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| Photo Cr. Megan Kan // KpopWise |
How do you feel when it is the last show of the tour and it happens to be in your city? Well, for Korean singer-songwriter Junhee, he concluded his very first solo North American tour, titled “Into the ocean tour” in San Francisco, CA. On January 19th at the Brick and Mortar music venue, a small and intimate space in the heart of downtown, people came from all over to hear the singer from South Korea.
If you aren’t familiar with Junhee’s background, he is the leader and vocalist of the K-pop band A.C.E, who debuted under Beat Interactive in 2017 but have since left their company in March of 2025. The members have entered a new era of solo careers, exploring different paths. On September 12, 2025, Junhee released and debuted his first solo EP titled The First Day and Night, along with the pre-release “Supernova” music video and title track “Umbrella,” both showcasing contrasting musical styles and highlighting the artist’s story. The EP features eight songs, primarily in English, expressing a wide range of emotions toward someone of romantic interest while exploring various musical styles and emotional scenarios.
The show opened with “Supernova,” a bass-heavy and upbeat pop song that highlighted the singer’s charismatic side and impressive vocal runs. In contrast, slower songs such as “Sugar” showcased a more sentimental side, with fans waving their lightsticks and swaying their hands back and forth to the melody.
The singer also shared a few of his favorite songs as cover performances, including “Beautiful” by Bazzi, dedicated to seeing all the beautiful faces of fans who came out that night. Other honorable mentions included covers of “Toxic Til the End” by Rosé, “Soft Spot” by Keshi, and “Your Idol” from the K-pop Demon Hunters soundtrack. Junhee has recorded an official cover of “Your Idol” on his YouTube channel, which fans can find online here.
Between songs, Junhee took time to share his thoughts and greetings with fans. One of his tour traditions involved trying famous local food recommendations in each city he visited. That night, the singer tried sourdough bread—hopefully from the famous Boudin Bakery—in a bread bowl filled with clam chowder. Perplexed by the texture and taste, he playfully asked fans how best to eat it beforehand. Both fans and venue staff enjoyed his curiosity and reactions as he shared his thoughts after trying the dish. The singer even wondered aloud whether clam chowder existed back home in Korea.
Watching Junhee perform in front of fans after nine years in the music industry, it was clear to see his transformation from idol to artist. When someone has been in a band for many years, transitioning into an individual artist can be daunting. However, Junhee paid tribute to his past idol self by performing popular songs such as “Just Better,” “Clover,” and “My Girl” from A.C.E, showing gratitude to the loyal fanbase he deeply respects. Despite this being his first solo tour and having a relatively small solo discography, the setlist painted a clear picture of who Junhee is as an artist. He shared new music from first solo album The First Day and Night, covers of songs by artists who inspire him, and beloved hits from A.C.E that helped shape his artistry.
A fun highlight of the night came during the encore, when Junhee decided to sing nearly the entire first half of his set again. As the night went on, fans refused to let it end, continuously chanting, “ONE MORE SONG!” Feeding off the infectious energy, a huge smile spread across his face as he continued to sing.
For his closing remarks, the singer shared:
“Thank you all for being here. I think it’s crazy sometimes when I think about how much passion and love you have for all of this. I’ve always thought it’s amazing how you can relate to so many different stories and feelings in K-pop. This goes for A.C.E and my new solo chapter as well—thank you for all the love and support. It makes me happy to see you happy. To love someone, support them, and put your all into that is not an easy thing to do. You guys are so amazing. Thank you so much, San Francisco.”
Catch Junhee on the next leg of his In the Ocean Tour in Europe starting March 4th in Amsterdam, and stay tuned—we’re looking forward to his next album release.
