When the lights dimmed and the first few beats along with the fans’ screams reverberated through the air, a single word pulsed on the screens—KAION. To the uninitiated, it might look like a stylized play on Kai’s name. But for fans who’ve journeyed with him from EXO’s debut stage to his solo breakout, KAION holds weight. It's a fusion of Kai and the Greek word aion (αἰών), meaning “eternity.” A bold declaration, and an invitation: this is the start of forever.
From the very beginning of the show, there is an understanding that KAION, Kai's first solo concert tour, isn’t just another stop on his idol-to-soloist trajectory. It’s a theatrical, soul-baring, meticulously crafted experience that unfolds more like a memoir in motion than a setlist. It is a quiet unraveling of the self. Every moment of KAION is deliberate, from the haunting visuals to the transformative stage design, and together they spin a narrative of self-discovery, reflection, and rebirth.
The show opens with “A Man in the Mirror,” a literal and metaphorical gaze inward. Kai confronts versions of himself, some raw, some refined, some still searching. There’s no hiding behind personas here; it’s all Kai, dissected and displayed. The dance, as always and as is typical of Kai, is fluid yet sharp. Every movement feels like a dialogue with his past.
Then comes “Reflection of Myself,” a segment that plays with dualities: idol and artist, boy and man, past and present. It’s vulnerable and electric, a reminder that Kai is a brilliant storyteller who speaks through each and every move of his joints.
Just a few minutes left and KAI is ready to dominate the stage tonight! 🔥
— PULP Live World (@pulpliveworld) July 27, 2025
Turn on those light sticks and let’s create the best memories together, EXO-L! 🌟#KAIinMANILA2025 pic.twitter.com/cMrPDDqIyx
By the time we arrive at “When All Selves Become One,” the transformation is palpable. The fragmented versions we’ve seen begin to fuse. There's unity. Wholeness. A sense that this isn’t a culmination, but an alignment.
And then, with his unapologetic grin and stage presence, he declares: “Welcome to the New Me.” The “new Kai” isn’t a rejection of the past, but an embrace of it. It’s every version of himself stitched together into something bolder. KAION doesn’t close with finality, it ends on a promise. Of more music. Of more reinvention. Of eternity, whatever that means in the fast-spinning world of K-pop.
@exoxweareone Vitamin B ✨ #EXO #KAI #KAIONinMANILA #fyp ♬ Reason - KAI
One of the most moving parts was when he performed EXO songs like “My Lady,” “Baby Don’t Cry,” and “Angel.” You could feel the audience collectively remembering, years of shared memories come rushing back, stitched together by one voice. It reminded us: even as he grows solo, he never forgets where he came from.
More than a concert, it is through Kaion that Kai conveys to us who he is when the lights are on, and more importantly, when they’re not. It’s personal. Honest. Unfiltered. It was Kai becoming. And in that becoming, inviting us to witness not just a show, but the start of something eternal.
Don’t miss the chance to experience KAION live as the tour heads to Bangkok, Yokohama, and Hong Kong. Catch him on August 2 at Thunder Dome in Bangkok, August 6 at Pacifico Yokohama National Convention Hall, and August 16 at AsiaWorld-Expo, Hall 10 in Hong Kong.
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Written by Ricabelle Bayanin, a Communication and Media Studies student from the University of the Philippines Visayas
