BTS Jin #RUNSEOKJIN_EP. TOUR Finale Review: An Unforgettable Night at Newark's Prudential Center

Jin completed his U.S. leg of the #RUNSEOKJIN_EP tour with two sold-out shows at the Prudential Center in New Jersey.

But this wasn’t your typical K-pop concert. Instead of opening with a dramatic VCR to build suspense, Jin takes a different approach: he simply strolls down the runway, presses a giant red button at the end, and shouts, “DOJEON!” — which means “Challenge!” in Korean.

Suddenly, fireworks erupt, lights flash, and the instrumental to “Running Wild” blasts through the arena. Jin bursts into motion, dashing across the stage in a sparkly, blue-studded jacket and matching pants, an outfit that calls back to the style of Jimin’s “Like Crazy.” It sets the tone for a night that’s bold, unexpected, and entirely Jin.

Without a single pause or breath, Jin dives straight from “Running Wild” into the lively rockabilly groove of “I’ll Be There.” He sings, “I swear that I will always sing for you”, lyrics that hit especially hard when you think back to June 13, 2024, the day after his discharge, when Jin performed for ARMY without missing a beat. It wasn’t just a gesture—it was love in action. And through the #runSeokjin_eptour, he’s kept that promise, bringing his voice to cities all over the world. Each stage is showered in confetti, mirroring the bursts of joy shared between Jin and ARMY with every lyric sung.  With a playful air drum roll and a jump that lands exactly on beat, Jin wraps up “I’ll Be There” like the rockstar he is—ARMY’s very own.

After “I’ll Be There,” Jin gives ARMY a brief moment to catch their breath—a playful 60-second countdown flashes on the screen, hyping the arrival of the next track: With The Clouds. As the final seconds tick down, the stage transforms. A soft, white haze rolls in, engulfing the arena in an ethereal mist. Slowly, Jin rises on a hidden lift to a higher platform, silhouetted against a dreamy, cloud-like backdrop with mountain peaks. Suddenly, we’re not just watching a concert; we’re suspended in a dream. His vocals float through the fog like a lullaby, tender and haunting, drawing everyone into the tranquil world he’s created. With each verse, he leans into the mic stand, singing with quiet intensity and emotional depth. The song concludes with Jin’s passionate lyrics, entrenched in promise:

“If the tears holding your sadness are rain / I'll gladly soak it all up, take it all / So that your pure white heart doesn't turn black / Just like the day we began.”

But the calm doesn’t last for long.

Next comes Falling, a standout from Happy that lands with raw emotional weight. As the haze clears, Jin is surrounded by deep indigo lighting, which shifts into a light and airy purple during the chorus, accompanied by strobe lights and sparklers. Here, Jin lays everything bare.

“You’re my soul, and I’m just somebody.”

The lyric is humble, but his performance proves he’s far from “just somebody”—especially as the crowd passionately chants back the words in both Korean and English. One particularly impressive moment comes when he belts “I want you” from a crouched position on the floor, his voice unwavering despite the physical strain. He ends the performance with a delicate spin, gazing skyward.

The song might be called Falling, but Jin delivered a performance that left ARMY’s hearts soaring.

It’s around this time that Jin unleashes his signature flying kiss—a move that perfectly encapsulates everything Worldwide Handsome represents. His gorgeous, Bratz-doll lips are on full display as ARMY cheer with glee.

“What’s up, New York? Dul, set—Bangtan!” he calls out, before introducing himself in classic Jin fashion: “Annyeonghaseyo, Bangtan Sonyeondan Jin imnida!”

In that moment, a wave of peace and joy washes over the crowd. This isn’t just Jin’s solo concert. This is BTS. Through this tour, Jin didn’t just perform; he brought BTS back home. He reminded ARMY what it means to be one again.

“When I say Dallida, you say Seokjin!”

ARMY quickly catches on, shouting “Seokjin!” with the utmost pride.

