The Mall of Asia Arena was illuminated in vibrant shades of pink, green, and aqua on October 13 as three prolific K-Pop acts — Hyoyeon, Yugyeom, and Taemin came together for K-Magic Live.

Hyoyeon of Girls’ Generation graced the stage with electrifying dance anthems, including “Picture,” “Deep,” “Second,” and “Dessert.” Known for her exceptional dance skills, she showcased her precise and energetic moves. Hyoyeon’s first visit was way back in 2015 when she joined Girls’ Generation for the Best of Best in the Philippines concert. Most recently, she was here in 2020 for a DJ set at House Manila. KMagic marked the first time her fans had the pleasure of seeing her perform her solo releases live.

Given the rarity of her visits, the audience didn’t let her belated birthday pass unnoticed, serenading her with warm wishes. Hyoyeon reciprocated the love, engaging in cheerful banter with the crowd. When asked by host Denise Laurel about a place she wanted to visit in the Philippines, a fan playfully shouted, “Sa bahay namin [to my house]!” which sparked laughter throughout the venue. In response, Hyoyeon promised, “Tonight I’m going back and I don’t have enough time but next time, I’ll make sure that I have enough time to visit your house.”

For her final performance with “Sober,” Hyoyeon took on her singer persona, focusing on a more intimate stage sans choreography, as she gracefully moved around, leaving her fans with a lasting memory of the evening.

Yugyeom charmed his way into everyone’s hearts with his effortless cool demeanor. His setlist was the most extensive, featuring a total of 12 tracks, including his latest release, “LOLO,” and an unreleased single titled “Always Ready.”

He amped up the energy during the final segment of his performance, joining his dancers for a string of hard-hitting tracks “Hard Carry,” “119,” and “Who You,” which involved numerous water bottles being sprayed on fans and even on Yugyeom himself.

The GOT7 singer moved around the stage, wowing with his seamless dance moves, boyish charm, and coy smiles. In a gracious moment, he expressed gratitude to his fans as well as that of his fellow headliners. For those who may have been unfamiliar with Yugyeom before the concert, he certainly left an indelible impression and won them over that day.

Taemin’s debut solo performance in the country made him the undeniable star of the show. His magnetic presence had fans following his every move, running after wherever he was on stage. From sultry to edgy to deeply emotive, he effortlessly transitioned through hits “Move,” “Criminal,” and “Idea.” To add a twist, he embraced a different mood with the ballad “Hypnosis” before concluding his set with “Advice.”

Hailed as the “idol of idols,” Taemin shared his appreciation for the artists who look up to him, recognizing their inspiration much like he has drawn from others throughout his career. He also made it known how much he cherishes his fans, saying “Shinee World is my pride”.

Taemin requested fans to support his upcoming solo comeback, “Guilty,” slated for release on October 30. He described the track as “real spicy” and teased a few seconds of the melody. He also revealed plans for upcoming schedules, promising fans something to look forward to in the coming days. Beyond the horizon, he announced he would love to return with the rest of Shinee if the opportunity opens.

K-Magic Live marks OctoArts’ first foray into K-Pop concert production, and it’s clear that there’s room for growth in future events. Still, each act brought its own color to the stage – Hyoyeon invited the audience to dance with her, Yugyeom provided a laid-back vibe, and Taemin offered a mesmerizing audiovisual spectacle. The prevailing sentiment was that their performances left audiences wanting more, and they were always welcome to return for longer sets.

Words by Marijo Endriga

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K-Magic Live was presented by OctoArts Entertainment. Special thanks to OctoArts Entertainment for the invitation.