Laughter and tears fill LE SSERAFIM’s memorable first fan meeting ‘FEARNADA’ — gig report

If you mistakenly assumed that LE SSERAFIM have been around for at least a few years, you would certainly not be faulted for doing so. 

Since the South Korean girl group announced their arrival with their debut EP FEARLESS last May, the quintet have taken the K-pop world by storm with their empowering anthems as well as their imaginative live performances at events such as the 36th Golden Disc Awards and 2022 SBS Gayo Daejeon.

Due to their expedited growth, LE SSERAFIM are now one of the acts that you simply cannot afford to omit from conversations about modern K-pop — something that’d take even a fan who has been following them since the beginning some time to process. 

Not a group to forget the ones who have helped to make everything that has happened so far possible, LE SSERAFIM — comprising Kim Chaewon, Sakura, Huh Yunjin, Kazuha, and Hong Eunchae — recently took a pause to connect with their fans, known as FEARNOTs, during their first-ever fan meeting. Held over two days (18 and 19 March) at the Olympic Hall in Seoul and live-streamed for international fans, the event, titled <FEARNADA> 2023 S/S, was one that was filled with thrills, laughter, and tears. 

In case you missed it, here are four highlights from the second day of LE SSERAFIM’s fan meeting. 

As mentioned earlier, LE SSERAFIM have garnered plenty of attention for their live performances, and even though FEARNADA was not a concert, it did not suffer from a shortage of them.

In just two EPs, FEARLESS and ANTIFRAGILE, the SOURCE MUSIC act have already displayed an ability to switch between different concepts without breaking a sweat — something that FEARNOTs witnessed during the fan meeting. Donning boots, checkered skirts, and ties, LE SSERAFIM made an explosive entrance with their pop-rock B-side track ‘No Celestial’ before immediately following up with their reggaeton-infused hit ‘ANTIFRAGILE’. From the uninhibited hair whipping during the former’s chorus to Yunjin’s satisfying body wave move in the latter, every bit of their introductory performance reflected the group’s fearlessness when it comes to being themselves.

After swapping their punk-influenced outfits for elegant all-white ones later in the event, LE SSERAFIM, resembling fairies, delivered a live version of ‘Sour Grapes’ as they were lifted into the air by circular swings. When ‘Impurities’ was brought out, all eyes were fixed on them as they executed the track’s choreography with great fluidity. 

FEARNOTs were also treated to performances of ‘The Great Mermaid’, ‘FEARLESS’, ‘Good Parts (when the quality is bad but I am)’, and ‘Blue Flame’ before LE SSERAFIM surprised them by unveiling a brand new number, ‘No-Return (Into the unknown)’. Taken off their forthcoming debut studio album, the light-hearted, retro-sounding song was the perfect parting gift from the group to their fans and an indication that LE SSERAFIM may once again be venturing into new territory.  

At FEARNADA, fans also got to see what LE SSERAFIM are like when they are not singing or dancing. During fun game segments sandwiched between the fan meeting’s live performances, the five endearing entertainers filled the Olympic Hall with positivity and kept everyone engaged just by being themselves.

As part of The Great Telepathy Quiz, LE SSERAFIM put their intragroup mind-reading skills to the test as they attempted to come up with matching gestures for words such as “LENIVERSE”, “Kimchi-jjigae”, and “Crayon Shin-chan”. It was a real delight to witness Chaewon, Sakura, Yunjin, Kazuha, and Eunchae comfortably show off their more playful and silly side, something you will not find in their music videos and stage performances.

Aside from being tickled by the members’ teasing of each other and their other goofy acts, including accidentally using a lightstick as a microphone, FEARNOTs also saw Eunchae flex her skills as an MC. Brimming with confidence and charm, LE SSERAFIM’s 16-year-old maknae (youngest member of the group) looked like an individual who was born to host as she facilitated the game. It is no wonder that she now serves as one of the MCs on KBS‘ music programme Music Bank.

Credit: LE SSERAFIM Twitter, SOURCE MUSIC

Friendships are meant to be celebrated and this was exactly what was done when LE SSERAFIM and FEARNOTs met at FEARNADA. As the fan meeting approached its conclusion, messages of appreciation and support that the latter had penned to the former were flashed on a screen. 

“Even if the world falls apart, I’ll be on your side. Thank you and love you always,” wrote one fan.

“Thank you for being LE SSERAFIM,” wrote another. 

As the group read the messages aloud, they were visibly overwhelmed by the love that they were receiving. Following that, they took turns to express their gratitude towards FEARNOTs.

Chaewon shared: “When I see FEARNOTs’ love just for who I am, I gain confidence [and] I want to improve. Thank you for being my confidence.”

The celebration of this blossoming friendship reached its climax during LE SSERAFIM’s performance of their 2022 track ‘Blue Flame’. Moving through the Olympic Hall, the group waved at fans, gave them high fives, and even stopped centimetres away from a lucky few to dance to the song’s chorus. 

Credit: LE SSERAFIM Twitter, SOURCE MUSIC

In the time that they have been together, Chaewon, Sakura, Yunjin, Kazuha, and Eunchae have grown into an inseparable family. This much became clear during a special part of the fan meeting that was used to celebrate Sakura’s birthday. 

After bringing out a cake for her, Chaewon, Yunjin, Kazuha, and Eunchae surprised Sakura with a cover of ‘Yume de Kiss me!’, a song performed by the eldest member of LE SSERAFIM during her time with Japanese girl group AKB48. The joyous celebration was an extremely heartwarming sight regardless of whether one was watching it unfold in the flesh or virtually, and it was arguably the most memorable part of the fan meeting before being displaced just minutes later. 

When the time came for Chaewon, Yunjin, Kazuha, and Eunchae to read out their heartfelt letters to the birthday girl, tears flowed as the four members thanked Sakura for the impact she had made on their lives. Deeply moving, the segment was an intimate look at the relationship between five sisters whose lives have forever been transformed by each other.

“I always gain the courage to walk again whenever I’m tired. I want to be your light for you,” said Yunjin.

“Please let me be of help to you and make you happy. I am lucky to have you as a big sister. This is what makes LE SSERAFIM shine. So don’t feel pressure, no worries,” said an emotional Eunchae who later received a hug from Sakura.