▲ Sibling duo AKMU performs at its solo concert "Paradise of Rumors" held in Seoul from Oct. 9-11, 2026. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE)(Yonhap)

SEOUL, Oct. 12 (Yonhap) — A musical paradise that anyone might have dreamed of at least once unfolded like a painting at KSPO Dome in Seoul's Olympic Park on Sunday afternoon.

Instead of the conventional straight-line stage, a large circular stage was set up in the center of the venue. Behind it, mountains and rocks appeared on a giant LED screen covering about one-third of the dome's inner wall, creating a spectacular scene.

The stage recreated a wasteland dotted with flowers and rocks, while the harmony of the two members blended with lively band sounds, evoking an itinerant western band that appears unexpectedly and then vanishes without a trace.

Sibling duo AKMU held its solo concert "Paradise of Rumors" in Seoul from Friday to Sunday, kicking off its nationwide tour with 30,000 fans over three days.

AKMU wove together its own version of an ideal world through a setlist of nearly 30 songs, using melodies, lyrics, staging, performances and band sounds as its warp and weft.

The duo made a dramatic entrance from beyond distant, winding mountain ridges, appearing in a vintage pickup truck.

The two members opened the concert with "Spring Color" and went on to perform a string of songs from their fourth full-length album "Blooming," released this year, including "Give Me the Bugs," "The Right Person," "Elegant Breakfast" and "Sunshine Bless You."

Every element of the concert, from the siblings' outfits reminiscent of an itinerant band and the tents set up onstage to the conventional band lineup and brass players on saxophone and trumpet who added to the excitement, created a romantic atmosphere.

This also fit perfectly with the musical character of their fourth album, which strongly reflects the acoustic and country influences of the duo's early days.

When Lee Su-hyun sang "The Right Person," delivering lyrics that ask where the right and wrong people are and call for people to stop fighting and smile at one another, the words sounded even more vivid thanks to her bright, unfeigned smile and clear voice.

The seamless flow of the performance heightened the audience's immersion, while listeners could also enjoy spotting the differences between the concert arrangements and the original versions of the songs.

When AKMU performed "Paradise of Rumors," which topped music charts this year, the entire audience followed the dance featured in the music video, creating a remarkable sight. During "Fish in the Water," the crowd sang together in a booming chorus of "oh-oh-oh," while wristbands controlled by the central system emitted blue light, transforming the audience area into what looked like a gently undulating sea.

Lee Su-hyun promised, "We will do our very best to sing so that this night spent with us can remain as a truly beautiful piece of the puzzle in your lives."

Lee Chan-hyuk also encouraged the crowd, saying, "Only people who know how to have a good time came today," and, "Let's go all the way to the end tonight."

"There will be days as happy as today, but there will also be days that aren't. There is something I want to say to all of those days in your lives," AKMU said before performing "Joy, Sadness, Beautiful Heart."

The two faced each other and sang with emotion, carefully building up their feelings as if writing heartfelt letters to each other by hand. Beautiful Korean lyrics appeared on the LED screen, adding to the audience's emotion.

As the concert passed its midpoint, performances of earlier hits such as "How Can I Love the Heartbreak, You're the One I Love," "Is It Ramen," "Love Lee," "200%" and "Fry's Dream" followed. Saxophone and trumpet solos between songs heightened the festival atmosphere, while Lee Su-hyun played a melodica herself while performing "Tent."

"We've been a duo for 12 years, and amazingly, in two years we'll all be in our 30s," Lee Su-hyun said with a laugh. "So while we're still young and fresh, I'm going to work hard to do lots of cute things and lots of passionate things."

AKMU burst onto the scene in 2012 on the SBS audition program "K-pop Star 2" and debuted in 2014. Since then, the duo has been loved for its youthful yet witty music, with Lee Chan-hyuk writing the songs himself and Lee Su-hyun delivering them with her clear voice.

At Saturday's concert, the two also showcased a rich selection of distinctive music that goes beyond conventional K-pop formulas, including "DINOSAUR," which transforms childhood nightmares and fears into upbeat music; "Fry's Dream," which compares the difference between dreams and reality to a fried egg; and "How Can I Love the Heartbreak, You're the One I Love," whose poetic lyrics have touched listeners.

Lee Chan-hyuk performed his upbeat solo song "Endangered Love," including the push-up performance that drew attention when he previously showed it on a music program. After finishing the song, he broke into a broad, satisfied smile, while the audience responded with enthusiastic applause and chants of his name.

"I thought my throat was in bad shape until this morning, but apparently it wasn't. My voice is coming out perfectly fine," Lee Chan-hyuk said. "It's all thanks to you."

AKMU wrapped up its Seoul concert, filled with romance and energy, with encore performances of "Battlefield," "HERO" and "Let's Take Some Time."

The duo will take "Paradise of Rumors" to cities across the country, including Gangneung on Nov. 7, Daegu on Nov. 21-22, Daejeon on Dec. 5-6, Busan on Dec. 19-20 and Gwangju on Dec. 25.

[ⓒ K-VIBE. 무단전재-재배포 금지]