After launching his first solo tour in the United States earlier this year, Junhee brought Into The Oce@n to European audiences. One of the European stops led him to Cologne on March 6, where he performed at the sold-out Club Bahnhof Ehrenfeld. As Junhee embarks on his first solo chapter, he invites fans – C.C., many of whom have followed him since his 2017 debut with A.C.E – to dive into his world.
Before the show began, the venue was bathed in blue hues, subtly echoing the ocean theme and setting the scene for the night ahead. The sold-out venue erupted from the start. Junhee opened with “Supernova (00:00),” his energetic debut single, and the crowd responded immediately, singing along from the first moments. Looking out at the audience, he joked that everyone was already so hyped that it would be difficult for him to top the atmosphere later in the night. With a theatrical introduction, “Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the ocean,” he set the tone for the evening.
The setlist was structured to resonate with the international audience. Much of Junhee’s debut mini album, The First Day & Night, is performed in English, and the same applies to the covers and selected A.C.E tracks woven into the show. “Sugar (18:00)” and “You Should Come (21:00)” followed early on, before Junhee moved into a series of covers, including “Beautiful” by Bazzi and “Soft Spot” by keshi. The selections highlighted the emotional quality of his voice and were met with enthusiastic reactions from the crowd.
When he began “Umbrella (10:00),” Junhee paused, visibly impressed by how loudly the audience sang along. “This is my song!” he exclaimed, almost stunned that fans seemed to know every lyric without any prompting. The same happened during “Tattoo (12:30),” a track recorded with all members of A.C.E for his album. Junhee joked that he usually has to encourage the audience to sing along during this song, but in Cologne, the crowd handled it entirely on their own.
Continuing a growing tradition on his tour, Junhee tries a local specialty at every city he visits, leading fans to speculate about what he would pick for Cologne. The answer turned out to be a pretzel, though whether it counts as a Cologne specialty remained open to debate. When he asked how many people in the audience were actually from Cologne, relatively few hands went up. His verdict on the snack was “very salty,” and he quickly shifted the topic to invite everyone to visit Korea someday and try kimchi instead, earning him laughter from the crowd.
The concert then moved into a more reflective segment with “Night (02:00),” an emotional track Junhee had originally shared with fans years ago during a livestream. The energy soon picked up again with a series of covers, including “Your Idol” by the Saja Boys from K-Pop Demon Hunters – his viral YouTube cover – and “Blinding Lights” by The Weeknd.
Midway through the show, Junhee revisited his earlier comment about the crowd’s enthusiasm. With a smile, he admitted that if the energy kept rising, he might never leave the club to return home. He also addressed a common stereotype, noting that Germans are often perceived as reserved, but the audience in Cologne clearly proved otherwise. According to Junhee, this might have been one of the best shows he had ever played.
Before the encore, the mood turned celebratory as Junhee performed several A.C.E songs, including “Clover,” “Just Better,” “My Girl,” and “Effortless.” The set emphasized the connection between his past with the group and the new direction he is taking as a solo artist. For Junhee, the principle on stage was simple: the more the audience enjoyed themselves, the stronger his urge to keep performing became.
After a group photo and the final scheduled song, “Too Bad (15:00),” the audience called him back for an encore. “Supernova” returned as the closing moment, transforming Club Bahnhof Ehrenfeld into a sea of raised hands and jumping fans. Junhee remained bright and playful throughout the evening, frequently joking with the audience and clearly enjoying the moment, an energy the crowd readily mirrored.
As the tour continues and heads to Latin America this August, Junhee already has his eyes on what comes next. After returning to Korea, he plans to begin preparing his next album, aiming high. Within the next two years, he aims to have around 30 songs ready for live performance. If Cologne was any indication, an eager audience will be eagerly waiting for his return.