“Perfect. Then let’s get this party started.”

He grins before launching into the next chant:

“When I say, Hana, dul, set, you say dojeon!”

“Dojeon!” is shouted with passion, echoing through the arena—just as the lights begin to fade into a dreamy, morning-glow yellow.

Jin’s performance of Don’t Say You Love Me feels like it’s been lifted straight from the music video. As he begins to sing, the lights shift from warm yellow to a deep blue. This moment mirrors the song’s storyline, where the light of love fades into something colder after a breakup. The stage’s color palette becomes a visual reflection of the track’s emotional weight and quiet introspection. 

And yet, the sweetness of Jin's tone gives the song a lighter feel than its lyrics suggest. As the track nears its end, he raises his arms above his head, swaying them gently back and forth with ARMY, quietly meditating on the moment.

As he runs offstage, the spotlight shifts to his band, who carry the emotion forward with a soaring guitar solo. It’s a deep, rockstar-style moment set to the song’s melody.

When Jin returns, it’s ARMY’s time to perform. The “Telepathy Game: Connect ARMY” is a fun challenge where fans must quietly act out a prompt for Jin to guess. If he guesses correctly, he earns a point—and the number of points determines which outfit he’ll wear for Super Tuna.

Day one at Prudential featured some comical charade moments. The first prompt was “fencing,” and almost immediately, ARMY from the floor to the top sections began imaginary sword fighting each other. Jin swiftly caught on and said, “Fencing.”

However, the second prompt took a hilarious turn. His own band member “betrayed” him—the prompt was actually J-Hope. Suddenly, ARMY was performing Killin’ It Girl and Mona Lisa choreography, along with body rolls from section to section. Jin couldn’t decipher the moves for the life of him and logically guessed “wave.”

When Jin finally realized the prompt was his beloved dance coach, he practically fell to his knees in anguish, kicking himself for not getting it right.

“Ah, J-Hope! Killin’ It Girl!” he exclaimed. “Sorry, sorry! It’s my fault.”

Watching Jin’s real-time meltdown was endearing and a true testament to how much each BTS member values their teammates. His repeated self-disappointment made him even more lovable. This moment even brought back BTS’ iconic line, “I am sorry for my fault,” which Jin reiterated in his Weverse Live after the show.

Night two offered a different kind of fun during the telepathy game. Jin’s team added a ridiculous new option titled “Orange Suit Guy.” The camera quickly panned across the crowd, from someone eating an orange, to fans wearing orange T-shirts, and finally to the most hilarious sight: someone in section 200 dressed in a full Lorax costume. Apparently, the Lorax had attended day one, as he suddenly started body rolling J-Hope style. Understandably, Jin couldn’t crack this hilarious code.

Day one’s outfit reward was a sailor outfit, classic Jin, nodding to his Sea of Jin Island photobook. Day two brought a completely different look that almost didn’t happen: a taekwondo uniform. Jin nearly gave it up when fans clamored for the rope-it concert outfit, but after some ARMYs settled it with a game of rock-paper-scissors, he ultimately performed "Super Tuna" in the taekwondo fit.

Super Tuna was an absolute standout both nights. From the floor seats to the sections near the ceiling, ARMYs enthusiastically joined in the original Super Tuna choreography. The song takes on a whole new life in concert—it has a rock edge that makes the crowd explode with energy. This trot track, powered by a punchy synthesizer, packs a punch like no other, and ARMYs are always ready to embrace the "CHAMCHI" every time.

Night two featured a beautiful ARMY project: Super Tuna-themed banners with the words, “Army’s laughter button, Kim Seokjin, we love you!”

Side Note: Another special highlight of night two was the soundcheck. VIP ARMYs were treated to the rare opportunity to witness Jin’s three-song soundcheck run.

Despite arriving late due to unavoidable traffic caused by extreme weather conditions, Jin brought the stage to life with an energetic and heartfelt performance that set the tone for the night.

