Celebrating his 31st year since debut, veteran dance singer Park Jin-young, 54, has proven his generational-defying power as an entertainer by performing at the Waterbomb festival for the second consecutive year.
Park took to the stage as part of the Green Team lineup on the final day of Waterbomb Seoul 2026, held at the Korea International Exhibition Center (KINTEX) outdoor global stage in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, yesterday (July 26). This marks his second straight appearance following last year.
Right in the middle of a festival dominated by the MZ generation, Park was the oldest artist in the lineup, yet he heated up the crowd more than anyone else. Taking the stage at 5:30 p.m., just after Rain's special performance and before the daytime heat peaking at 35°C (95°F) had fully subsided, he drew roaring cheers from audience members regardless of their generation.
Park appeared in a tuxedo and captivated the audience with his signature wit, saying, "It's hot, isn't it? Is this what you're supposed to wear? I guess I'm the only one who's hot." He immediately stripped off his tuxedo to reveal the mint-colored mesh outfit he had teased beforehand. Although he wore long pants, his single-digit body fat percentage, abs, and muscular physique were fully exposed.
The performances continued without a break. Park recreated his 1995 hit "Elevator" alongside a female dancer. Although the song was released 31 years ago, it fell short of nothing when it came to pumping up the energy at the venue. Following up with energetic dances and "When We Disco," Park smoothly delivered his live vocals without a hint of fatigue.
He then teamed up with Rain for a duet performance of "Switch to Me," completing a monumental stage created by two major K-pop legends.
Toward the end of the show, Park attempted cross-generational communication by asking, "Are there any people born in the 1980s here?" Saying, "There must be some of you who are glad to see me, having debuted in 1994," he sang "She Was Pretty" and "Don't Leave Me" back-to-back, tracing his 31-year career history together with the audience.
Prior to the performance, Park's physical maintenance had already been a hot topic. Having caught massive attention at last year's Waterbomb with pink vinyl pants and a halter-top outfit, he had previously revealed that he began managing his body fat alongside promotions for his new song "WET" ahead of this year's Waterbomb appearance.
Park currently serves as the co-chairperson of the Pop Culture Exchange Committee and as the CCO and chief producer of JYP Entertainment. Through thorough self-management, he continues his career as a stage performer alongside his role as a producer, serving as a role model for many junior K-pop artists.
On stage, he shared his thoughts as a singer, stating, "I am promoting with the mindset of a rookie in my 31st year." He added, "I hope to remain a singer who takes the stage with the same energetic and exciting vibe as a rookie in your eyes," and previously promised, "I will definitely show you the best performances until I turn 60."
Meanwhile, Park is scheduled to perform these songs again at Waterbomb 2026 in Busan on August 8.
(Reported by Kang Kyung-yoon, SBS C&R)
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