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

For someone like 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 Persona fans in one place remains a special and happy memory that I can still vividly recall.

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 once 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, which features the music of Persona 5 in 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 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 dressed in cosplay.

Before the show, these countless fans, with excited expressions, took photos with postcards and dolls they brought along against the large wall set up in the lobby, and filmed the stage from their seats. This 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 Tony Award winner. He was joined by the vocalist Lyn, who is indispensable to Persona 5, and 30 talented musicians who delivered a magnificent performance.

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-hour journey began.

The performance was so high-quality that the two hours passed in the blink of an eye. Under Charlie Rosen's captivating direction, one brilliant piece after another kept us moving to the rhythm. 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 around until the encore—and just like that, it was over.

The big band concert felt different and even more special than a standard live tour. It was truly unique. At times it felt like a jazz performance, at others like a rock festival, yet it felt more like a 'game' concert than anything else.

It wasn't just about playing game music beautifully on stage. I could deeply feel that through the music, they were genuinely communicating in real-time with an audience that loves the game itself.

From the red lighting that defines Persona 5 to the background visuals created from actual in-game gameplay and cutscenes, the production helped fans immerse themselves and knew exactly when to prompt us to cheer. Listening to the music and watching the visuals naturally brought back everything I felt while playing the game.

Charlie Rosen's brilliant conducting and commentary—he mentioned he has played Persona 5 for over 100 hours—along with Lyn's powerful yet gentle vocal performance, and the musicians' all-out special performances, all filled the fans' hearts to the brim.

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. I was able to immerse myself much more deeply because the music and the visuals on screen brought my own gameplay experiences back to life. Making you want to turn the game back on, install it again after a long time, and play it once more—that is the unique magic that only a game concert can provide.

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