When was the first time you encountered The Rose?
For me, it was six years ago. They had just covered LANY’s “ILYSB” at the KBS Concert Culture Warehouse. Woosung’s voice was so magnetic that I looped the performance 20 times in a single sitting. But timing is everything. Back then, I was just discovering BTS. I had a mountain of Bangtan content to familiarize myself with, so The Rose quietly retreated into my "recommended bands" playlist. They lingered there, a creative exploration I never quite made time for.
Then came 2023.
Woosung, The Rose’s lead vocalist, featured on Suga’s track, "Snooze." It hit me during a season when I was questioning everything: what I knew, where I was going as a writer, and the trajectory of my entire life. I listened to it non-stop for at least two weeks.
Fast forward to 2025. My WILD WILD bias, Kim Jin Woo, posted a song on his Instagram Story: “She’s In The Rain.” I must have played it 15 times that afternoon alone. As someone who treats art as food for the soul, I couldn’t consume more than that in one day. The longing and despair in that masterpiece, crafted by Woosung, Dojoon, Hajoon, and Taegyeom, were palpable. I resisted it at first, afraid of wandering into the darker corners of my psyche where I kept my own loneliness and emotional pain.
But no matter how hard I tried to detach, the bridge of the track anchored itself in my mind:
She's in the rain
You wanna hurt yourself, I'll stay with you
You wanna make yourself go through the pain
It's better to be held than holding on, no, woah
We're in the rain
떨어지고 있는 이 빗속에서 (In this falling rain)
흩어져 버린 널 다시 채워 (I fill the scattered you)
아름다웠던 널 볼 수 있게 (So I could see how beautiful you are)
노우워어 (No, woah)
We're in the rain
I was mesmerized. In the end, this piece didn't just dwell in the sadness; it offered companionship and comfort straight through the tears.
My curiosity was triggered. Who were these talented men? How could they breathe life into such raw, heartfelt lyrics while simultaneously commanding the electric guitar (Woosung), bass (Taegyeom), piano (Dojoon), and drums (Hajoon)?
The YouTube algorithm sensed my shift and started serving up the classics: "Back To Me," "Sorry," "Red," "Alive," and "Sour." But life happened. Deadlines, my K-drama backlog, and other K-pop groups distracted me. I never got the chance to dissect them properly.
Then, last month, Jin Woo posted another track by The Rose: “You’re Beautiful.”
It happened around the time that the Rosetopia Asia Tour in Manila appeared on my feed. I remember immediately messaging Ms. Mel, the queen behind Manila Concert Junkies.
I still don’t know exactly why. I just felt a magnetic pull. Something in me was screaming that I had to be at this concert. I needed to hear those voices live.
As with previous coverage I’ve done for this website, I walked into the SM Mall of Asia Arena on August 15th not knowing much about the group. But mind you, before I volunteer for any show, I patiently wait to see if anyone else wants the assignment. I will always gladly step aside because no one can document a concert experience better than a true fan. But when no one else was available, I took it as the Universe’s green light.
I won’t narrate the play-by-play of the setlist. Karen Nequinto, a genuine The Rose supporter, photographer, and content creator, has already captured the magic of that night across the Manila Concert Junkies' socials. She can tell you the visual story far better than I can. Besides, your feeds are likely already flooded with moments from their media conference, the soundcheck surprises, and the hundreds of fan cams from their Filo Black Roses.
What I will tell you is this: going in, I thought Woosung, lovingly known as Sammy or Sam, would easily be my favorite because of those undeniable, haunting lead vocals.
I was wrong.
I was completely taken by Dojoon (Leo)'s rich timbre. And when he read his heartfelt letter to the Filipino fans in Tagalog, he absolutely melted my heart.
I couldn't see much of Hajoon (Dylan) from where I was seated on the left side of the stage; a huge monitor blocked my view. But when he stood up for the finale, "Black Rose," I watched him hurl roses as far into the crowd as his arms would allow, making sure even the furthest fans felt seen.
But ultimately, I was wrecked by Taegyeom (Jeff).
It wasn't just his striking visuals (he could easily pass as Park Bogum’s brother), his powerful harmonies, or the fact that he was effortlessly shredding a red bass guitar with toned biceps. It was his relentless effort to connect. He constantly engaged with the fans furthest from the stage, a masterclass in stage presence that reminded me that true artists will always prioritize the audience's experience above all else.
Just when I thought I was ready to cross The Rose off my list of Korean talents to follow because of their impending indefinite hiatus, I realized I had actually just added four new names. Now, I’ll be following their individual endeavors: Woosung with his solo single and album, Dojoon and Hajoon exploring new musical projects, and Taegyeom, as Woosung revealed onstage, stepping into the world of acting.
The thing about me is that I struggle to be a multi-stan. When I find an artist, I submerge myself entirely. Through Bangtan, I’m already deep down a musical rabbit hole: Epik High, Youjeen, So!YoOn!, Crush, Balming Tiger, and the list goes on and on. But if my favorites, BTS and Kim Jin Woo, keep The Rose on their playlists and keep pulling them back into my orbit, then maybe it’s time I stop resisting. Maybe it is finally time for me to fully become a Black Rose and bloom, inside the “Utopia.”
As I type these final words, "Blue Moon" is playing in the background for what must be the 37th time today. And no, it’s not just because of a cheeky obsession with my own last name, Luna. It’s because this track feels like the perfect thank you, a dedication back to BTS, actor Kim Jin Woo, and The Rose, who expanded my mind and reminded me why I fell in love with writing and music in the first place.
ROSETOPIA ASIA TOUR 2026 IN MANILA was presented by L-Squared Productions.