Seoul • Saturday, May 2, 2015

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From paulmccartney.com, February 3, 2015:

Paul McCartney getting back ‘Out There’
First time in South Korea

‘Paul McCartney Hyundai Card Super Concert 20’

Saturday 2nd May 2015 – South Korea Olympic Stadium, Seoul

By the end of 2014 and 18 months since its launch, Paul’s incredible ‘Out There’ tour has been seen by almost two million people around the world. Paul and his band have performed a total of 64 shows in 12 different countries in venues of all different shapes and sizes. Each show on the tour has seen multi-generational audiences from all different kinds of backgrounds come together to share in the incredible magic of a McCartney live show.

Last year for reasons beyond his control Paul was forced to cancel his first ever trip to South Korea. Today it is confirmed that Paul will bring his show to Seoul this May. Paul was incredibly disappointed that he couldn’t play the last year and was determined that he would bring his show to South Korea, taking place at Olympic Stadium this May 2nd, 2015.

Speaking about the forthcoming show Paul said: “I’m really excited that we are going to South Korea to play our show. I was really looking forward to visiting last year and really touched by all the messages I received from my fans after we were forced to move the show. It’s going to be an incredible night and I look forward to rocking with you all very soon.”

From Korea Herald, May 3, 2015:

The concert, the former Beatles member’s first-ever in South Korea, took place at Seoul’s Jamsil Stadium, where 45,000 fans moved to his music in the rain.

The highlight came about two hours into the concert when the 72-year-old singer played the first chords of “Let It Be,” causing the entire audience to stand up from their seats.

The singer, apparently moved by the enthusiasm of his South Korean fans, shouted out, “Korea, you are cool!”

During the concert, McCartney sang both Beatles hits and his own, including “Eight Days A Week,” “Save Us,” “Paperback Writer” and “The Long and Winding Road.”

Fans held up signs and mobile phones to light up the stadium as McCartney expressed his thanks by stretching out his arms to the sides, then putting his hand on his chest and finally holding his head in his hands.

He also blew kisses to the audience as they sang along to his performance of “Hey Jude.”

McCartney wrapped up his Asia tour in Seoul after completing a weeklong tour of Japan. […]

From For Whom The Bell Tells, July 6, 2015:

SEOUL OLYMPIC STADIUM – (May 2, 2015) 

This is a first time visit to South Korea for Paul, but it is a trip he has been discussing and thinking about for years. Once again, the huge crowds at the airport demonstrate the excitement surrounding his arrival. It’s a little less orderly than the scenes greeting him a couple of weeks ago in Osaka, mainly because this is his debut on Korean soil.

Some fans have been waiting most of their lives for this moment so you can imagine the sort of buzz being generated. They cannot quite believe it when they see Paul coming through the airport doors. As he steps through, the place is in uproar. Fans are screaming, shouting, singing, jumping up and down and doing anything they can to get a glimpse of their idol. That tell-tale electronic click of cameras chirrups in all directions. It is a completely mad arrival for what will be a mad concert. 

There is extra significance with this show for Paul’s tour photographer MJ Kim, who is originally from South Korea. He is over the moon, but also nervous in the days leading up to the show because he wants to ensure Paul receives a brilliant welcome here. MJ has been explaining to us for ages just how important this visit is and now we are seeing first hand what sort of impact his arrival is having.

One of the many stand-out memories of the evening is the rain. Wow, does it rain! It buckets down but clearly nothing is going to dampen the spirits at this show. As Paul says from the stage: “What if it rained? We didn’t care.” And they really don’t care – they just want to party. […]

Over to the reviews to round off our visit to Asia: 

Long live Sir Paul! (KOREAN TIMES) 
“Let me have what he had!” I was thinking to myself as I watched the show. For three hours it was like having the best non-stop music playing on the best jukebox – only better. 

McCartney leads 45,000 in a huge sing-a-long in an evening that made us feel like we watched the show of a god ” (JOONGANG DAILY) 
It was a very special performance that will leave a permanent mark on the history of live music in Korea. The emotional evening was full of singing, dancing, shouting, praise and admiration. It was as if he was giving us gift after gift as he presented song after song from his repertoire. The most successful artist in history also gave a master class in fan service. Totally different from any other international artist we’ve had here in the past Paul obviously took time to learn about our culture, tastes and even our language. His comments made us laugh and smile whilst his music touched our hearts. 

A day in the life… ” (DONGAH WEEKLY)
We’ve had many legendary visitors here before and often the hype and speculation turns out to be wrong. However, no one ever gave such an incredible and emotional performance like Paul McCartney did. I can’t recall a performer I’ve seen that had so much passion and energy on stage. Paul gave us a day we’ll never forget. The opening section of the show was like receiving continuous jabs from an expert boxer. Not only does he have the songs, but he spoke in Korean as well as having translations on the massive screens which is a first for us – it really demonstrates how much he cares. Many went home after the show on cloud nine and we know many had a hard time sleeping that night with their hearts still pounding, not wanting the experience to stop. We witnessed the greatest artist of all time. We saw the history of popular music, the present and the future all in one night. 

And with that we are off to the UK leg of the tour and I will be sharing the next installment with you shortly.

Last updated on March 3, 2021

South Korea Olympic Stadium

This was the 1st and only concert played at South Korea Olympic Stadium.

Setlist for the soundcheck

Setlist for the concert