South Korean girl group Blackpink wore custom black hanboks onstage at Coachella on Saturday as they became the first Asian act to headline the festival, performing on the second day of this year's event before a reported crowd of more than 125,000 people.
Blackpink open Coachella headline set in traditional Korean hanboks
South Korean girl group Blackpink wore custom black hanboks onstage at Coachella on Saturday as they became the first Asian act to headline the festival, performing on the second day of this year's event before a reported crowd of more than 125,000 people.
The four members — Jennie, Jisoo, Lisa, and Rosé — removed the traditional Korean garments a few seconds into their opening track, 'Pink Venom,' revealing custom black and pink Dolce and Gabbana outfits underneath. Screenshots of the hanbok moment spread widely among the group's fanbase, known as Blinks.
The hanboks were custom created by South Korean pattern design brand OUWR and traditional Korean dressmakers Kumdanje. Inspired by the Cheol-lik silhouette, each garment was hand-embroidered with metallic traditional Korean motifs, including dan-cheong patterns and peonies, which the designers described as a symbol of royalty in Korea. 'It was our pleasure and such an honor to be able to show the beautiful values of Korea and Hanbok together,' the designers wrote in a combined Instagram post.
Other visual references to Korean culture appeared during the set, including a stage backdrop featuring an angular tiled roof described as reminiscent of traditional Korean architecture. The group addressed the audience in English throughout their two-hour performance before closing their set in Korean: 'Until now, it has been Jennie, Jisoo, Lisa, and Rosé Blackpink. Thank you.'
According to Guinness World Records, Blackpink is currently the most streamed female group on Spotify and holds the most-viewed music YouTube channel. Last year they became the first female K-Pop group to reach number one on both the UK and US album charts. In 2020, their track 'How You Like That' became the most viewed video on YouTube in 24 hours. In 2019, they became the first female K-Pop group to perform at Coachella or any other US festival.
In Korea, hanboks are worn for special occasions and frequently appear in TV dramas. Several designers have produced contemporary versions for everyday wear. At Seoul Fashion Week, JULYCOLUMN's Fall-Winter 2023 collection drew on the hanbok's voluminous silhouette, and in September Korean label BlueTamburin used traditional hanbok fabric exclusively for its Spring-Summer 2023 collection shown at Milan Fashion Week.
- The source does not state an official attendance figure; the crowd size of more than 125,000 is described only as a reported figure.
- The source does not include any statement from Blackpink's management or the members themselves about the decision to wear hanboks.
- The source does not state who organized or confirmed the 'first Asian act to headline Coachella' designation or which body verified it.
- The source does not describe the full setlist or detail other elements of the two-hour performance beyond the opening track and closing remarks.
- The source does not state the cost or commissioning timeline of the custom hanbok garments.