“Still believe in magic?” Coldplay asked. And we answered. “Yes I do!” In six days spread out over April 16 through 25, 300,000 dreamers made their way to Goyang Stadium. The audience sang as one voice under the dazzling confetti and fireworks bursting into hearts and diamonds, belting out an ode to humanity. Every surreal moment creating that unfamiliar world rained down as stardust left lingering forever in our hearts. This was not a dream that could be limited to a single night or a single person.

It’s been a while since Coldplay’s run of concerts ended here, but the embers continue to glow with life. The band was last in the country eight years ago, playing Seoul Olympic Stadium in 2017. Returning to Korea for their second concert here, they seemed determined to repay their fans by hosting the longest run of concerts with the largest audience in Korean concert history, taking the crowd on a breathtaking panorama of their 30-year musical journey—a retelling stirring up hundreds of thousands of distinct memories bursting with emotion and vigor. And the stories they tell aren’t confined to the music alone. From rare surprise appearances by K-pop superstars, to domestic and international celebrities in the audience, and the effort toward sustainability, countless stories have emerged from the event. Rarely has a concert in this country created such a strong shared discourse. What else is there, really? Since the start of the 21st century, only Paul McCartney’s 2015 concert and Bruno Mars’ 2023 show come to mind.

In recent years, Korea has experienced a drought of world tour visits. Since the 100,000-seat Olympic Stadium began undergoing remodeling in 2023, leaving Seoul World Cup Stadium the only venue capable of seating over 50,000, Korea’s infrastructure for concerts remains woefully inadequate to meet the explosive post-pandemic demand for live music. While large-scale concerts by K-pop groups and other popular singers, along with major music festivals, have somewhat filled the void, hosting stops for the tours by world-famous pop stars that everyone’s talking about has proven challenging. And then there’s Coldplay, who’s putting on one of the world’s highest-grossing tours, having earned them over $1.2 billion across more than 184 performances. Over the past two years, their tour has attracted over 10 million attendees, surpassing $2 billion in ticket sales—second only to Taylor Swift’s “Eras Tour,” which required new economic terms to be coined to describe it. The mere fact that such a major concert was finally held here again was enough to reignite excitement among Korean audiences.

Experiencing an all-encompassing entertainment experience again thanks to Coldplay was nothing short of spectacular. Artists performing in Korea tend not to have anyone open for them, for a number of reasons, but Coldplay’s concert was different. Palestinian and Chilean singer Elyanna, as well as hyper popular K-pop girl group TWICE, took to the stage before the main act. Cutting-edge technologies like 3D mapping, ultrahigh-definition projectors, and dynamic visual effects controlled through AI brought the venue to life. Confetti rained down, planet balloons floated around, and festive fireworks burst high up in the sky, all adding to the sights, sounds, and sensations of the whole experience. And the festival atmosphere extended beyond the boundaries of the venue. For the duration of Coldplay’s two-week run, the area surrounding Goyang Stadium buzzed with crowds of people. Like planets orbiting the star that is Coldplay, hundreds of thousands of people recognized each other as fans and joined in the elation of the tour spirit together.

It was clear how committed the band is to making their tour environmentally sustainable. After their “Head Full of Dreams” tour, Coldplay pledged not to put on more shows unless they could be done sustainably. And after years of exploring their options, they successfully found a way to make a meaningful difference while going around the globe. They started off by minimizing carbon emissions when flying, made use of rechargeable batteries and solar panels to power their stage equipment, and donated some of their profits to ocean cleanup and tree planting efforts. Upon entering the stadium, fans could generate electricity by dancing on kinetic dance floors or riding power bikes. The LED Xylobands they were given to wear around their wrists were made of 100% biodegradable plant-based materials, too. The band even promoted friendly competition by publishing wristband return rates by city, spurring audiences into action. Consequently, Coldplay achieved a 59% reduction in carbon emissions compared to their previous tour. As world tours continue to expand in scale, none approaches Coldplay’s dedication to environmental mindfulness—a rare experience today.

What makes the “Music of the Spheres” tour particularly phenomenal is the way the power of the music is organically interwoven into the meticulous stage design. The 25-year journey of four friends who first met at University College London evolving from a college band into global emissaries sending their music out into the cosmos was all made possible thanks to Coldplay’s music, the way it speaks to the times, and its power to heal. The unassuming charm and evocative beauty of “Parachutes,” the post-9/11 “A Rush of Blood to the Head,” the antidote to the weight of superstardom in “X&Y,” and the ambitious sonic experiments and humanistic outlook of “Viva La Vida” made up the band’s hit parade of the 2000s and gave them a solid foundation for what would come next. Starting with “Mylo Xyloto,” the band turned their gaze outward to explore the unknown while composing anthems of unity, communication, and acceptance that affirm Longfellow’s words: “Music is the universal language of mankind.” The pride-flag-waving march of “People of The Pride,” the climactic concert pleaser “A Sky Full of Stars,” and the tender finale furnished by “feelslikeimfallinginlove” are all the kind of emotional crescendos that can only be fully felt on tour.

Coldplay is no longer just a band for Coldplay fans, either. Armed with talent and ambition, these pioneering artists, circling the globe to prove anew what they’re capable of, transcend eras to impart to the next generation the values found in the music that’s blossomed out of their unparalleled gifts. They show a camaraderie spanning the past 30 years, a commitment to enriching lives however they can through sustainable concerts, and a vision of a world where differences are respected, not disparaged. The surprise appearances by BTS member Jin and BLACKPINK member ROSÉ during their shows in Korea can be seen as fitting within this idea as well. As the band looks to their 12th studio album, which they say will be their last, Coldplay’s collaborating with a culturally diverse set of artists like Elyanna, TINI, Burna Boy, and Little Simz to deliver messages of hope, while also sharing the stage with young local talents like TWICE, HANRORO, Jin, and ROSÉ to pass the torch on to the next generation and open up the future to new possibilities. It may be a simple message, but it’s also a profound one.
And by working it seamlessly into an all-encompassing entertainment experience, rather than being preachy about it, they’re able to momentarily show us a better world. Conveying that is Coldplay’s calling today.

The sun is beginning to set on Coldplay. Expecting the band to recreate the exact feel of their heyday feels like an excessive order now. Even though they’re at the top of their field, I was skeptical of their effort to be eco-conscious before seeing it in action. Even entering their amazingly crafted mesmerizing concert area didn’t melt my doubts away all that quickly. But it wasn’t long before the warmth of the show melted that coldness away like old snow. The emotion flowing through the music and captured in the phrase “everyone is an alien somewhere” blazed like a flame that would never go out. They used to rule the world—now they’ve reshaped it and inspired those poised to rule it next. A dream worth witnessing firsthand—a magic you end up believing in. Coldplay’s concerts are something we can never stop dreaming about.