In the heat of summer, the summer sports day shared by TOMORROW X TOGETHER and MOA became an unforgettable memory and a lasting record of youth for everyone involved. We spoke with Kim Soohyun from BIGHIT MUSIC’s Content Marketing Team and Kim Sejin from Weverse Company’s FC Business Team about the story behind “PLAY X TOGETHER 2024,” the once-online-event held offline after nearly two years.

What inspired you to organize “PLAY X TOGETHER 2024,” the special summer sports day event for TOMORROW X TOGETHER and MOA?
Kim Soohyun: The members of TOMORROW X TOGETHER have frequently mentioned wanting to hold a sports day with MOA since the beginning of their careers. So, in 2022, we held a mini sports event on the metaverse platform ZEP, and since then, the members have been telling us that they would like an offline event as well. And because we also thought MOA would enjoy an offline sports event, we decided to plan “PLAY X TOGETHER 2024” with the members. Despite it being an incredibly busy time for TOMORROW X TOGETHER, we were able to move forward thanks to the members’ strong desire to create unforgettable memories with fans. In fact, the members wanted to enjoy the event with as many fans as possible, so we invited 500 MOA to participate, which was the capacity limit of the venue.

With such a large number of participants, was there anything in particular that you paid attention to for the smooth operation of the event?
Kim Sejin: We needed to build a sense of anticipation and responsibility for MOA in advance so they could actively participate in the event. So we designed a pre-event quiz, asking questions about MOA’s motivation for joining, which sports they would beat the members at, etc. We believed having fans excited for the event would ensure a smooth operation. Thankfully, all of them participated enthusiastically and maintained order. We could rely on MOA on-site. With the live streaming, we had to consider the logistics of the shoot as well and Weverse LIVE studio created a dedicated production setup to ensure that the event would be enjoyable for everyone.

Kim Soohyun: The most important thing for us was to have fun without anyone getting hurt. So we considered various contingencies. In typical offline events, the focus is often on the movement of the artist, but for this one, we had to consider the flow of all 500 participants. We placed importance on fans not just passively watching the members but actively participating in the event alongside them. For example, in the case of tug-of-war, we were worried that it might get a little heated, so we tried to have a member of the artist management team among the members and fans for safety, but with MOA participating in an orderly manner throughout the event, the members wanted to compete with MOA alone. This allowed the members and fans to gather together, strategize as a team, and celebrate victories with high-fives, making the sports day event even more lively and enjoyable.

How hard did the members of TOMORROW X TOGETHER work to prepare for the event?
Kim Sejin: Whenever there’s a chance to meet with MOA, the members are proactive in sharing their ideas. This time was no exception—right at the start of the event planning meeting, the members came up with the team names. They immediately picked them on the spot and it made me think they might have been imagining this sports day event for quite some time (laughs). The Random Play Dance segment was specifically planned because the members wanted to create a memorable gift for the fans. They were curious about the song selection. I think they were eager to prepare in advance.

How do you think the sports day event with TOMORROW X TOGETHER will be remembered by MOA?
Kim Sejin: I hope MOA will remember the excited moments shared with TOMORROW X TOGETHER. At the end of the event, we gave out towels as prizes based on the final rankings, which seemed like a fitting souvenir for such an energetic day. Each team’s towels had a different phrase that captured the memories specific to the team. And since towels are a part of our daily lives, I hope they’ll serve as a reminder of the event. We received various responses to the quiz about MOA’s motivations for participation, such as “I’ve been waiting since hearing HUENINGKAI mention wanting to have a sports day event at the 2019 mini fan meeting,” or “I’ve never seen the members in person so I really want to seize this opportunity.” And just like how different fans came together and immediately became one team, giving their all for each member, or their team leader, I hope that in the future, MOA will continue to wholeheartedly support TOMORROW X TOGETHER, even if the forms or ways in which they express their support may differ.

Kim Soohyun: This event wouldn’t have been possible if it weren’t for TOMORROW X TOGETHER and MOA. It was an event driven by the pure passion of the participating fans, and I hope everyone takes pride in that. The fans put in so much effort, and what stood out most to me was how they continued to cheer for the members until the very end. The members also clearly drew a lot of strength from them, more than ever before. Seeing both the members and MOA being genuinely happy on-site made me feel happy as well. I hope that the summer night of the sports day event that we all enjoyed together isn’t just remembered as another day but as a cherished page in the story of everyone’s youth.