Former BBGIRLS Member Yoo Jeong Faces Backlash After Waterbomb Debut, Reveals Grueling Prep

Korean singer Nam Yoo Jeong (남유정), formerly of BBGIRLS (previously Brave Girls), has actively pursued solo endeavors since her departure from the group. She recently performed at the large-scale Waterbomb festival for the first time. To prepare, she practiced dancing daily, sometimes for over nine and a half hours. However, after videos of her performance were released, some netizens were unimpressed, with some sarcastically asking, "If this is the case, why did she leave BBGIRLS in the first place?"

Recently, the YouTube channel "Yuralla" released a video documenting Nam Yoo Jeong's preparation and behind-the-scenes footage for the "Waterbomb Sokcho 2026" stage. The video showed her fully immersed in dance training and actively managing her physique before the performance.

Nam Yoo Jeong revealed her astonishing practice volume. "Last week, I danced for nine and a half hours, and I generally dance for five hours every day," she stated. She dedicated a significant amount of time to choreography rehearsal in preparation for the stage.

She even relied on dancing for weight loss. She explained, "I used to diet by starving myself, but if you want to lose weight, cardio is the best." She believes that K-pop dance itself is an excellent form of exercise for weight loss.

However, the high-intensity training pushed Nam Yoo Jeong to her limits. She confessed, "I kept sleeping in the car. After practice, when I got home, I don't even remember how I showered or fell asleep." During practice, she even said at one point, "My head feels dizzy even with my eyes closed." Despite her extreme fatigue, she would stand up again, telling herself, "Let's practice a little more," and continued her training.

Following this period of intense preparation, Nam Yoo Jeong performed at "Waterbomb Sokcho 2026," held at Hanwha Resort Seorak Sorano in Sokcho, Gangwon Province, on the 22nd of last month. That day, she delivered reinterpreted versions of songs such as Jewelry's "I Really Like You," Park Myeong-su's (박명수) "Prince of the Sea," and Uhm Jung-hwa's (엄정화) "Invitation." During the performance of "Invitation," BTOB member Lee Min-hyuk (이민혁) made a surprise appearance, joining Nam Yoo Jeong on stage.

Nam Yoo Jeong appeared on stage in short shorts and a sleeveless top, showcasing a bold Waterbomb outfit paired with her signature bright smile, exuding vibrant stage charisma. However, after videos of her performance were posted online, some netizens reacted coldly. Some felt it was a shame that despite practicing for over nine hours a day, the dance and overall stage completeness did not meet expectations.

The most controversial aspect was that all the songs she performed were reinterpreted versions of existing popular hits. Some netizens questioned, "Doesn't she have her own songs?" and "I thought she was going solo; I thought she would make the music she truly wanted to." Others asked, "If this is the case, why did she leave BBGIRLS in the first place?" Some even suggested, "She had more shine when she was in the group."

Beyond the song selection, Nam Yoo Jeong's singing and dancing performance also drew criticism from some netizens. Comments included, "Neither her singing nor dancing met expectations," "I don't know if it's a lack of practice, but it looks a bit unnatural," and "She was still better suited for her BBGIRLS days." Some even bluntly suggested that her performance shortcomings during group activities might have been overshadowed by the presence of other members.

For Nam Yoo Jeong, this Waterbomb performance certainly came with considerable pressure. She had previously revealed that she had never released a solo song during her group activities, making her feelings complex when standing on stage alone. "On one hand, I felt pressure, and on the other hand, I also felt very happy," she said.

Nam Yoo Jeong debuted as a member of Brave Girls in 2016. In 2021, she experienced a career peak with the group's viral hit "Rollin'." She continued to promote as a member of BBGIRLS until announcing her departure in 2024 to pursue acting and solo activities, officially embarking on her solo career.