The Welcome Back Tour was the fourth concert tour by South Korean girl group, 2NE1. Held in commemoration of the group's 15th anniversary, it is their first tour in a decade since the All or Nothing World Tour in 2014. It began in Seoul in October 2024 and ended on April 13, 2025, in Seoul.
Background[]
On July 21, 2024, YG Entertainment confirmed that 2NE1 would reunite for their 15th debut anniversary, marking their first comeback since disbanding in November 2016. The group revealed plans for a world tour starting in October 2024, beginning in South Korea, with additional shows in 2025 to meet global demand from their fans.
Just a few days later, it was confirmed that the tour would start at the Olympic Hall venue, the same venue where 2NE1 held their first-ever concert, NOLZA!, back in August 2011. While many fans were excited, some voiced concerns about the limited capacity of the venue. In response, YG Entertainment explained that larger venues in Seoul were already fully booked. They also announced that the group’s Japanese fan club, BLACKJACK NOLZA, would reopen in early August, bringing more good news to their loyal supporters.
The excitement continued to build as new tour dates were rolled out. Manila and Jakarta were added to the schedule on September 6, followed by Hong Kong and Singapore on September 10, and Bangkok and Taipei on September 13. By November 6, Kuala Lumpur, Ho Chi Minh City, and Macao had also joined the lineup, fueling anticipation for the long-awaited reunion. On January 6, 2025, encore concerts in Seoul at the KSPO Dome were announced for April 12 and 13, 2025.
Production[]
2NE1 aimed to capture the essence of their classic sound during the Welcome Back Tour by performing their songs in their original form. The group's leader, CL, expressed that this was in contrast to their previous tours, where they often presented rearranged versions of their songs or featured reworked choreography. Furthermore, the quartet actively crafted the concert's experience through their involvement in all of its aspects during its preparation, spanning from the setlist, stage design, choreography, and costumes, amidst others.
Ticketing[]
In Singapore, fans eager to see Hong Kong singer Andy Lau and K-pop group 2NE1 fell victim to a ticket scam that led to a $66,000 loss within just two weeks. At least 92 cases were reported to the police in early October, with victims unknowingly buying fake tickets from third-party platforms. Authorities urged concertgoers to only purchase tickets from authorized sellers and legitimate marketplaces and encouraged the use of the "ScamShield" app to help combat such scams.
Meanwhile, in the Philippines, the Welcome Back Tour in Manila sparked political discussions about ticket scalping. Former senator Francis Pangilinan called for stronger measures and new legislation to tackle the issue, highlighting the need to protect fans from unfair practices in the ticketing industry.
Commercial performance[]
General sale[]
The demand for 2NE1's Seoul concerts was overwhelming, with over 400,000 fans competing for just 3,000 to 4,000 seats per show, causing the ticketing server to crash. In response, an extra concert was scheduled for October 4, and restricted-view seats were released for all three dates.
The group's popularity was just as evident in Japan, where all four initial shows sold out within a day. This prompted the addition of two more performances. In Jakarta, over 100,000 fans queued online for tickets, while Singapore saw over 200,000 users in its virtual line, leading to sellouts in both cities and the addition of second shows.
The Manila concerts experienced a similar frenzy, with 200,000 users in the virtual queue on the first day of general sales and 350,000 on the second, selling out both dates instantly. On October 11, YG Entertainment confirmed that all shows in Japan had sold out. Taiwan was no exception—after the presale on October 15, another performance was added, and all 18,000 tickets for the Taiwan shows were snagged in just 90 seconds. In Macao, over 300,000 users were recorded trying to buy tickets, and all tickets were sold out.
The shows in 2024 attracted around 170,000 people from 16 shows.
Critical reception[]
The tour garnered glowing reviews from music and entertainment critics, who celebrated the energy and artistry of the performances. In Seoul, Yoon Seo-yeon of *Korea JoongAng Daily* described the concert as "the true definition of what K-pop is and what it should be." Pyo Kyung-min of *The Korea Times* highlighted how the show reaffirmed 2NE1's "legendary status in the music scene." Hong Yoo of *The Korea Herald* noted that the group's choreography was demanding, requiring more vigor and energy than many routines performed by current K-pop girl groups.
In Manila, Russel Ku of *Rappler* was amazed by the atmosphere, describing the arena packed with fans of all ages and how the crowd’s energy made the entire venue feel like it was "shaking." Allan Policarpio of the *Philippine Daily Inquirer* praised the group for their natural chemistry, noting how they performed with spontaneity and instinct, leaving room for lively interactions with both each other and the audience.
