I have been a fan of the Persona series for quite a long time. I have loved every aspect of it—the stories presented by Atlus, the characters, the game content, and even the music.

For me, the Persona live tour I experienced in Beijing last April was truly a gift. The time spent listening, singing along, clapping, and cheering with countless other fans in one place remains a special and happy memory that I can still recall vividly.

As I wrote at the end of my article back then, I had countless thoughts about how wonderful it would be to have this amazing experience again in Korea with fellow Korean Persona fans.

Finally, that wish came true through the Persona 5 Big Band Concert Asia Tour. This special concert, where one could experience the music of Persona 5 through a stylish and authentic big band sound, was held this past Saturday at the Grand Peace Palace at Kyung Hee University.

The performance was so wonderful, exciting, and enjoyable that even two days later, I am still humming the music from Persona 5, and I am already looking forward to the live tour scheduled for October. It was so special that it is hard to describe it with just words like 'great' or 'happy.

What surprised me most was the passion of the Korean fans. On a rainy Saturday evening, the Grand Peace Palace was absolutely packed with Korean Persona fans. From the first floor to the third, the entire auditorium was filled with people who had been waiting for this day. There were also many fans who came in cosplay.

Before the show, these countless fans, with excited expressions, took photos with postcards and dolls they brought against the large wall set up in the lobby, and sat in their seats filming the stage. The concert perfectly fulfilled—or rather, exceeded—the expectations of those fans.

The performance was arranged, conducted, and directed by the legendary Charlie Rosen, a two-time Grammy and two-time Tony Award winner. He was joined by vocalist Lyn, who is indispensable when it comes to Persona 5, and 30 talented musicians.

They all wore 'masks' as they took the stage, and seeing that attention to detail made my heart race. It seemed the rest of the audience felt the same way. As the musicians threw off their masks to the cheers of the crowd, an unforgettable two hours began.

The performance was so well-crafted that the two hours passed in the blink of an eye. Under Charlie Rosen's captivating direction, one brilliant piece after another kept us rhythmically engaged. With Lyn's calls, we all stood up to clap and cheer, sat back down to enjoy the music, cheered again, and stood up to jump through the encore—before we knew it, the show was over.

The big band concert felt different from the live tour; it was truly unique. At times it felt like a jazz performance, at others like a rock festival, yet the feeling that this was a 'game' concert remained very strong throughout.

It wasn't just about playing game music beautifully on stage. I could deeply feel that they were genuinely communicating in real-time with an audience that loves the game itself, using the music as a medium. This was evident in so many ways.

From the red lighting that represents Persona 5 to the background videos featuring actual in-game footage and cutscenes, the production gave fans both immersion and cues for when to cheer. Listening to the music and watching the visuals naturally brought back everything I felt while playing the game.

Various elements filled the fans' hearts: Charlie Rosen's brilliant conducting and commentary—he mentioned he had played Persona 5 for over 100 hours himself—Lyn's powerful yet gentle vocal performance that gave us all time to sing along, and the musicians' all-out special performances that left everyone cheering.

Although it was a game concert, it was no different from any other concert. I was able to fully immerse myself in the performers and singers on stage, sing along, jump around, and experience that sense of unity with everyone in the room.

Actually, it was even more special because it was a game concert. Listening to the music and watching the videos behind them brought my own gameplay experiences back to life, allowing for much deeper immersion. Making you want to turn the game back on, reinstall it after a long time, and play it again—that is a special feeling only a game concert can provide.

Now, the next event is the Persona Live Tour 2026, held on October 3rd. Once again, Korean Persona fans will gather to share their passion and experience the unity that comes from the common denominator of gaming—a shared experience that only those who have played and fully immersed themselves in the game can truly feel.