ITZY Sets the Stage on Fire at Waterbomb Seoul 2025
ITZY made a splash — quite literally — at the Waterbomb Seoul 2025 festival, thrilling fans during their highly anticipated summer set. Held in Goyang, just outside of Seoul, the event showcased the K-pop group’s dynamic performance skills and cemented their status as the ultimate “Summer Queens.”
The girl group unveiled tracks from their freshly released mini-album, Girls Will Be Girls, while dishing out a series of hits that had the crowd singing and dancing, despite the constant sprays of water from the stage and surrounding cannons.
Why ITZY's Waterbomb Performance Wowed Fans
The Bright Side
From a production perspective, ITZY did not disappoint. Their vocals were on point, their choreography razor-sharp, and their stage charisma unmatched. It’s no mystery why fans have dubbed them the definitive 'Performance Queens' of K-pop.
Backed by elaborate set designs, seamless sound engineering, and impressive staging tricks, each member seemed fully in her element, engaging with fans up close while looking like summer icons.
Fans around the world took to social media during and after the performance, flooding timelines with cheers, reaction videos, and heartfelt praise. TikTok especially buzzed with clips of signature moments from ITZY’s act, reinforcing their global viral appeal.
The Darker Concerns Beneath the Glitter
But as with many massive music events, Waterbomb’s spectacle has a few downsides that are difficult to ignore. The celebration of summer comes with logistical and ethical challenges that merit conversation.
First, there’s the environmental impact. Events like Waterbomb use large quantities of water in their concept — thousands of gallons sprayed over the course of several hours. In times of increasing concern over climate change and water scarcity, this raises questions about resource consumption and sustainability.
Second, crowd safety remains a key issue. Water-slicked stages, excited densely packed fans, and moving machinery can create unsafe conditions if not managed properly. Past incidents at similar festivals have led to renewed scrutiny over safety policies.
And lastly, facility limitations at the venue contributed to complaints from fans. Lack of shaded areas, insufficient restrooms, and long wait times for water or food were among the discomforts voiced online — reminders that fan comfort matters just as much as a flawless performance.
The Bigger Picture: Artistry and Accountability
No one is denying ITZY’s powerful live talents or their connection with fans. From the dazzling visuals to their empowered lyrics and delivery, the ‘Girls Will Be Girls’ era is shaping up to be an iconic chapter in their story. But for performances like this to continue thriving, organizers, artists, and fans will need to think more broadly.
How can festivals maintain dazzling experiences while respecting the environment and prioritizing safety? And how do we ensure that pop entertainment, though highlight-driven and fast-paced, still values structure and planning behind the scenes?
It’s a balancing act. And in this performance, ITZY led the way artistically — but the music industry should take note of the surrounding issues if summer spectacles like Waterbomb are to stay sustainable in the long run.
As ITZY continues to grow, breaking records and crossing borders, their growing spotlight also highlights the responsibilities that come with creating magic onstage. For now, one thing’s for sure — ITZY didn’t just survive the splash zone, they owned it.
