Rob Kim/Getty Images for Global Citizen
A lot happened in too little time as Jung Kook co-headlined his solo debut at the Global Citizen Festival on a rainy day in New York City on Saturday (September 23). The ARMY gave the BTS member their full support for his solo performance, which included “a few surprises” – which he teased in a pre-show interview that aired during the livestream of the concert.
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As night fell in the city’s Central Park, Jung Kook — smiling and adjusting his purple in-ear monitors — opened his performance with “Euphoria.” He held up his microphone to hear the crowd chanting to him. The fans shed a few tears in front of the barricade.
“Wow. Hello, Global Citizen!” He greeted the audience before moving on to his next song. He elaborated on the purpose of the show, saying, “Let’s continue to make a difference to ensure that everyone, everywhere has access to their basic rights like food and education.” OK?”
With the music festival in Central Park, Global Citizen wanted to urge the heads of state and government gathered in New York for the UN General Assembly to address the climate crisis, the equality of women and girls and the global hunger crisis.
“Here’s my next song,” Jung Kook continued from the stage. “Thank you for coming in the rain. I love you.”
Jung Kook performs during the 2023 Global Citizen Festival in Central Park on September 23, 2023 in New York City.
Next came “Still With You” and it was his first ever live performance of the track. Jung Kook felt the guitar solo of the song. One fan held up a sketch of the BTS artist, while many from the ARMY held up their phones to capture the memory of the live event.
Jung Kook then introduced “Seven,” his solo summer single, delighting the audience by exclaiming, “Let’s go!”
One of the evening’s unexpected moments was an unannounced appearance by Latto during “Seven,” where she delivered a live performance of her collaborative feature film.
“Wow, that was a nice surprise, wasn’t it?” Jung Kook commented on the song at the end. Latto told him, “Thanks, JK. Call the ARMY!”
Jung Kook’s Global Citizen set was nearing its end at this point. “My last song is a series of BTS hits,” he said. He recently said that he misses performing with the group, which hasn’t happened recently due to the solo music endeavors of its members, who also meet South Korea’s military enlistment requirements.
The BTS medley highlighted a trio of Billboard Hot 100 chart-toppers: “Permission to Dance,” “Dynamite” and “Butter,” all of which hit No. 1.
But Jung Kook’s show wasn’t quite over when he left the performance area. A clip played on a large screen on stage shows Jung Kook’s name and “3D,” a cryptic teaser. ARMY didn’t have to wait long for official details: BIGHIT Music soon confirmed that “3D” is Jung Kook’s next single and features Jack Harlow.
Jung Kook setlist at Global Citizen 2023
“Euphoria”
“Still With You” (live debut)
“Seven” (feat. Latto)
“Permission to Dance/”Dynamite”/”Butter” (BTS medley)