Park Jin-young to Appear at Waterbom for Second Consecutive Year, Reviving His “Hot Pink Halterneck” Legend

Park Jin-young will perform at “Waterbom Seoul 2026” for the second year in a row. The official Waterbom social media account announced his participation with the message, “An all-time legend—you can’t miss this! JYP is back.” He is set to take the stage under the “TEAM GREEN” category on July 26.

Last year, Park Jin-young generated massive attention on the Waterbom stage by wearing a bold hot pink sheer halterneck outfit paired with vinyl pants. He performed hit songs such as “Nal Tteonaejima,” “Geuneun Eoppeotda,” “Honey,” “Eomeonnim Nugu니,” and “When We Disco,” delivering energy and performances that overshadowed his status as the oldest performer present, according to reviews.

Park Jin-young has previously shared behind-the-scenes details about his Waterbom appearance on MBC’s “Radio Star.” He explained, “I was honestly surprised when I received the invitation and asked my staff first. Vinyl was too cliché, so I added hot pink color, designed it as a halterneck since dancing would be difficult if it got wet, and I lost 5 kg in two weeks for Waterbom.”

This year, Park Jin-young’s stage at Waterbom once again drew attention. After taking off his tuxedo, he performed in a mint-colored mesh outfit that revealed his body. During his performance of his signature song “Elevator,” he also showcased choreography that some viewers interpreted as resembling sexual acts alongside female dancers.

After the performance video was released, online reactions praised his stage dominance, physical fitness, and discipline, with comments such as “the ultimate example of self-management,” “Waterbom truly belongs to Park Jin-young,” and “a true master imitator.” Several reports also highlighted the high quality of his performance and stage presence.

However, there were also many criticisms online stating that the performance was excessive, with some saying it resembled sexual scenes and labeling it as “supply exceeding demand.” Waterbom has repeatedly faced controversy over the explicit nature of performers’ costumes and performances each year.

This year’s Waterbom Seoul will take place from July 24 to 26 at the outdoor Global Stage at KINTEX in Ilsan, Goyang City, Gyeonggi Province. The lineup includes Park Jin-young, Park Jae-beom, Taemin, RIIZE, Sunmi, BIBI, KISS OF LIFE, Changmo, Lee Young-ji, ShownuXHyungwon, Rocco, and Gray. Waterbom will continue its performances in Busan on August 8 and in Sokcho, Gangwon Province, on August 22.