For ONCE, By TWICE: Inside the Group’s Kia Forum Takeover

Words by: JEsse Zapatero

Photos BY: JYP ENTERTAINMENT, ANDY KEILEN

TWICE didn’t need the vast sprawl of a stadium to prove their dominance. On January 24, the K-pop powerhouse transformed the Kia Forum into an electrified, all-angles celebration of connection, control, and sheer star presence. After conquering SoFi Stadium in 2023, the group deliberately scaled down for their THIS IS FOR World Tour stop in Inglewood, opting for intimacy over enormity—and the choice paid off instantly.

Demand said everything. What began as two scheduled Forum dates quickly multiplied into four after tickets disappeared within hours. By the time the lights dimmed on the January 24 show, the room felt less like a traditional concert and more like a shared experience carefully designed for the fans who filled every corner.

The Forum’s transformation centered on a 360-degree, S-shaped stage that wrapped TWICE into the crowd rather than placing them above it. There was no “bad seat” in the house. Every section had moments where the group passed inches away, waved directly into faces, or made eye contact that sent Candybongs shaking. That signature sea of lightsticks pulsed between cool blues and TWICE’s unmistakable apricot and neon magenta, creating a living backdrop that shifted with the music.

The show opened cinematically. A massive overhead screen descended as the words “TWICE THIS IS FOR” cut through the darkness, followed by individual visual introductions for each member. When the structure lifted to reveal Jihyo, Nayeon, Jeongyeon, Momo, Sana, Mina, Dahyun, Chaeyoung, and Tzuyu standing behind it, the roar from ONCE was immediate and deafening.

Launching straight into “This Is For,” the group emerged in coordinated blue-and-white nautical looks that balanced uniformity with personality—each outfit subtly tailored to the member wearing it. The choreography felt expansive on the circular stage, with the group constantly rotating positions to acknowledge every section of the venue. “Strategy” followed, tightening the pacing while maintaining that sense of motion and inclusion.

Midway through the opening set, the stage elevated under deep red lighting for “MAKE ME GO,” adding a dramatic visual shift. Backup dancers in stark black amplified the performance’s intensity, creating contrast against TWICE’s lighter costumes. Though Dahyun remained seated due to an ankle injury, she never felt absent—executing choreography with her hands and upper body as naturally as if she were standing, earning loud cheers every time the camera found her. Dahyun remained a constant presence throughout the night. Performing from a seated position placed at different points around the main stage, turning limitation into intimacy. Her upper-body choreography stayed precise and expressive, but it was her attentiveness to the crowd—waving, locking eyes with fans, and reacting to their chants—that made her role feel especially personal.

If the early moments showed traces of fatigue—understandable given the group’s recent travel—any lingering stiffness evaporated the moment “SET ME FREE” began. As TWICE moved toward a different arm of the stage, that section of the Forum erupted, and something collective clicked. Fans mirrored the choreography from the stands, timing their movements with the group, and the energy visibly fed back into the members. From that point on, the show surged forward with confidence.

Sound hiccups surfaced briefly, with backing tracks occasionally overpowering live vocals. Rather than retreat, Nayeon and Jihyo leaned in harder, belting through “SET ME FREE” and “I CAN’T STOP ME” with force. Jihyo’s voice, especially, cut cleanly through the Forum—audible even from the upper levels. A fleeting look of frustration crossed her face as she adjusted her mic, but it never slowed her momentum.

During “I CAN’T STOP ME,” Jeongyeon took command of the room, calling out for everyone to sing along. The response was immediate. Thousands of voices filled the chorus, blurring the line between performer and audience and solidifying the night’s emotional peak. Even seated, Dahyun stayed locked in, her movements sharp and instinctive, proving how deeply the choreography lives in muscle memory.

Between songs, TWICE paused for their signature greeting—“One in a million! Hello, we are TWICE!”—before introducing themselves one by one. Jihyo led the moment before passing the mic around, each introduction greeted with screams tailored to the member speaking. A call-and-response soon followed, with the group declaring “This is for ONCE,” and the crowd echoing back “This is for TWICE,” a refrain that resurfaced throughout the night like a shared promise.

The mood softened during the next section. Seated atop elevated platforms, the group performed “Options,” stripping away spectacle to spotlight vocals. It was a reminder of TWICE’s growth—no longer relying solely on choreography to carry emotion. That intimacy continued into “Moonlight Sunrise,” where Jihyo, Tzuyu, and Nayeon’s voices soared with clarity and control, drawing some of the loudest applause of the evening.

A dance interlude bridged the next act, featuring a striking contemporary solo that flowed into a full ensemble performance. Screens above the stage carried the audience through a cosmic visual journey, drifting across galaxies before landing on a single planet—setting the scene for “MARS” and reintroducing high-concept theatrics.

As the night pushed toward its finale, TWICE continued to crisscross the stage, waving, pointing out handmade signs, reacting to fan chants, and laughing at shouted declarations of love. These unscripted moments—Sana lingering to wave at a section a second longer, Mina smiling softly at a banner held up near the barricade—reinforced why the Forum felt like the perfect venue choice.

The show closed with “TT,” a song that carries special weight in TWICE’s history. More than a nostalgic hit, it served as a full-circle moment—ending the night not with spectacle, but with emotion. As the familiar melody played, fans sang every word back to the group, some with tears in their eyes, others dancing without restraint. It was playful, bittersweet, and deeply communal, a reminder of how long this relationship between TWICE and ONCE has lasted—and how strong it remains.