Nam Yoo-jeong of Brave Girls faces harsh criticism for her first 'Waterbomb' stage.. Divergent evaluations with Seo In-young [Star Issue]

*This content was translated by AI.

Nam Yoo-jeong, formerly of the group Brave Girls, took the stage at 'Waterbomb Sokcho 2026', but has since been met with a wave of harsh criticism.

On the 22nd, Nam Yoo-jeong performed at 'Waterbomb Sokcho 2026' (WATERBOMB SOKCHO 2026) held at Hanwha Resort Seorak Sorano in Jangsa-dong, Sokcho-si, Gangwon-do.

That day, Nam Yoo-jeong presented a setlist including her recently released remake track 'Invitation', along with 'I Really Like You', 'Just a Feeling', 'Inside the Summer', and 'Prince of the Sea'. Notably, she shared the stage with BTOB's Lee Min-hyuk, who featured on 'Invitation', delivering a joint performance.

This performance held special significance as it was Nam Yoo-jeong's first solo stage since transitioning to acting after leaving Brave Girls, and her debut appearance at 'Waterbomb'. However, once the concert footage was released online, harsh criticism of her performance poured in. Some netizens expressed disappointment regarding the song arrangement, choreography, and overall stage quality for a solo act.

Previously, news of Nam Yoo-jeong's 'Waterbomb' appearance had already sparked public interest. After leaving Brave Girls to pursue acting, her return to the stage as a solo singer after a long hiatus drew significant attention. Given that she lacks a widely recognized solo hit and left the group, performing any of Brave Girls' signature songs was also challenging, making anticipation for her performance particularly high.

Nam Yoo-jeong recently announced her activities as a singer by releasing remake tracks like 'Invitation' as part of her solo project. At this 'Waterbomb', she performed a solo set centered on that track, including 'I Really Like You', 'Just a Feeling', 'Inside the Summer', and 'Prince of the Sea'. However, the performance failed to generate the expected level of response. Particularly in the absence of a clear signature song as a solo artist, her appearance at a festival stage highlighted concerns about the stage composition and choreography even more sharply.

Nam Yoo-jeong herself had also openly expressed her anxiety before taking the stage. Appearing on the YouTube channel 'Dip' on the 21st, she stated, "I've never released a solo song while still in the group." She added, "On one hand, I feel burdened; on the other, I'm excited. It's been a long time since I've performed on stage." She explained that while promoting her album, she had considered appearing on music shows but was unsure how to proceed until she received this excellent 'Waterbomb' opportunity, which led her to decide to give it a try.

In contrast, Seo In-young, who also performed on the 'Waterbomb Sokcho' stage that same day, received overwhelmingly positive reactions.

Seo In-young had previously announced her 'Waterbomb' appearance and shared her preparation process through her YouTube channel 'Gwaegwacheonseon Seo In-young'. After rigorous self-management leading to successful weight loss, she delivered a fiery performance featuring past hit songs like 'Cinderella' and 'Thank You', igniting the atmosphere of the venue. Her stage was met with praise and hailed as a "Queen's Return."

Notably, after her performance, Seo In-young was reported to have shown visible emotion, shedding tears in response to the enthusiastic reaction from the crowd.

Meanwhile, Nam Yoo-jeong debuted as a member of Brave Girls in 2016. The group gained explosive popularity and widespread recognition in 2021 after their song 'Rollin' went viral. However, Nam Yoo-jeong left the group in April 2024 to pursue an acting career. Currently, Brave Girls continues activities as a trio consisting of Min-young, Eunji, and Yuna.

<© STARNEWS. All rights reserved. No reproduction or redistribution allowed.>

*This content was translated by AI.