K-Event Coverage: ‘The Watsons Kfinity Music Festival 2025’ in Malaysia

Writers: Karen Wong (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia) and Riya Choudhary (Delhi, India)

Editor: Pooja Vishwanathan (Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh, India)

On November 1st, 2025, The Watsons Kfinity Music Festival 2025 lit up the Exhibition & Convention Centre of IOI Mall Damansara with an incredible lineup, including TAEYANG, Minzy, JU-NE, Thama, SOLE, and Yuju. Malaysian Fans gathered for what turned out to be a night full of surprises, emotions, and pure energy – perfectly living up to the festival’s tagline, “Connecting Fans with Legends.”

We connected with Karen Wong from Taeyang Malaysia fansite, where most of them went mainly for TAEYANG. They were there for him, but as the night went on, they all ended up cheering for everyone. Each artist brought something unique, with different vibes and styles. By the end, they all became fans of more than just one performer.

Before the show started, the venue was already buzzing. Fans were queuing up early in an orderly manner (shoutout to DFE for handling crowd control so well), holding banners, exchanging self-made freebies, and submitting handwritten letters they had prepared for TAEYANG. The letter collection was something Taeyang Malaysia United fansite had pre-arranged with the organiser, where the letters would be handed directly to TAEYANG’s manager on the day of the show. They had also announced this in advance on their social platforms so fans could take part. As the soundchecks started, fans could feel the excitement building up, and then Minzy, Yuju, and JU-NE’s rehearsals got loud cheers even before the concert began.

The Spectacular Night in Malaysia

The emcee did a great job of keeping the energy high, with fun quizzes and games between sets, as well as giveaways from Watsons. (By the way, whoever won that photo session with TAEYANG — lucky you.) Then the music started.

Thama opened the night beautifully with his smooth R&B and jazzy tunes — “Real Thing,” “HEY,” and “Do It For Love.” Midway through his performance, he pulled out a paper and began speaking in Malay, which melted everyone’s hearts. He said, “Ini pertama kali saya buat show di luar negara. Saya rasa sangat berbesar hati,” and fans could tell how genuine he was. This was his first performance outside Korea, and the fact that it was in Malaysia made it extra special for Malaysian fans too.

He even gave a sneak peek of his new song as he performed Be Mine (feat. Jay Park) right there on the stage. The song was released on 4th November. His last number, “I Feel Love,” was that kind of warm, emotional moment. On top of that, Thama also signed autographs for fans who brought his album along, showing so much gratitude and sincerity.

Then came SOLE, who carried the warm mood perfectly. She kicked off her set with “1minute” and “GONE,” then greeted fans with another super cute Malay intro — “Ini kali pertama saya di Malaysia dan saya sangat gembira dapat jumpa anda semua malam ini!” She was so bubbly and genuine, fans couldn’t stop smiling. She performed songs like “Shy Girl,” “LOVIN’ U,” “ore ore,” and “Stay With Me.” One adorable thing Karen noticed that before performing “Stay With Me,” she looked at her palm, where she had scribbled a Malay message she wanted to say to the audience. She read it out loud shyly, and it made everyone melt on the spot. It was such a thoughtful gesture that showed how much she cared about Malaysian Fans.

During her performance, she actually stepped off stage to sign albums for fans who brought them. When she ended her set with “RIDE,” she even called Thama and their DJ back out to the stage for a group photo with the whole crowd, waving together. That moment really summed up the festival’s spirit — artists and fans connecting in the most genuine way, and it made the whole concert feel more personal.

When JU-NE of iKON appeared, the atmosphere shifted, the whole mood changed — the energy went wild, straight through the roof. He came out with his electric guitar and opened with “Feel Lost,” “So Cold,” and “Want You Back.” His voice was raw and powerful. His set had this rock vibe that’s totally his own, hit differently from the previous acts. Between songs, he said how happy he was to be back in Malaysia. He continued with “Painful,” “Hope,” “Han River,” “Higher,” “M.U.P,” and “Jerk,” and then, just when fans thought it was over, he surprised everyone by performing iKON’s classics – “Love Scenario” and “Rhythm Ta.” The entire venue was singing and jumping; even people who weren’t iKONICs knew the lyrics.

