Since their debut, 1,319 days have passed, and the intense journey of IVE, who took the stage as the headliner at one of the world's top four festivals, beautifully adorned the final page of Season 1 of "Crazy Rich Korean."
In the last episode of KBS 2TV's "Crazy Rich Korean" Season 1, which aired on the afternoon of 17th, the members of IVE appeared in the studio to share their breathless journey up to the stage at the world's top four music festival "Lollapalooza Berlin."
IVE recorded first place on a music show just 7 days after their debut and is a hit song-rich group that conquered first place, rookie awards, and grand prizes in the shortest period for a girl group. IVE, the only K-POP artist named in Forbes' "30 Under 30 Asia," was invited to the "Lollapalooza" stage again this year following their invite last year to Chicago. The hot scenes and behind-the-scenes of "Lollapalooza Berlin," where IVE took the stage as headliner, were exclusively revealed through "Crazy Rich Korean."
After over 20 hours of travel from Incheon, IVE immediately started rehearsals upon arriving in Berlin. Local fans welcomed them enthusiastically at the airport, and the number of staff present reached over 60, highlighting the scale of the performance. During rehearsals, the band and the dance team joined, creating an environment nearly identical to the actual performance, and IVE perfectly aligned the rearranged festival version of the sound, modified choreography, intricate formations, and commentary. Despite the time difference and fatigue, they displayed professionalism by perfectly executing high notes and live performances.
The day before the performance, an unexpected issue arose with the extended stage. Leader Yujin rearranged the setlist and movement routes considering the audience's sight and stage completeness, meticulously adjusting the timing for entrances and exits while actively incorporating the members' opinions. Facing many variables at the festival site, the members individually began repeating practice and thoroughly memorized the changed movement routes, completing their preparations.
On the day of the performance, despite unfavorable weather and heavy rain, the members continued practice during breaks and checked their condition, sharing positive energy with each other to lift the atmosphere. Major German media outlets and U.S. MTV also arrived, adding to the coverage excitement, and the members answered questions fluently in English.
Kicking off with "REBEL HEART," selected as the best K-POP song by Billboard, IVE exploded with energy, leading 50,000 audience members to sing along and cheer during "I AM." They also demonstrated their crisis management ability by flawlessly performing "Baddie" on the unexpectedly changed extended stage.
With numerous records including 10 music show first-place wins, grand prizes, a grand slam at major awards, 200 million views for their challenge, and 500 million views for their music video, the performance of "LOVE DIVE" marked the pinnacle of that day's event. The performance, which included the most complex movements in "Kitsch," their debut song "ELEVEN," "All Night," and encore stage "After LIKE," was a moment of sharing the energy of K-POP with global audiences. The stage at "Lollapalooza" was filled with emotions and joy, featuring teary-eyed girl fans and international fans chanting support in Korean.
The venue for this performance was the Berlin Olympic Stadium from the 1936 Olympics, a place with the history of Korea's first marathon gold medalist Son Ki-jeong and bronze medalist Nam Sung-ryong. IVE's stage added another Korean record to this space.
"Crazy Rich Korean" has illuminated the true rich life completed through immersion in their main work, teamwork, and interactions with people, rather than just glamorous achievements in Season 1. IVE's journey to the "Lollapalooza" stage concisely showcased that message, decorating the finale of Season 1. At the end of the broadcast, the potential for Season 2 was mentioned, leaving anticipation for how they will portray another group with insane passion. The production team noted, "Various discussions are ongoing," increasing viewer curiosity about the follow-up season.
[Photo] Capture from the broadcast of "Crazy Rich Korean."
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