[Dispatch | Istanbul (Turkey)=Reporter Gu Minji] "ATEEZ is finally here in Türkiye!"

At last, they arrived in Turkey. Waiting there were 60,000 'ATINYs' (the fanbase). They chanted "ATEEZ" toward the empty stage. You could sense how long they had anticipated this moment.

The Turkish ATINYs already knew how to breathe together. They had learned Korean, mastered the fan chants, and knew when and where to jump. The physical distance between Korea and Turkey had already been bridged by music.

And then ATEEZ took the stage. The moment cheers turned into screams. ATEEZ poured out all their energy. They ran to the edge of the stage and made direct eye contact with fans. The fans reacted to every movement, cheering, singing, and dancing.

"It was so fascinating to see us singing our songs in Korean. I'm happy to have it in my sight." (Seonghwa)

ATEEZ took the stage on the 15th at the Istanbul Festival held in Yenikapı, Istanbul. For the first time in 8 years since their 2018 debut. Dispatch followed ATEEZ's new voyage.

◆ "Fervor, K-dopamine injection"

"Make some noise! Thank you for coming here! Let's go" (Mingi)

From the first song, full speed ahead. As if declaring 'This is ATEEZ,' they hit the accelerator. The beat of 'Adrenaline' pounded like a heartbeat. As ATEEZ appeared, 60,000 spectators began jumping simultaneously. From the start, they switched positions and commanded the wide stage.

The vocals were relentless. While executing intense choreography with a handheld microphone, their voices remained clear and sharp. The vocals of Seonghwa and Yeosang, the rough rap of Mingi came in succession, and the solid high note of Jongho cut through above. From the first song, there was no sign of holding back energy.

The audience matched them. They jumped in their seats, striking their light sticks to the beat. True to the title. From the first song, they injected 'adrenaline' throughout the venue.

There was no time to catch a breath. The moment a familiar flute sound rang out, the audience recognized it first.

"ATEEZ PRESENT!"

There was no time to breathe. The moment the flute sounded, the crowd stirred. 'Say My Name' is the song that etched ATEEZ's name into the world. Screams erupted each time the shoulder dance appeared. "Say my name, say my name" came back as a chorus of 60,000.

A more surprising scene followed. The Korean lyrics without a single word of English were no problem. When members exchanged rap lines, the audience followed along phrase by phrase. There was no need to pass the microphone. The next lyrics burst from the fans' mouths first.

In 'BAD,' their eyes changed. Rather than pushing through with power alone, they created contrast with leisurely stage manner, sharp eyes, and precisely synchronized group choreography. Especially when the chest pop hit, the audience decibel level rose another notch.

At the critical moment, they actually released the tension. They pushed forward then stopped, and pulled back with a single glance. Their voices, expressions, and gestures differed, but the moment eight came together, they became one picture. They briefly and powerfully proved why ATEEZ is called 'the team that performs well on stage.'

◆ "When you ease up, you become stronger"

They were not a ship going in one direction only. Over the past 8 years, ATEEZ has continuously expanded their route in their own way. They were not just a team with fervor and power. When they eased up, wit emerged; when they smiled, refreshingness came through.

When 'WORK' began, that difference became clear. The members who had just been pushing as if to swallow the stage now began to play on the rhythm.

The stage was full of ease. Surrendering their bodies to the rhythm, they added knowing expressions and gestures. When they spotted a camera, they threw a glance; toward the audience, they played around. Between the set choreography, each member's individuality shone through.

Their 8-year stage manner also glowed. Rather than trying to fill the stage without gaps, they enjoyed the moment and drew the audience into it. They showed what it meant to enjoy the stage beyond just performing it well.

Hongjoong did not perform together that day due to injury. He sat to one side of the stage and participated with his voice. He smiled and said he came to be seen by Turkish fans despite the doctor's recommendation to rest.

'WAVE' made Istanbul stir. The members scattered to the edges of the stage to express their affection. They enjoyed the stage while making eye contact with each fan one by one. Mingi even captured the scene unfolding before him with his cell phone.

When members sang "Hakuna Matata," all 60,000 echoed it back. Not a single beat was late. The members gazed at the audience with eyes full of emotion. They undulated their fingertips like waves and moved to the rhythm. The fans swayed their bodies to the same beat.

Jongho gave a satisfied thumbs-up. The audience viewed from the stage resembled a sea with giant waves rippling. Before ATEEZ, who have spoken of voyages, a real 'wave' unfolded.

◆ "Red chili pepper vibe"

ATEEZ did not miss the spicy flavor of K-pop either. With the first beat of 'BOUNCY,' the spice began again. The crowd stirred at the addictive chorus. When the train choreography appeared, fans swung their arms even more forcefully as if they had been waiting.

Though the performance passed the halfway point, their stamina showed no sign of waning. 'Enough' shifted the mood's tone. They laid a weighty groove over a sensual beat. Between intense performances, they created breathing room and added depth to the stage.

Local fans had a surprise gift. Cell phone flashlights began turning on here and there in the audience. Soon the entire venue shimmered with tens of thousands of lights. It was the moment the audience became a vast night sky.

The members gazed at the spectacular scene before them for a long time. Hongjoong was moved, saying "ATINYs lit stars for us." And with the words "now it's time to set sail by stars," he introduced the next stage.

'NASA' saw Seonghwa take center stage from the opening. Hongjoong and Mingi drove the song with rap of entirely different textures. When Hongjoong lightly rode the rhythm as if escaping gravity, Mingi poured out heavy rap, pressing down as if stamping the ground.

In 'Ice On My Teeth,' they lowered the temperature again. Coldly glittering dark hip-hop sound. Alluring eyes and restrained movement created tension. The power they had unleashed in the earlier stage was now held down.

"Hongjoong, Seonghwa, Yunho, Yeosang, San, Mingi, Wooyoung, Jongho Ice On My Teeth Golden Hour ATEEZ!"

The fans' chants were heard all the more clearly. They filled the spaces between the members' parts precisely. Over the stage ATEEZ had created, the ATINY voices layered like another track. They pushed hard, released pleasantly, swayed refreshingly, and held down coolly.

◆ "60,000, charging to the end"

Calls for an encore covered Istanbul's night. ATEEZ raced back onto the stage. 'Guerrilla' erupted. They danced as if their bodies would break apart and poured out their voices. The audience drew out their last energy. The audience singing grew louder than at the start of the performance.

60,000 voices exploded together. It was an ending that seemed to shake Istanbul's entire night. The last song of their first meeting. Yet it did not feel like a farewell.

"Eight years after debut, we came to Turkey and met for the first time. I want to express my gratitude for waiting for us." (Hongjoong)

Seonghwa recommended 'Promise' to Turkish ATINYs. It was because he wanted to make a promise to return here. Yunho also held up his pinky finger and said "Turkish ATINYs, I'll come back to meet you again."

For Hongjoong, Istanbul was a city he had been curious about for a long time. He revealed, "I thought it was a city where something kept building up (looking at the harbor next to the hotel)." He emphasized, "I received a lot of energy thanks to Turkish ATINYs."

They set sail in 2018 as 'Pirate King.' Captain Hongjoong wore the armband and protected the stage that day as well. ATEEZ endlessly crossed seas within their music and headed toward new places. ATINYs moved with the members each time they changed direction.

Seonghwa expressed his gratitude to the fans. "I will not forget the cheers and eyes you sent us today," he said with emphasis, "and we will also do our best to be singers who can share good music with you going forward."

"Turkish ATINYs, let's definitely meet again."

"ATEEZ, thank you for coming to Turkey. We will wait for you."

<Photos=Reporter Jung Youngwoo>