Rising from the East

Published on October 13, 2007

top boy band

 Today's hottest South Korean boy band Dong Bang Shin Ki will be back in Thailand at the end of the year for their second visit. Two full-scale shows, entitled "O" after their latest album, take place at Impact Arena, Muang Thong Thani on December 15 and 16, the final stop on their second Asian tour.

But even before the concerts, some lucky Thai fans will get to see their favourite stars. The boys are touching down briefly in town tomorrow and will make an appearance at the 6pm press conference being held at Parc Paragon, Siam Paragon to mark the launch of ticket sales.

"The fans will turn out in their thousands," predicts a confident Kittiwat Manosuthi, chief executive officer of Adamas Incorporation, the concert's promoter, which won the exclusive rights from Korean management company, SM Entertainment.

"Tickets for Dong Bang Shin Ki's concerts are expected to sell even faster than for [Korean superstar] Rain's.

"Rain's concert earlier this year was an enormous success and K-pop is bigger than ever. That's why I was so determined to bring Dong Bang Shin Ki here. I think they are even more popular than they were last year," he adds.

Dong Bang Shin Ki, or Tong Vfang Xien Qi ("Gods Rising from the East") as they are called at home, are South Korea's biggest-selling boy band. They are also major stars in Japan, where they are known as Toho Shin Ki, and their Japanese single "Summer Dream" topped the nation's Oregon Chart.

Each Bangkok concert is expected to run for over two hours and feature more 20 songs, many from the album "O - Jung.Ban.Hap", meaning delivering messages of hope in the dark and bleak society.

Costing Bt50 million, the gigs are on a grander scale this time round, with a bigger, E-shaped stage designed to embrace about 5,000 standing fans. Plans also include a movable round stage, striking props and 10 elevators at the back.

"The band is bringing in five cargo loads of production gear and a 150-member strong team from South Korea. We're providing an additional crew of 100 plus security guards," reveals the CEO.

"It will be a magnificent concert with terrific lighting, sound and other techniques. It's the last stop on the tour too, so all the bugs will have been ironed out."

With the boy band's strong fan base, the sponsors have been pouring in, among them Thai Yamaha Motor, as well as Siam Centre, Channel 7, Channel [V] Thailand, and Seed 97.5 FM.

"It is our pleasure to be the sponsor of this great concert," says Soungsuda Manasboonpermpoon, general manager of Yamaha's marketing communications department.

"Our Yamaha Smart Purse members will receive an instant 10-per-cent discount on concert tickets. We also have promotions for lucky fans to win more than 100 of the best seats while 20 will have the chance to join the meet & greet with the boy band at the press conference."

Interested fans can visit www.yamaha-motor.co.th. The first 300 Yamaha club members to register at the company's booth will receive the band's limited edition headband. Fans can also join the Cover@Cosplay TVXQ! contest at Siam Discovery plaza. Promoter Adamas is the sole vendor of limited edition items such as T-shirts, pins, posters and albums.

Tickets cost Bt4,500, Bt3,500, Bt2,500, Bt1,500 and Bt800. The pre-sale period tomorrow runs from 10am to 9pm and is limited to six tickets per person. Tickets will be available from Thaiticketmajor.com from Monday. Part of the proceeds will go to the Wat Phrabat Nampu foundation.

 Kitchana Lersakvanitchakul

 The Nation