From Father’s Support to Behind-the-Scenes with Jang Hang-jun: Highlights from Psy’s 'Summer Swag 2026'

The first show of singer Psy’s 'Summer Swag 2026' at Uijeongbu Sports Complex was filled with as many stories off-stage as there were on-stage. From the presence of Psy’s father in the audience to the support from his debut-year contemporary Sung Si-kyung and the behind-the-scenes story of director Jang Hang-jun’s opening appearance, here are the highlights from the event.

▲ Psy’s Father Keeps His Spot in the Audience Again This Year

During the performance, Psy introduced his father, who was in the audience, before singing his signature song, "Father." Psy’s father also attended the concert in Incheon last year to watch his son’s performance. The audience erupted in applause as they witnessed him silently supporting his son at the Summer Swag concert, a tradition that continues every summer.

▲ "I’d Rather Perform Than Direct": Director Jang Hang-jun’s Choice

This year’s Summer Swag opening VCR brought laughter from the start, featuring director Jang Hang-jun and actor Park Ji-hoon.

Psy shared, "Last year, Lee Su-ji’s appearance was so impactful. This year, I intended to ask director Jang Hang-jun to direct the opening, but he said he would rather perform than direct," which sent the audience into fits of laughter. He added, "I am truly grateful that Park Ji-hoon joined us as well."

Summer Swag draws attention every year with its spectacular opening videos. Starting with Seo Jang-hoon in 2018, the series has featured stars like Kim Bo-sung, Ma Dong-seok, Heo Sung-tae, Park Ji-hwan, and Lee Su-ji, with director Jang Hang-jun and Park Ji-hoon taking the baton this year.

▲ Debut Contemporary Sung Si-kyung: "I Can Hear the Thumping from 100 Meters Away"

The first guest was Sung Si-kyung, who debuted on the same day as Psy in 2000.

Sung Si-kyung showed his loyalty by saying, "I had local commitments, but I wanted to be here for the first show." He continued, "Psy is a very different kind of singer from me. You can hear the thumping sound from 100 meters before you even reach the Summer Swag venue. He once told me that when he was a guest at my concert, he thought it had been canceled because it was so quiet," which drew loud laughter.

He added, "It’s really great that we can be guests at each other’s concerts. I really like and admire him for having his own unique music and performance style."

▲ Hwasa Radiates Energy on Stage Despite Knee Injury

Guest Hwasa kept the momentum going with hit songs including "Maria." She greeted the crowd, saying, "I’ve been waiting only for today. I’m going to have a precious time here," and added, "Since I can’t invite many guests, I’ll cut down on the talk time and perform one more song," proceeding to deliver her stage performances back-to-back.

Despite a minor injury during her choreography that left her knee scraped and red, Hwasa never lost her bright smile. She shared, "In the past, I used to blame myself a lot when I made mistakes. But now, I tell myself, 'You are overcoming this very bravely and doing well,'" before performing her song "So Cute."

▲ A Remix Party That Recalled Memories

The approximately four-hour concert gave no room for a break until the very end. During the encore, Psy presented an EDM medley that remixed not only his own hits but also famous songs across different eras, turning the venue into a massive club until the final moment. The audience enjoyed the water cannons and the music, savoring the lingering excitement of the first Summer Swag of the year.

Photo: P NATION

  

Reported by Kang Kyung-yoon | Produced by SBS Entertainment News
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.