J.Y.Park and Baekho thrill K-pop fans worldwide with 30-year spanning tribute performance

Singer J.Y. Park and Baekho mesmerized K-Pop fans worldwide with a joint performance that bridged a 30-year gap.

Baekho was the first guest on J.Y.Park’s tribute stage at the ‘AliExpress 2024 Weverse Con Festival’ (WeCon) held at the Incheon Inspire Entertainment Resort on the 16th.

Their collaborative stage reminded global music fans of J.Y.Park’s spirit of challenge and audacity in K-Pop.

The bold attire that highlighted their toned bodies and their sensory, intuitive performance elicited enthusiastic reactions from K-Pop fans. The stage was a highlight of the tribute, embodying the “modern succession of K-Pop sensuality.”

The duo opened with “Elevator,” a remake of J.Y.Park’s original song by Baekho. Originally released in 1995, this track was reinterpreted in a new jack swing genre with a lively rhythm, showcasing Baekho’s unique mature and sensual style, earning high praise.

During the performance, Baekho and J.Y.Park paid homage to the original choreography by standing side by side, swinging their arms and shaking their heads, and delivered a daring pair dance surrounded by dancers, achieving “intergenerational integration of sensuality.” J.Y.Park reportedly put his heart and soul into the performance, even learning the choreography for the remade song’s chorus.

Their rendition of “Switch to Me” (a 2020 duet single by J.Y.Park and Rain) also featured fluid hip movements and intricate steps that energized the audience. Baekho further enhanced the tribute by joining other artists, including TXT’s Beomgyu and fromis_9’s Jiwon, for a performance of “Don’t Leave Me, Don’t Leave Me” (J.Y.Park’s debut song from 1994), bridging the past and present.

The ‘Weverse Con Festival’ carried the slogan “NEW WAVE, NEW CITY,” symbolizing a journey to an urban paradise riding the wave of music. Baekho’s participation in J.Y.Park’s tribute stage was themed “GREAT WAVE of K-Pop.”

Baekho expressed through his agency, Pledis Entertainment, “The challenge and audacity that senior J.Y.Park showed 30 years ago have been the foundation of my musical activities. Through ‘Elevator’ and other classics, I could feel why his songs transcend time and generations to be loved by so many. Inspired by this tribute stage at this year’s WeCon, I aspire to create long-lasting music and connect with the public as a solo artist.”