Sunmi Takes the Waterbomb Seoul 2026 Stage — Heats Up KINTEX with Flawless Chemistry Alongside Cha Hyun-seung
"Summer Queen" Sunmi took the stage at Waterbomb Seoul 2026, rounding out a scorching summer. Coming not long after her comeback with the new song "Forever July," the performance was all the more welcome. A Stage at KINTEX on the 26th Waterbomb Seoul 2026 was held from July 24 to 26 at the outdoor Global Stage of KINTEX in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province. Sunmi took the stage on the final day, the 26th, lifting the atmosphere with her signature aura. For this stage, Sunmi wore a mini outfit with mint-colored corset detailing paired with a white lace top. Voluminous wavy hair and sharp features combined for a doll-like impression — a stage look well suited to the summer-festival mood that defines Waterbomb. Sunmi is an artist counted among the so-called "first generation of Waterbomb," having performed there every year since its early days. The seasoned command she's built on summer-festival stages was on full display in this performance too. The Talking Point: A Duet Stage with Cha Hyun-seung The biggest draw of the day was the duet stage with actor and former dancer Cha Hyun-seung. Cha made a surprise appearance as Sunmi's partner dancer, and the steady chemistry between the two elevated the stage even further. The day after the show, on the 27th, Sunmi posted a short video filmed backstage with Cha on social media. The clip opened with Sunmi affectionately patting Cha's head, and the two went on to dance naturally to "Forever July." Their flawless synergy — reminiscent of their earlier days as singer and backup dancer — drew admiration from fans. It came with Sunmi's message: "Thank you for singing along with me." Comeback with the New Digital Single "Forever July" Sunmi made her comeback on July 15 with the new digital single "Forever July." It's her first new music in about eight months, since her first full-length album "HEART MAID" last year. "Forever July" looks at summer — long remembered for blazing sun and refreshing coolness — from an entirely different angle. It likens a love that arrives suddenly to a monsoon crashing into a season that ought to be bright and clear, delicately capturing emotions where flutter and confusion coexist. What stands out is how it twists the familiar "summer equals refreshing" formula. Through motifs that evoke the humid air of summer — wet hair, umbrellas, rain-soaked scenes — it built up the song's emotional texture. With her comeback and the Waterbomb stage arriving side by side, Sunmi is clearly showing a presence worthy of her "Summer Queen" title this summer as well. The next stages she'll bring through her new single are ones to look forward to.
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