BUMSUP brings Korea-inspired performance to 'World of Street Woman Fighter'

Korean dance crew BUMSUP perform in Mnet's dance competition show "World of Street Woman Fighter." Courtesy of CJ ENM

What happens when street dance legends from around the world face off under one roof? Mnet’s dance competition show "World of Street Woman Fighter" (WSWF) ups the ante, transforming its hit series into a global showdown and igniting a dance craze with record-breaking performances.

Korean dance crew BUMSUP is dominating the spotlight with their mega crew mission video, “Mongyeong — At the Boundary of Dreams,” directed by Honey J. Released on June 18 via Mnet’s YouTube channel The CHOOM, the performance racked up over 13 million views in just six days — the fastest climb ever across all mission videos in Mnet’s dance competition franchises, including "Street Woman Fighter," "Street Man Fighter" and "Stage Fighter."

In the video, a pre-release for the global vote of the upcoming mega crew mission — featuring each teams mobilizing large numbers of performers — BUMSUP showcased a stunning collaboration with actor Roh Yoon-seo and 102 dancers.

It received praise for its sophisticated blend of Korean tradition with a modern twist. The performance skillfully incorporates elements like gat (traditional Korean hat) and fan dance within the Korean grim reaper, or "jeoseung saja," concept, while keeping it stylish. Viewers also lauded the massive, perfectly synchronized movements of the dancers.

One particularly admired aspect was the high-angle shots of the dancers donning and doffing their gats. This created a striking black-and-white contrast, forming a series of beautiful patterns that truly captivated viewers.

BUMSUP’s performance sparked widespread buzz, even drawing praise from official heritage organizations such as the Korea Heritage Service, the Korea Heritage Agency and the National Intangible Heritage Center. Their official social media accounts joined the YouTube comments section, with one reading, “We came here after hearing a national heritage-level performance had been uploaded.”

Park Jae-hyun, a 36-year-old office worker from Seoul, praised the crew's performance for its visual aesthetics.

"I believe their explosive reaction wasn't simply because of the Korean concept, but rather because they effectively chose and focused on their theme, leading to a sophisticated expression from talented producers," Park said.

He also commented on the choreography of American competitors Motiv Crew, which portrayed current social issues in the U.S., saying it felt more like a well-produced commercial than a true mega crew dance perfromance.

"Other crews might have tried to cram too much into their short videos, which could have hindered their message delivery and detracted slightly from the visual artistry of their dances," he said.

A scene from Mnet's dance competition show "World of Street Woman Fighter" / Courtesy of CJ ENM

As an avid fan who hasn't missed a single episode of the dance survival competition, he shared that watching the show felt like being "introduced to a new field of art I wasn't familiar with."

He described the movements of KYOKA from Osaka Ojo Gang as "the best textbook for understanding what street dance is."

"Watching this series, I became deeply moved by street dance culture and I've since sought out and been impressed by many videos," Park said.

Mnet's "WSWF," first aired on May 27, is the third season of mega-hit show "Street Woman Fighter" franchise. A total of six teams — representing Korea, two from Japan, the U.S., New Zealand and Australia — compete in a nation-versus-nation format.

Team Korea, BUMSUP, is formed by the leaders of various dance teams who appeared in the "Street Woman Fighter" series, including Honey J, Aiki, Gabee, Noze, Leejung, Leehey, Lip J and Monica.

The show also features some of the world's most renowned dance crews: Royal Family from New Zealand, AG Squad representing Australia, Motiv Crew from the U.S. and Japan's Osaka Ojo Gang and RHTokyo. Royal Family was eliminated in the first competition.

Expanding identity of Korean dance

Culture critic Kim Heon-sik noted the viral success of BUMSUP's performance broadens the identity of K-pop, which has long relied on dance as a core element.

"It's no surprise that Korean government organizations related to traditional culture couldn't help but praise it, as Korean traditional culture effectively blends with visual storytelling (in BUMSUP's performance)," he said. "The massive, perfectly synchronized performance also demonstrates an expansion of the identity of K-pop dance performance."

Another critic, Kim Kyo-seok, believes the secret to the longevity of Mnet's dance survival show, which premiered in 2021, lies in its ability to discover new stars who consistently prove their skills.

"I see the continued success of this series as being driven by the discovery of appealing personalities who steadfastly pursue their own paths and carve out their unique niches," he said.

He also noted that the nation-versus-nation format isn't necessarily the primary driver of the show's popularity.

"Perhaps because K-pop has become mainstream, the culture has shifted," he said. "We're now in a mode where people can simply enjoy watching who performs well, moving beyond themes fanned by excessive national pride. I believe this helps in discovering new talents."