The Seoul concerts also attracted a star-studded crowd, with celebrities from various fields showing their support. Attendees included K-pop idols such as NewJeans, Winner, G-Dragon, Daesung, BLACKPINK's Jennie, Aespa's Winter, BoyNextDoor, Kang Daniel, members of Stray Kids, iKon, and The Boyz, as well as Jung Yong-hwa and SHINee's Key. Actors like Ross Butler, Rowoon, Lee Joon, Lee Soo-hyuk, and Lomon were also present, alongside veteran singers Uhm Jung-hwa and Yoon Do-hyun, and entertainers such as Noh Hong-chul and Jun Hyun-moo, making the event a true celebration of 2NE1’s influence across the entertainment industry.
Setlist[]
This set list represents the show on October 6, 2024, in Seoul, South Korea. It does not represent all dates.
- Intro (contains elements of Come Back Home)
- Fire
- Clap Your Hands
- Can't Nobody
- Do You Love Me
- Falling in Love
- I Don't Care
- The Baddest Female (shortened)
- MTBD (shortened)
- Missing You
- It Hurts (Slow)
- If I Were You
- Lonely
- I Love You
- Ugly
- Gotta Be You
- Come Back Home
- I Am the Best
- Go Away
Encore (changed throughout the tour, see notes below.)[]
- Happy
- In the Club
Medley[]
- Crush
- I Don't Care
- Ugly
- Go Away
- Can't Nobody
Double encore - Seoul Day 3 only[]
- Let's Go Party
- Stay Together
- I Am The Best
Notes
- During the first performance in Seoul on October 4, Park Bom sang a small part of "You and I" in acapella.
- The double encore was performed on the third day in Seoul only.
- In Manila, "In the Club" was replaced by "In or Out" (group ver.).
- In Jakarta, "Follow Me" & "Baby I Miss You" were performed in the encore instead of "Happy" & "In the Club".
- In Kobe & Hong Kong, the same 2 songs were replaced by "Don't Stop the Music" & "Good to You".
- In Tokyo, the same 2 songs were replaced by "Scream" and "Don't Stop the Music". Additionally, the Japanese versions of "It Hurts (Slow)", "I Am the Best", "Go Away," "Scream", and "Don't Stop the Music" were performed.
- In Singapore, "Happy" was replaced by "All I Want for Christmas Is You".
- In Bangkok, "Happy" and "In the Club" were replaced by "Please Don't Go" and "Stay Together".
- In Kuala Lumpur, "In the Club" was replaced by "Hate You".
- In Taipei, "Happy" and "In the Club" were replaced by "Let's Go Party" and "Pretty Boy".
- In Ho Chi Minh City, the same two songs were replaced by "Kiss" (Dara solo) and "You and I" (Bom solo).
- In Macau, "Happy" was replaced by "Pretty Boy".
Livestreams and recordings[]
YG Entertainment announced via their Japanese account that the Japanese show scheduled for December 15, 2024, will be broadcast live on Japanese TV. Additionally, a recording of 2NE1's "COME BACK HOME" performance from their Seoul concert will be included on a limited-edition Korean Best Of vinyl.
Tour dates[]
| Date | City | Country | Venue | Special guests | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| October 4, 2024 | Seoul | South Korea | Olympic Hall | — | 12,000 |
| October 5, 2024 | BABYMONSTER | ||||
| October 6, 2024 | |||||
| November 16, 2024 | Manila | Philippines | SM Mall of Asia Arena | — | 140,000 |
| November 17, 2024 | |||||
| November 22, 2024 | Jakarta | Indonesia | Beach City International Stadium | ||
| November 23, 2024 | |||||
| November 29, 2024 | Kobe | Japan | World Memorial Hall | ||
| November 30, 2024 | |||||
| December 1, 2024 | |||||
| December 8, 2024 | Hong Kong | China | AsiaWorld–Arena | ||
| December 13, 2024 | Tokyo | Japan | Ariake Arena | BABYMONSTER | |
| December 14, 2024 | — | ||||
| December 15, 2024 | |||||
| December 21, 2024 | Singapore | Singapore Indoor Stadium | 17,000 | ||
| December 22, 2023 | |||||
| January 25, 2025 | Bangkok | Thailand | Impact Exhibition Hall 5–6 | — | |
| January 26, 2025 | |||||
| February 1, 2025 | Kuala Lumpur | Malaysia | National Hockey Stadium | ||
| February 8, 2025 | Taoyuan | Taiwan | NTSU Arena | 18,000 | |
| February 9, 2025 | |||||
| February 15, 2025 | Ho Chi Minh | Vietnam | Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center | 16,000 | |
| February 16, 2025 | |||||
| February 22, 2025 | Macau | China | Venetian Arena | 18,000 | |
| February 23, 2025 | |||||
| April 12, 2025 | Seoul | South Korea | KSPO Dome | 22,000 | |
| April 13, 2025 | |||||
| Total | 243,000 | ||||