He performed Running Wild, Another Level, and Super Tuna. Two girls up front, wearing Super Tuna headbands, quickly started the original choreography. Noticing them, Jin decided to perform the entire choreography for the song—a first for this tour!

After Super Tuna ended, Jin spun his army karaoke wheel (or "armyaoke," if you will). On night one, the ARMY sang The Astronaut to the best of their ability, and on night two, they received Magic Shop. Although night one struggled to carry the Korean verses on their own, night two redeemed itself by singing every lyric of Magic Shop with pure intention. A wave of nostalgia swept over the room as ARMY sang a song BTS dedicated to them many moons ago.

Jin’s karaoke VCRs during this segment are particularly special because he created a unique green screen karaoke clip of himself for each song—meaning every tour stop gets to enjoy entirely new and hilariously Jin content! To ARMY'S delight, Jin graciously grants them a score of 100 regardless of the accuracy level. 

This adorable moment is followed by the incredibly emotional “I Will Come to You,” a song Jin performs entirely acoustic. As he plays the piano and sings with conviction, Jin’s poignant lyrics resonate deeply in ARMY’s hearts. After all, Jin wrote the song as a heartfelt letter to his fans, expressing his longing and anticipation for their reunion.

Jin performing "I will come to you" Night 2 in Newark. Video by Angel Polito.

He then follows this heart-wrenching moment with another heavy hitter: Abyss. Released in 2020, Abyss is an acoustic ballad reflecting his feelings of anxiety and doubt. It’s also a song he never had the chance to perform for ARMY before—and what better way to do it than set to his own piano chords, with a beautiful light blue haze enveloping his silver voice?

He doesn’t give ARMY a moment to breathe, as the next song is Background. Perhaps one of the most emotional ballads on Echo, this track is truly where Jin’s vocals shine. His powerful belting and grounded delivery allow ARMY to feel anchored after soaring through the depths of his Abyss of emotions.

What’s particularly striking about this stage is how the ARMY bombs switch between pink and blue throughout the set, almost becoming the main lighting for the performance. This coloration emphasizes how Jin will always be there for ARMY and BTS, quietly supporting them in the Background. On stage, he appears almost isolated, spotlighted alone on the runway while the rest of the stage fades to darkness. Yet ARMY’s light shines bright enough to carry him through that darkness.

After Background, Jin transitions from the melancholic mood to the mission-driven energy of Another Level. If the three-song ballad run left ARMY reeling, Another Level tells us, “Don’t be scared” of the unknown because “we’ll bounce back and hit.”

In the context of BTS’s approaching comeback, this song truly builds anticipation and reminds ARMY how much we’ve been through these past years, and how nothing can stop BTS and ARMY from joining hearts in song.

Jin gave night one attendees an extra treat by picking up one of his band member’s guitars and performing a quick acoustic rendition of Another Level. It was a spontaneous moment that showcased yet again that Jin’s talents truly know no bounds.

Jin performs "Background" Night 2 in Newark. Video by Angel Polito.

After Another Level, it's time for the real “Sing ARMY” segment—a moment when ARMY’s musical weaknesses are hilariously exposed.

“I feel like we’re very fair to each other, guys,” Jin teased with a cheeky smile. “As much as I don’t speak English, you guys also don’t know how to speak Korean.”

This playful jab came after ARMY completely butchered BTS’s Go Go, only for Jin to nearly forget the song’s title himself as he tried to guess it. The moment was peak Jin: funny, self-aware, and effortlessly charming.

Both night one and night two’s “Sing ARMY” segment included Loser (feat. Yena), so by day two, the crowd came prepared—and delivered a much stronger performance. It was a fitting warm-up, considering the next official song on the setlist was Loser.

This stage featured a stunning light show of pink and green, with beat-synced spotlights and sparklers adding drama and energy. During the bridge and middle chorus, Jin’s smooth, emotional vocals took center stage, highlighting his ability to bring softness and power together effortlessly. 

