Emerson Unger

Now, Coachella and K-pop have been friends for years, but things changed back in 2019 when BLACKPINK became the first all-female K-pop idol group to perform on the festival’s 20th anniversary. This set off a wave of high expectations for the following year when one of the biggest K-pop groups (BIGBANG) would reunite on the Coachella stage. However, due to the pandemic, BIGBANG’s Coachella performance was postponed and eventually canceled.

With the pandemic winding down, Coachella is back. These past two weekends of April 15 to 17 and 22 to 24 have been epic when it comes to K-pop in the Colorado Desert in California. Here are some of the historic highlights. Thank you 88rising.

The queen, CL, was invited to perform at this year’s Coachella by 88rising, an American multinational music company that promotes Asian artists. However, CL could not pass up the opportunity to reunite with her fellow girls on stage. So, in a surprise performance and after almost 6 years apart the iconic girl group 2NE1 performed at Coachella.

2. Epik High
Just like 2NE1, Epik High knows a thing or two about hip hop.  After making history back in 2016 as the first Koreans to perform at Coachella, six years later, they returned.

3. GOT7’s Jackson Wang
Again, thanks to 88rising, GOT7’s Jackson Wang took to the Coachella stage. We performed his new single, “Blow,” and he did it shirtless.

Aespa is still a very young group, but these girls slayed on the Coachella stage. Fans were delighted to hear after the first weekend of Coachella that the girls would be making their debut for the festival’s second weekend.

OK, they didn’t perform at Coachella, but they definitely came to have some fun. Former U-KISS member and lead actor in Broadway’s K-pop The Musical, Kevin Woo shared his attendance and enjoyment on social media. Likewise, BLACKPINK’s Jennie could be seen dancing all weekend.