Girl group aespa to refresh Seoul with citywide pop-ups for 'Lemonade' release

K-pop girl group aespa will launch a sweeping pop-up project across Seoul and overseas in celebration of its second full-length album "Lemonade" next week, according to its agency SM Entertainment on Tuesday. 

Titled "aespa WEEK — Make It Lemonade," the pop-ups are slated to run from May 29 to June 7 and span multiple outdoor riverside locations and the IFC Mall in Yeongdeungpo District, western Seoul.

Outdoor highlights will be held at the Banpo Bridge Moonlight Rainbow Fountain in Seocho District, southern Seoul, on May 29 and 30, and Yeouido Hangang Park in Yeongdeungpo District from May 29 to 31. A hands-on "experience zone" for fans will also run at Yeouido Hangang Park through June 7, the agency said.

IFC Mall will feature a themed space built around the upcoming album's concept, along with aespa merchandise and photo booths.

Simultaneous pop-ups will be held in Los Angeles and New York from May 19 to 31; Shenzhen, China, from May 29 to June 14; Bangkok from June 4 to 14; Tokyo from June 24 to 30; and Taipei, Taiwan, from July 3 to 19.

"Lemonade," set for release on May 29, follows aespa's prerelease track, "WDA (Whole Different Animal)," featuring G-Dragon, which dropped May 11.  The hip-hop-based dance track entered the top 10 of the iTunes Top Songs charts in 17 countries, including Thailand, Portugal, Vietnam, Brazil and Indonesia, upon its release. The full album is set to feature 10 tracks, including "WDA."

The group is also slated to embark on a new world tour, "SYNK: ____æ____" starting with two concerts on Aug. 7 and 8 in Seoul, followed by a concert in Taipei on Aug. 11.

The tour will continue in Sao Paulo on Sept. 4, Santiago on Sept. 6, San Miguel, El Salvador, on Sept. 9 and Mexico City on Sept. 11.

The North American leg will begin with a concert in Hamilton, Ontario, on Sept. 15, followed by a performance in Elmont, New York, on Sept. 18, Washington on Sept. 22, Atlanta on Sept. 24, Miami on Sept. 26, Dallas on Sept. 29, Los Angeles on Oct. 3, Oakland, California, on Oct. 6, Seattle on Oct. 9 and Vancouver, Canada, on Oct. 11.

The European leg will commence with a concert in Manchester, Britain, on Jan. 14, 2027, followed by performances in London on Jan. 16, Amsterdam on Jan. 19, Stockholm on Jan. 22, Copenhagen on Jan. 24, Berlin on Jan. 26, Milan on Jan. 29, Barcelona on Jan. 31 and Paris on Feb. 2.

aespa debuted with its first digital single, “Black Mamba,” under SM Entertainment in 2020. The quartet, comprised of members Karina, Giselle, Winter and Ningning, is best known for hit songs such as “Next Level” (2021), “Spicy” (2023), “Drama” (2024), “Supernova” (2024) and “Rich Man” (2025).

BY LEE JIAN. [[email protected]]