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I’ve seen many concerts in my lifetime, Taylor Swift, Bon Jovi, Ed Sheeran, you name it. But last month, I found myself at Jakarta International Stadium, surrounded by more than 50,000 screaming fans, watching a K-pop group called Seventeen, whose existence I had barely registered before.
There were fireworks. Actual pyrotechnics indoors. Fans were chanting words I didn’t fully understand. By the end of the night, I was shouting along with these people who called themselves CARATs, possibly becoming one myself.
How did I get here, and who exactly are these 13 guys calling themselves Seventeen?
Buckle up; it’s a story.
Not what I expected
I first heard of Seventeen last year through my friends’ Instagram stories, but I never felt the urge to dig deeper. I did notice that one member, Kim Mingyu, seemed to have his face plastered across what felt like every store in town. But that was about it.
After all, I was already deep into the fandoms of two older groups, Super Junior and TVXQ. I told myself I wouldn’t fall into another K-pop rabbit hole. I had my limits, too many members to keep track of, too many albums to follow, too many concerts and merch draining my wallet.
But then my editor called and asked if I wanted to see this Seventeen group’s Right Here concert in a few weeks.
“Yeah, why not?”
I did not know that I was saying yes to what would be the best live performance I’ve ever seen.
And the group itself? The epitome of K-pop, euphoric, synchronized and endlessly entertaining.
The production was well-thought-out, from the massive stage designs and videotrons that made sure even those in the farthest, cheapest seats had a clear view to the exceptional camerawork that didn’t just focus on the idols but also captured fans living their best lives.
The fan service? Top tier.
The members made their way around the stadium in carts to greet fans up close, and a member (Seungkwan) even handed his mic to a fan to belt out a song bridge. Every detail, every moment, was designed to make sure no one, no matter where they sat, felt left out.
More than music
Twenty-three songs in three and a half hours. Even as a newbie, I was blown away.
The show opened with the dramatic, fast-paced and meticulously choreographed “Fear” and “Fearless”, followed by the stadium-shaking fan chants of “Maestro”.
After the initial ment (greeting session), the hip-hop and performance sub-units took over, followed by a ballad section with more emotional tracks.
After transitioning into a slightly more toned-down but still high-energy set, there followed an explosion of cheerful anthems like “God of Music” and “Home”.
A synchronized ocean of lightsticks bathed the stadium in waves of color, creating a breathtaking visual.
And then came the encore.
The legendary never-ending live rendition of “Very Nice” lived up to its name. The song is the highlight of every Seventeen concert because you never really know when it will end.
We screamed “Aju Nice!” (aju means very in Korean) over and over. The music would stop, the members would say a few words, and just when you thought it was over, a member would yell “Aju Nice!” and the chorus would kick in again.
It wasn’t just a song; it was an event of its own.
Seventeen is 13
Seventeen has 13 members: S.Coups, Jeonghan, Joshua, Jun, Hoshi, Wonwoo, Woozi, The8, Mingyu, DK, Seungkwan, Vernon and Dino.
So, why Seventeen? Officially, they have 13 members plus three sub-units (hip-hop, vocal and performance) plus 1 team = 17.
Unofficially?
“There were supposed to be 17 members, but four didn’t make it. It’s one of those inside secrets that fans just know,” Mitha, a one-year CARAT, tells me.
Since debuting in 2015, the band has climbed its way to the top with an in-house creative system. Members are hands-on in producing lyrics, choreography and art direction.
Last year, Seventeen won Best Group at the MTV VMAs and Top K-pop Touring Artist at the Billboard Music Awards. It became the first K-pop act to perform at the Glastonbury Festival in the United Kingdom, and headlined Lollapalooza Berlin last year. It is also UNESCO’s first-ever Goodwill Ambassador for Youth.
And to top it all off, the band’s most recent album, Spill The Feels, claimed its 10th number-one spot on the Billboard World Albums chart.
All this success is fueled by the depth of devotion CARATS have for the band.
At the Jakarta concert, I ran into Noke, 33, an old high school acquaintance, who told me she only became a CARAT in mid-2023.
Fast forward to February 2025, and she’s already followed them to three countries for two different concert tours.
Then there’s Fifi, a seasoned CARAT in her mid-30s who takes concert-hopping to another level. She watched both Jakarta shows and was already set for two more in Bangkok the following week. Her goal? To follow the Right Here tour to every country.
Both Noke and Fifi’s whys were similar.
“Each Seventeen show is unique. That’s why people keep following them from city to city. Different place, different crowd, different energy, you can only experience it if you’re there,” Noke explains.
Aside from the top-notch performance and fun songs, they just love watching the members interact with each other.
The fans point to the group’s chemistry, not just on stage but in everything the members do, as one of the things they love. They’re chaotic in the best way, constantly teasing each other, but when it comes to performing, they move as one.
And their energy, whether it’s a hard-hitting performance or a heartfelt ballad, they give 200 percent, every single time.
A concert, a movement
From merchandise creators to fan-organized events, the Seventeen experience extends far beyond the concert itself.
The Right Here tour in Jakarta wasn’t just a concert; it was a full-fledged celebration.
The offline experience was on another level, with exhibitions like Spotify’s CARAT Station in Pondok Indah Mall and Seventeen-themed dishes popping up in restaurants across the city.
The only time I saw this scale of fandom in Jakarta was when Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour came to Singapore.
But since Taylor skipped Indonesia, Seventeen’s takeover of the capital felt even bigger, even closer. With the sheer scale of this fandom, it was more than just a concert, it was a movement.
They say you don’t choose the fandom; the fandom chooses you.
And after witnessing the passion of CARATs, the energy of Seventeen, and the full-blown citywide celebration, I think I’ve been chosen.
