By Honorary Reporter Alaa Atef Ebada from Egypt

K-pop sensation BLACKPINK on Jan. 20 held the group's first concert in the Arab world at the Boulevard International Festival in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Part of the quartet's "Born Pink" tour that began in October last year, this event also coincided with Riyadh Season, an annual culture and sports festival in the country. Thousands of attending BLACKPINK and K-pop fans showed their enthusiasm and joy at the long-awaited concert.

In honor of the group's visit, famous landmarks in Saudi Arabia were covered in the color pink. On stage, the girls thanked their enthusiastic fans and performed their hits. The event ended with a huge fireworks display.

After the concert, I contacted several fans who attended the concert through social media to get their impressions of the event.

Rawan: I first heard of BLACKPINK in 2020 when it released its hit "How You Like That." Rose is the reason I admire the group with her golden voice and the special color she adds to songs. 

This was my first time going to a concert. I came a long way from Al Sharqiya to Riyadh but my fatigue disappeared when the group appeared on stage. During the sound check, all four members interacted with the Blinks (BLACKPINK's fan community). Rose and Jennie even came near me. It was an incredible experience. The concert started enthusiastically as all of the members gave their best in the performance. The fans were very responsive, and I could see that BLACKPINK enjoyed the interaction.

Raghad Hamad: I've been a fan of BLACKPINK since their debut in 2016. I never expected to see them up close, let alone meet them in Saudi Arabia. I was so excited when I heard about the group's tour. Everyone at the concert was happy and the performance was fabulous and professional. My favorite part was when the group performed its hits "You and Me" and "As If It's Your Last." The fireworks at the end of the show were spectacular.

Souha: The concert was a dream come true for me from beginning to end. The members were excited to meet their fans and greeted us with smiles. Their solo performances were also wonderful. Lisa caught my attention the most with an energy that lit up the stage. I hope the group had a great time performing in Saudi Arabia.

Shahd Fahd: The concert was wonderful and well organized and BLACKPINK members were really happy. I don't think they expected such a responsive audience. 

Afnan: I was impressed at how beautiful the group's members are in person. My favorite member was Jennie before the concert, but now, I have no favorite. They know how to steal hearts. I grew obsessed with BLACKPINK after its debut in 2016 but I've gotten even more obsessed now that I've seen the group in concert.

Ikram Khaled: The concert was wonderful as BLACKPINK had a strong stage presence. I was shocked by how beautiful they were, like dolls or characters from webtoons. I also liked their backup dancers; they were so powerful and this showed in the clips I filmed.

Maram: I had to travel all the way to Riyadh to see the concert but it was worth it. BLACKPINK's concert was a perfect start to 2023. I've been a fan for six years and it was magical to see the group in person. After fireworks concluded the show, I had mixed feelings of sadness and joy. I thank everyone who allowed Blinks in Saudi Arabia to meet their idols in their own country.

Sarah V: The most amazing moment of the concert was Jennie blowing a kiss back at me. The concert was fantastic in all respects including organization and interaction between the performers and audience. I was also happy that all fan-prepared events went smoothly like the celebration of Jennie's birthday and Lisa's solo debut. This experience felt like a dream.

kalhong617@korea.kr

*This article is written by a Korea.net Honorary Reporter. Our group of Honorary Reporters are from all around the world, and they share with Korea.net their love and passion for all things Korean.