'YN 99': Choi Yena's Custom Suit Was the Unexpected Highlight of Waterbomb Busan

Choi Yena stepped onto the Waterbomb Busan 2026 stage on August 8 wearing a full-body hero suit with 'YN 99' stitched across it, her initials and birth year, and a pair of goggle-style sunglasses from luxury brand Miu Miu, looking less like a summer festival act and more like she'd arrived from another dimension.

At an event where the vibe tends toward the maximum and the outfits toward the minimum, the choice to cover up completely was a statement in itself. The suit was a hero silhouette done in her own aesthetic language: high ponytail, thick bangs swept forward, and a look that fans quickly described as distinctly Choi Yena style.

Waterbomb's official social media set the tone early, posting footage with the caption "A fairy is here to catch your heart!" before she took the stage. A second clip, released once she was performing, leaned into her ongoing 'Catch Catch' era: "If you came here just for Catch Catch, we'll believe you, are you ready to shout ta-ta-ra-ta-ta with Yena?" The account also gave her an unofficial award during the set, calling it the "Waterbomb Best Smile Award."

The performance itself delivered. Yena worked through 'Catch Catch' and 'SMILEY,' firing a water gun into the crowd and keeping the energy sharp throughout. The live vocals held up in the outdoor setting, which is where the festival tends to separate performers who can really sing from those who rely on the chaos of the water to cover for them.

Afterward, Yena posted behind-the-scenes photos to her own social channels, giving fans a closer look at the staging and the suit. The response was warm and specific. Comments ranged from "I always dreaded Waterbomb for being all about skin, but this, no exposure, I love it" to "It's even better because she didn't compromise her image" to simply "Please keep performing like this." The reaction reflects how clearly her audience understands what she's building as a solo artist.

Yena made her debut as a member of IZ*ONE before establishing herself as a solo act, and her 'Catch Catch' release this year has been her biggest cultural moment yet. She recently wrapped promotions for her fifth mini-album LOVE CATCHER, and the Waterbomb appearance came just ahead of her encore solo concerts on August 22 and 23, titled Starting from the Square, a World Almost Within Reach: Theater Version, which close out her Asia tour.