Kim Seunghun is scheduled to meet his Filipino supporters during an intimate fan party in Pasig City on September 22. In a move to manage crowd security and exclusivity, organisers confirmed via social media that the exact venue address will be revealed exclusively to verified ticket holders.
