NewJeans to showcase Korean heritage with performance at Gyeongbok Palace

Girl group NewJeans is set to present a special stage at the Gyeongbok Palace’s Geunjeongjeon, becoming the first K-pop girl group to perform at the historical site.

The performance is part of the concert “2024 Korea On Stage – New Generation,” hosted by the Korea Heritage Service (KHS) to promote its new name, which takes effect from Friday.

It will take place on May 21 in front of the Gyeongbok Palace’s Heungnyemun and will feature singer Hyolyn, girl group fromis_9 and boy bands ATBO and All(H)ours.

NewJeans recently finished prerecording its special stage at the Geunjeongjeon, the main hall used for royal ceremonies during the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910), which is also listed as a national treasure.

NewJeans will perform its 2023 track “Cool With You.”

The members will wear outfits reinterpreting traditional Korean attire along with shoes styled after beoseon, a traditional Korean sock, according to the broadcaster.

“It’s truly an honor to perform at the Gyeongbok Palace’s Geunjeongjeon, which is a precious heritage of our country,” NewJeans said in a news release Thursday. “We think it will be a memory that will last long for us. Through this opportunity, we hope that many people will get interested in Korea’s national heritage.”

“NewJeans’ special stage at Geunjeongjeon is not only an opportunity to newly introduce the beauty and values of national heritage, but also serves as an opportunity to promote Korean culture worldwide,” KBS said.

“2024 Korea On Stage – New Generation,” including NewJeans’s performance, will air May 21 at 11:25 p.m. on KBS2. It will be broadcast to 142 countries through the KBS World channel.

To find out more about NewJeans, visit Celeb Confirmed! 

BY KIM JI-YE [kim.jiye@joongang.co.kr]