Yujeong marks solo transition at Waterbomb Sokcho 2026

Yujeong, a singer and actress formerly of BBGIRLS, has clearly defined the direction of her solo career by stepping onto the Waterbomb Festival stage for the first time since leaving the group. Instead of performing BBGIRLS' signature hit 'Rollin', she showcased three recently released remake songs, demonstrating her determination to establish her own musical identity as a solo artist rather than relying on her past group's hits.

On the 22nd, Yujeong performed at 'Waterbomb Sokcho 2026' held at the Hanwha Resort Seorak Sorano in Sokcho, Gangwon Province. For Yujeong, who is appearing at a Waterbomb Festival for the first time since her debut, this performance was highly significant as it served as a stage to firmly imprint her independent musical path on the public following her group activities.

During the event, Yujeong reinterpreted Jewelry's 'I Really Like You' and Park Myeong-su's 'Prince of the Sea' in her own unique style. She further composed her performance with a total of three remake tracks, including a newly arranged version of Uhm Jeong-hwa's representative song 'Invitation'.

In particular, 'Invitation' drew significant attention as it was a new song revealed on the day of the Waterbomb Festival. While maintaining the sensual and provocative sentiment of the original, it was reconstructed with a modern sensibility by incorporating Moombahton and Latin pop rhythms. BTOB's Minhyuk participated in the rap featuring and songwriting, and even made a surprise appearance on stage to perform alongside Yujeong. The fact that the two revealed the new song's performance live for the first time became a hot topic.

Most notably, the fact that BBGIRLS' 'Rollin' was missing from the repertoire caught many eyes. According to on-site videos and posted content, all of Yujeong's performance tracks were her recently released solo remakes.

This carries a meaning beyond simple song selection. Yujeong was one of the core members who gained public recognition through the 'reverse run' success of BBGIRLS' 'Rollin' in 2021. 'Rollin', which gained late attention through videos of military base performances, became a representative case of the so-called 'reverse run syndrome' as it climbed the music release charts, serving as the decisive song that re-introduced BBGIRLS to the public.

Consequently, from the moment news of Yujeong's Waterbomb appearance broke, whether she would sing 'Rollin' was a major point of interest. Some netizens questioned how she would fill the stage given that she lacked sufficient solo hits, while others argued that since BBGIRLS is still active, it would not be appropriate for a former member to sing 'Rollin'.

On the other hand, some countered that it was premature to criticize excessively before the stage was even revealed. In the actual performance, Yujeong chose not to perform 'Rollin' and instead centered her solo stage around remake songs, effectively providing her own answer to the core issue of song selection that had sparked controversy.

Yujeong was also aware of this pressure. In a video released on the YouTube channel 'Ddip' on the 21st, she shared her feelings, stating that she had no experience releasing solo songs even during her group activities, adding, "On one hand it is burdensome, but on the other hand, it is enjoyable. It has been a long time since I stood on stage."

She also explained the background of choosing a large-scale performance like the Waterbomb Festival after contemplating appearances on music broadcast shows. It was a choice to meet the public with new music rather than simply recreating past hits.

Yujeong debuted as a member of BBGIRLS in 2016 after a long period of obscurity and reached her peak with the team following the reverse run of 'Rollin' in 2021. She continued activities even after the team name was changed to BBGIRLS, but she sought a new career path after leaving the team in April 2024. Currently, BBGIRLS is active as a three-member group consisting of Minyoung, Eunji, and Lee Yu-na.

Ultimately, this Waterbomb Festival became a kind of boundary line separating Yujeong's past from her present. This is because she left behind the powerful legacy of 'Rollin'—the first thing the public thinks of—and reinterpreted a familiar subject through remakes using her own musical language. While she is still in the process of creating signature songs as a solo artist, this stage demonstrated that Yujeong intends to fill the stage with her own name, rather than remaining confined to the label of 'former BBGIRLS member'.