After becoming a Carat during the pandemic, attending Caratland live in South Korea has always been a dream come true for me. In 2022, SEVENTEEN finally held Caratland live again. However, I wasn’t able to fly to South Korea at the time, so I had to settle for watching it online. I promised myself that the following year, I would attend Caratland no matter what.  

Fast forward to Caratland 2023, I was thrilled to secure a ticket with my desired date and seat. Everything seemed to be going perfectly. But life had other plans. I had to cancel my ticket and couldn’t attend Caratland 2023. I was so heartbroken that I took a hiatus from everything, including my job, for weeks and even months. That period of time was incredibly difficult for me, and I fell into depression.  

Now that I’ve moved to South Korea to pursue my Master’s degree, I was determined to watch Caratland 2024 live no matter what. When the event was announced, I was crushed to find out it was scheduled for weekdays, I had classes! I cried so much because I didn’t know how to balance both commitments. Still, I tried to secure tickets, and to my surprise, I managed to get tickets for two days. It was one of the most challenging ticketing experiences I’ve had here in South Korea. I honestly thought I wouldn’t make it, but I did - even if it was on the fourth floor!  

Determined to attend despite my classes, I made a plan: I would only miss one day. I traveled back to Busan to attend class and then returned to Caratland. It was exhausting and stressful, but looking back, I wouldn’t change a thing. The experience was worth every bit of effort.

Among all the photocards I could have received, getting Wonwoo’s Caratzone photocard was the most exciting moment for me. If you know me, I rarely like Wonwoo’s photocards, but when I do, I really want to have them.  

For those unfamiliar with Caratzone photocards, they’re random photocards given to ticket holders with SEVENTEEN membership. To get one, you simply show your ticket, identification card, and membership card (digital versions are also accepted) at their booth.  

On Day 1, I got Seungkwan’s photocard! I was so happy to pull him and decided not to trade it. On Day 2, I claimed my Caratzone photocard last minute because I was coming from Busan. I wasn’t expecting to get Wonwoo since he rarely shows up in my pulls. But when I saw his card, I was completely shocked and overjoyed. It saved me from having to buy it, which would’ve cost more than my fanmeet ticket!  

One of the biggest highlights of Caratland is the unit reversal performances. Why? Because it’s a rare chance to see SEVENTEEN units performing songs by other units - a treat you won’t see at concerts!  

This year, they performed their latest unit songs: Cheers to Youth, Lalali, and Spell.  

- The Hiphop Unit (Wonwoo, S.Coups, Mingyu, Vernon) performed the Performance Unit’s Spell.  

- The Vocal Unit (Joshua, Jeonghan, DK, Seungkwan, Woozi) performed the Hiphop Unit’s Lalali.  

- The Performance Unit (Jun, Hoshi, The8, Dino) performed the Vocal Unit’s Cheers to Youth.  

Another hilarious highlight of Caratland is watching SEVENTEEN perform songs that don’t “suit” them—but they somehow make them work! Imagine Wonwoo performing (G)I-DLE’s Queencard or Joshua performing Stray Kids’ God’s Menu!  

And DK’s (fake) abs during Taemin’s Guilty? I couldn’t stop laughing! Seeing Mingyu’s performance of Kiss of Life’s Sticky was another unforgettable moment—he truly owned the stage.  

As someone who didn’t become a Carat from the start, I missed out on SEVENTEEN’s early memories. Hearing Shining Diamond live, a song that represents their trainee days and debut, made me feel like I was part of their journey from the very beginning. I cried so much during this performance. It’s true—once you slip into the Diamond Life, there’s no turning back. Even as I write this blog, I can still feel the overwhelming emotions I experienced.  

One of the main reasons I pushed myself to attend Caratland 2024 was because it would likely be the last OT13 Caratland for a while. With SEVENTEEN members starting their military enlistment soon, it will be a few years before they’re all together again. Seeing them perform as a complete group was incredibly special, and I’ll treasure that memory until the day they reunite.

Caratland 2024 might not completely erase the pain of missing Caratland 2023, but it’s a cherished experience that I’ll always hold dear. Thank you, SEVENTEEN, for making Caratland so meaningful. Maybe next year, I’ll get to attend again? Until then, I’ll continue to live the Diamond Life.