Jennie Merges Performance and Heritage on the MMA Stage
BLACKPINK’s Jennie captivated audiences at the Melon Music Awards (MMA) 2025 with a visually striking performance that blended modern pop artistry with deep Korean cultural symbolism. Making her first MMA stage appearance in seven years, Jennie performed wearing a dramatic 15-meter-long veil covered in Hangeul, drawing widespread praise online.
A Veil Rooted in Korean Language and Identity
The veil featured verses from Cheonggu Yeongeon, recognized as the first songbook written in Hangeul. Flowing from elevated stage equipment to the floor, the veil appeared during her opening performance of “Seoul City,” transforming the stage into a symbolic space of origin and identity. According to fashion brand LE JE, the veil was designed not to conceal, but to represent a moment of confronting one’s roots through language.
Craftsmanship That Amplified the Message
Jennie later appeared in a sequined jacket during her performance of “Like Jennie.” Each of the approximately 2,000 sequins was engraved with her name in Hangeul, a detail that reportedly required more than 200 hours of production. LE JE described the piece as a visual record of self-definition, emphasizing identity expressed through one’s own language rather than external labels.
Awards, Reception, and Global Impact
Jennie won three major awards at MMA 2025, including the Grand Prize “Record of the Year” for her solo album Ruby. The performance video surpassed 6.1 million views within days, sparking tens of thousands of comments praising its artistic depth.
Beyond the ceremony, Ruby continued to receive international recognition, ranking 29th on Rolling Stone’s “100 Best Albums of 2025”, the highest placement among K-pop artists this year.
Source: https://www.chosun.com/english/travel-food-en/2025/12/22/XCLRT47YCJAJDEBCXULW4RFJDE/