Then Jin whipped out a cowboy hat and lassoed his mic around, setting the perfect tone for Rope It—a brilliant country-pop track guaranteed to bring smiles to ARMY’s faces. His delivery has a certain suaveness that leaves fans wanting more.

He usually does a playful one-step-two-step down the stage during the first verse, but night two offered something special: a moonwalk. There’s something truly captivating about watching Jin command the ARMY Bombs to move in a lasso motion as he sings Rope It, creating a beautiful visual connection between artist and audience. For the final chorus, Jin pulled out a megaphone to rally the crowd, and ARMY understood the assignment by singing along with full energy.

Afterwards, Jin brings out true fan favorites: Dynamite, Butter, Mikrokosmos, and Spring Day—a heartfelt BTS tribute that has ARMYs both bopping and crying at the same time. While Dynamite feels like a celebration, complete with rainbow lights and bursts of confetti, Spring Day is performed with the solemnity of a prayer. As Jin kneels during the final chorus, listening to ARMY’s voices fill the arena, it feels as though the many concerts of BTS’s past are echoing through the space. It’s a moment of shared memory, gratitude, and quiet devotion.

Jin keeps ARMY deep in their feels with the very song he left them with in 2022: The Astronaut. “When I’m with you, there is no one else”—a line that echoes throughout the concert venue, chanted by thousands. And Jin feels every word.

After the first chorus, he breaks into his signature run down the runway, this time with the addition of a flying kiss to kick off his onstage marathon. As he reaches the main stage, streamers explode across the floor and giant colorful inflated balls are released into the crowd—resembling the planets The Astronaut had to travel through before finding his way back home.

The streamers add a comical twist on both nights, as some clump together and trap sections of ARMY like a giant spiderweb. Maybe it’s accidental. Or maybe—just maybe—it’s Jin trapping ARMY in his universe… or rather, his Jiniverse. 

Next, Jin performs Nothing Without Your Love under soft purple lights—borahae in action. This song is so intrinsically Jin that it’s no surprise he originally wanted it to be the title track, before Don’t Say You Love Me ultimately took that spot.

There’s a consistent thread running through Jin’s music: he is nothing without ARMY’s love. Of course, that isn’t entirely true—Jin is so many things. But it’s his humility, that deep sense of gratitude, that makes his performance feel larger than life.

Just when Jin tries to convince ARMY that the show is over, he returns for the encore with the songs the world has been waiting for: Epiphany and Moon—and they offer everything and more.

Epiphany rings through the arena, louder than perhaps any song before it. It’s a raw, heartfelt moment: just Jin and his microphone. “Not so perfect, yet so beautiful, I’m the one I should love,” he sings. A moment of pure self-love, shared by every heart in the audience.

During this song, a fan project featuring Jin’s signature jumbo red hearts is executed flawlessly, creating a sea of love in return. It’s a perfect tribute—ARMY sending back the warmth, comfort, and strength they’ve received through Jin’s music.

And with his final Epiphany belts, Jin heals something deep within ARMY’s hearts—and perhaps within himself. A song first released in 2018, its message of self-love still hits just as hard, carrying just as much meaning today as it did then.

After his closing ments, it’s time for the next Moon intro target. On day one, after a couple of ARMY attempts, Jin ultimately handed his mic to a security guard for a lighthearted, and unexpected, intro. On day two, he decided ARMY sounds best in unison, and so we all sang the intro together. He was right. It was the most harmonious one of all.

Moon becomes a true celebration of BTS and ARMY’s shared existence, forever orbiting each other, waiting for the time they’ll meet again.

Just when you expect the lights to come up, Jin has one final surprise: To Me, Today. It’s the perfect closer, a gentle reminder for ARMY to stay present and treat themselves with kindness, day by day.

“Now I fly to where my heart beats,” he sings—flying toward ARMY as ARMY flies toward him.