After a short break for Maghrib prayers, it was finally time for the man of the night.

The moment the emcee hyped, “Are you ready for TAEYANG?” the whole hall erupted. The chants of “TAEYANG! TAEYANG! TAEYANG!” echoed everywhere, and when he appeared, it was pure electricity. He opened with “1 AM,” complete with confetti and a live band. It felt like the grand finale even though his set had just begun. From there, he rolled through hits like “RINGA LINGA,” “VIBE,” and of course, “Eyes, Nose, Lips.” But this time, he did something different. He sang Eyes, Nose, Lips unplugged — the whole song with just the audience’s voices echoing through the hall. It was so emotional that many of the fans cried. Then he performed it again, this time with the band, and the tears kept coming.

When he performed “SEED,” anyone could tell how much the lyrics meant to him. It shares his hard work, tears, and journey as an artist. The crowd went completely silent, just soaking in every word. Taeyang Malaysia has seen TAEYANG perform many times, but this night hit differently. It wasn’t just a concert; it felt like a thank-you between TAEYANG and his fans.

He also mentioned that he’s working on new music and promised that Malaysia will definitely be part of his next tour. That one line had all his fans screaming — we’re holding him to that. And here’s a fun little story from Karen’s side. One that they’ll never forget. Throughout his set, TAEYANG wasn’t solely performing; he was having fun with the fans. He even threw a few of his towels into the crowd after wiping his sweat, but before doing that, he cheekily said, “Please do the laundry, it’s dirty!” which made the crowd filled with laughter. Those small, funny things make him feel so real and down-to-earth.

At one point, during the unplugged “Eyes, Nose, Lips,” he even walked around, looking at the crowd to check who really knew the lyrics, but when he spotted the Taeyang Malaysia Fansite crew, he gave them this playful yet approving look as if he was testing them, and of course, they didn’t disappoint. They wholeheartedly sang every word at the top of their lungs. That moment right there? Words can’t really describe. Just pure joy and pride.

After TAEYANG’s emotional set, Yuju came on stage and brought a fresh, gentle vibe. She opened with “Spring Is Gone by Chance” and moved through songs like “REPLY” and “ORION.” Her vocals were crystal clear and filled the hall beautifully. She even took time to sign a few albums while talking to fans, which was such a sweet and humble moment. She ended her set with “DALALA” and “SEE YOU SOON,” which felt like a little promise that she’ll be back in Malaysia again.

And finally, closing the festival was Minzy. The powerhouse we all know from 2NE1. She exploded onto the stage with “NINANO” and “TE AMO,” and the entire hall was screaming from the first beat. Even without her members, Minzy completely owned the stage as her charisma filled every corner of the hall. She’s still that fierce dancer and performer everyone remembers, and she reminded everyone why she’s one of K-pop’s legends.

Minzy also performed “Superwoman,” and when she sang 2NE1’s “I DON’T CARE” and “I AM THE BEST,” it was pure nostalgia. Everyone was dancing, waving lightsticks, shouting fanchants like it was the old days again. She closed the night with “GO AWAY,” leaving everyone exhausted but absolutely hyped, thrilled, and satisfied.

Fan Experience: Karen Wong (TYMY)

We hope this becomes an annual event, because nights like this remind us why we fell in love with K-pop in the first place. The music, the energy, and those unforgettable connections between artists and fans. And as for us Taeyang fans… we’re still recovering from the tears, screams, and joy of seeing our King shine on Malaysian soil again. Until he comes back, we’ll be waiting, as always — for our King of the Sun. 

Conclusion

Overall, the first Watsons Kfinity Music Festival, organized by Dream Factory Entertainment, was a huge success as it truly delivered its promise of “Connecting Fans with Legends.” The stage setup was impressive as they used creative LED visuals that changed with each artist’s set, smooth lighting transitions, and great sound all around. The crowd control was well handled, and the atmosphere was exciting but comfortable. From the heartfelt Malay speeches by Thama and SOLE, to TAEYANG’s emotional unplugged moment, to the nostalgia blast of Minzy’s finale, the night had everything.

Would you like to attend the festival in the near future? Who is your favourite artist? Drop your thoughts in the comments below.