Seventeen's Emotional Farewell: A Look Back at 10 Years of Music and Memories

On June 18 and 19, Seventeen gathered with fans at the Incheon Asiad Main Stadium for the group's 10th 'Carat Land' fan meeting, an event that marked one of their last major collective events before more members begin mandatory military service. With Jeonghan, Wonwoo, Hoshi, and Woozi already enlisted, nine members took the stage, including Mingyu, DK, Seungkwan, Vernon, and Dino, who are expected to enlist in the coming months.

The event was a bittersweet celebration of the group's music and memories, as they prepared to embark on a new chapter in their careers. Throughout the weekend, the members delivered a consistent message: they would return stronger after their military service. 'When we return in two to three years, I think that's when our second chapter will truly begin,' Mingyu said. 'We'll return having grown and changed, and I hope you'll continue to love us then too.'

The fan meeting opened with an express train bound for 'Carat Land,' the fictional paradise shared by Seventeen and its fandom. Emerging on a train-shaped lift, the members launched into 'Together,' 'Heaven's Cloud,' and 'My My.'

The event soon shifted into its signature variety-show format, featuring dance covers chosen by the members themselves and the return of the popular 'reverse stage.' This year, the segment expanded beyond unit-song swaps, with members reinterpreting one another's solo tracks.

The performances underscored the group's versatility and growth as individual artists. 'Even with only nine members here today, we can fill an entire reverse stage with each other's solo songs,' Mingyu said. 'That shows how much each member has grown.'

The second half of the fan meeting turned into a rush of Seventeen hits, with 'Oh My!, Pretty U, Thinkin ' about you, Home:Run, God of Music,' and 'Very Nice' bringing the stadium to its feet. Fans waved their light sticks in the air as fireworks lit up the night sky.

As the night came to a close, the members took turns to address the upcoming group hiatus. Leader S.Coups reflected on how his priorities had changed over the years, saying that what once drove him was competition and ambition, but that he now finds greater fulfillment in performing with his members and repaying the love he received from Carat.

'I'd like to take this time to say thank you to everyone who has been a part of our lives, even those who may not be our fans anymore, for supporting Seventeen throughout its career,' he said, expressing hope that fans would continue growing older alongside the group for decades to come.