KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 8 — Bigger stage, louder singalongs and a birthday surprise made South Korean idol rock band QWER’s return to Malaysia a memorable afternoon for fans.

Less than a year after debuting in Kuala Lumpur at Zepp KL in January, the quartet returned yesterday, this time taking over Mega Star Arena as part of their second world tour, Rockation: Rocket Launch!!.

Comprising drummer Chodan, guitarist and keyboardist Hina, vocalist Siyeon and bassist Lee Ah-hee, QWER wasted little time getting the audience on their feet, opening the approximately 4pm show with Pioneer, Showdown and Bad Habit. 

The members then greeted the estimated 3,000 fans, with Chodan setting the tone for the afternoon.

“What’s up, Malaysia? Lama tak jumpa (long time no see),” she said, drawing cheers from fans who had been waiting to see the group perform in the country again.

From there, the concert moved through an energetic mix of tracks, including Free Dumb, G9JB, Discord, Bani Bani, Soda and Secret Diary.

The four members kept the momentum going with My Name Is Malguem, Dear, Goodbye My Sadness, T.B.H, D-Day, Harmony of Stars, Ceremony, Our Voyage, Dreamer and Yours Sincerely.

But the afternoon was not just about the music.

During some of the more upbeat numbers, giant inflatable balls were tossed into the audience, turning the crowd into part of the entertainment as fans bounced them around.

Concertgoers also kept the energy going by singing along to QWER’s songs while the group was briefly offstage for an outfit change.

As the concert approached its closing stretch, the four members returned for a final exchange with their Malaysian audience.

Hina said she was happy to meet the fans again, while Siyeon admitted that she was sad to be leaving.

“But don’t forget us,” she told the crowd.

Chodan, meanwhile, expressed her hope that QWER would be able to return more frequently.

“I wanna come back and have fun with you guys more often. Thank you so much for giving us another happy day.

“Sayang korang (I love you guys),” she added.

Lee Ah-hee also shared her appreciation, telling the audience, “Kami happy sangat (we are very happy),” before adding how much she loved the fans in Malaysia.

The show’s most personal moment, however, came when the concert took an unexpected turn for Chodan.

Just as the group was preparing for their customary final group photograph with the fans, a birthday cake appeared on stage, catching the drummer by surprise.

The audience joined in to sing the Korean birthday song, Saeng-il chuk-ha-ham-ni-da, turning the moment into an impromptu celebration shared between the group and their fans.

Chodan briefly thanked the fans, becoming emotional as she addressed the crowd.

She also jokingly pointed out that her birthday had already passed on November 1, but said celebrating it with Malaysian fans was a moment she would never forget.

It was a fitting highlight before QWER returned for their final three numbers, Overdrive, Fake Idol and Picaresque, bringing the concert to a close.

Since debuting in 2023, QWER has established themselves as one of South Korea’s rising girl groups, carving out a distinct musical identity through a combination of K-pop, pop rock and Japanese rock influences.

Their sound, which draws heavily from anime opening themes and Japanese pop culture, has helped them build an international following, with fans across markets including Japan, Thailand, Hong Kong, Singapore and Malaysia.

The group has also received recognition at several major music award ceremonies, including the K-World Dream Awards, MAMA Awards, Melon Music Awards and Asia Artist Awards.

With the Rockation: Rocket Launch!! tour continuing into 2027, QWER’s Malaysian return offered another opportunity to bring their music to fans outside South Korea — and, judging by the enthusiastic reception, their next visit is already something local fans can look forward to.