Mnet’s new show ‘Nationwide Sparkle Tour’ successfully premiered on the 12th with a refreshing concept, bridging the gap between regional Korea and K-POP idols.

The spotlight of the inaugural episode was on Tomorrow X Together (TXT), who kicked off the show by traveling to Gwangju. Soobin, Yeonjun, Beomgyu, Taehyun, and Hueningkai took on the unique role of "One-Day Zucchini Ambassadors," where they personally sold zucchinis, introducing local specialties and delivering special performances all in one memorable experience.

BTS member J-Hope, a Gwangju native, surprised fans with a phone call to Soobin. During the call, he shared his warmth and some tips for mastering the Jeolla dialect, offering words of encouragement to the TXT members. Their guide for the day, DinDin, was also on hand to teach effective street-selling techniques, raising the team's zucchini sales game.

At their first popup event in Youth Square, the TXT members transformed into energetic "veggie shop boys," selling a total of 50 zucchinis. Their confidence grew at the second popup, where sales more than doubled. In the opening welcome mission, Taehyun sold his zucchinis in just 3 minutes and 33 seconds, clinching first place. The members continued by creatively dividing tasks and engaging with the crowd in their own unique ways.

The group also visited Jangdeok Middle School, holding a special promotional event with students. Local MOA fandom, Gwangju citizens, and even students from Cebu, Philippines, turned out to greet them. TXT made good use of the Jeolla dialect tips from J-Hope, allowing them to bond even more closely with local fans.

The highlight of the festival was a grand finale performance at the Gwangju City Hall outdoor music venue, where fans entered the concert hall carrying zucchinis like tickets and light sticks. TXT delivered their hit tracks such as ‘Deja Vu’, ‘Miracle’, and ‘I’ll Wait for You Tomorrow’ in rapid succession. When one deeply moved fan shed tears during the show, Taehyun warmed hearts by saying, “I came to see you—why are you crying?”

The event drew in a crowd far larger than expected, and moments like “Zucchini Time,” where fans wielded zucchinis as cheering sticks, added a unique flavor to the day. Audience members commented, “This was the best birthday present ever,” and “It was touching to see the group support so many local communities.”

In total, including onsite sales, 3,111 zucchinis were sold, with all proceeds donated to the local community—making the event even more meaningful.

‘Nationwide Sparkle Tour’ aims to bring K-POP performances and positive energy directly to regions less exposed to such events, and TXT’s warm, personable approach left Gwangju buzzing with excitement.

Next week, NCT Dream is set to take on a new challenge, selling apples in Andong. ‘Nationwide Sparkle Tour’ airs every Tuesday at 10 p.m.

Note “This article was translated from the original Korean version using AI assistance, and subsequently edited by a native-speaking journalist.”

Photo=Mnet