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Yang Hyun-suk Announces Ahyeon’s Return to BABYMONSTER

Yang Hyun-suk, the founder of YG Entertainment, recently made a thrilling announcement: Ahyeon is rejoining BABYMONSTER! This news comes after her brief departure from the group a while back.

BABYMONSTER | YG Surprise Announcement

In November 2023, YG Entertainment announced that Ahyeon would sit out BABYMONSTER’s debut, citing health issues. While the label didn’t provide specifics, they committed to supporting her recovery. However, some speculated that her hiatus wasn’t health-related but due to a controversy involving her use of a racial slur during a performance at Hanlim Arts High School. A video of this incident went viral on social media, sparking significant backlash just before BABYMONSTER’s debut.

@quicktoxic

Career didn’t even start yet #babymonster #ahyeon #ahyeonbabymonster

♬ original sound – Sam

Regardless of the reasons behind her hiatus, YG Entertainment now deems Ahyeon ready to rejoin the group. She will participate in the group’s upcoming comeback with their first mini-album this spring. Consequently, BABYMONSTER will be recording new seven-member versions of their first two singles, “BATTER UP” and the pre-release single “Stuck In the Middle.” The original versions didn’t feature Ahyeon.

Ahyeon is expected to boost the group’s appeal

Ahyeon’s absence was keenly felt during the group’s debut, as she was long considered a potential superstar within YG Entertainment. Some critics and fans attribute the lukewarm reception of BABYMONSTER to the fact that Ahyeon wasn’t with the others at the time. Now that she’s back, her presence is expected to boost the group’s performance and appeal. 

Following their comeback with “Stuck In the Middle” on February 1, and the release of their first mini-album around April, YG Entertainment has plans for the rookie group to release their first full-length album towards the end of the year. Yang Hyun-suk also revealed that YG Entertainment has expanded its in-house production team. This indicates that they now have enough manpower to ensure the timely release of the girl group’s new material.

Korean netizens have reacted positively to Ahyeon’s return, expressing excitement and high expectations for the impact she will bring to the rookie group. Their comments ranged from welcoming her back to expressing excitement for the group’s upcoming releases. – K-Pop News Writer

Featured Image: Fans are buzzing about Ahyeon’s return. Source: X/@BABYMONGLOBAL.

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BABYMONSTER Drops ‘STUCK IN THE MIDDLE’ Character Posters for First 4 Members

Rising to the forefront of the K-pop scene, YG Entertainment’s rookie girl group, BABYMONSTER, has generated anticipation with the release of a captivating teaser for their upcoming pre-release single, “Stuck In The Middle.”  Along with the main poster, the girl group dropped character posters for the first four members.

BABYMONSTER Unveils Teaser for Pre-Release Single “Stuck In The Middle”

On January 26 at midnight KST, the group unveiled a title poster for the single, offering a glimpse into the concept and vibe of the upcoming release.

In addition to the title poster, individual character posters of members Asa, Chiquita, Rami, and Ruka were also unveiled. These character posters serve as a visual introduction to the personalities and styles of the respective members, building excitement among fans.

With the character posters for Pharita and Rora already expected to be dropped tomorrow, fans are eagerly awaiting the unveiling of Ahyeon’s poster. But will she be joining the rest of BABYMONSTER in their upcoming comeback in February?

Will Ahyeon Get Her Own Character Poster?

Since Ahyeon did not take part in BABYMONSTER’s debut or recent comeback preparations due to health concerns, the latest comeback will feature only the other six members of BABYMONSTER. However, Ahyeon will be rejoining BABYMONSTER for their April comeback, marking her return to the group. She was previously absent during the preparations for their debut and recent comeback due to health concerns. The April comeback will also feature a seven-member lineup.

“Stuck In The Middle” is set to be released online on February 1 at midnight KST. The pre-release single is a precursor to BABYMONSTER’s continuous musical journey. Fans can anticipate an immersive experience as the group showcases their talent and unique charms. With YG Entertainment backing their endeavors, BABYMONSTER is also poised to make a lasting impact in the K-pop industry.

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BABYMONSTER’s ‘Batter Up’ MV Hits 100 Million Views on YouTube

BABYMONSTER continues to prove that they are the next big thing in K-pop. The rookie girl group just achieved another major milestone as their “BATTER UP” MV reached over 100 million views on YouTube. Amazingly, the idols managed the feat just over two weeks after the single was released!

‘BATTER UP’ MV Finally Hits 100M Views

BABYMONSTER, the girl group from YG Entertainment, has achieved a significant milestone with their debut music video “BATTER UP,” as it reached 100 million views on YouTube. The video, released on November 27, 2023, attained this remarkable feat in just 18 days, setting a record as the fastest debut music video by a K-Pop group to surpass 100 million views.

The success of “BATTER UP” was evident from its quick ascent on YouTube, reaching 50 million views within just under 4 days and 8 hours of its release. To celebrate this achievement, the group released a dance performance video for their fans.

BABYMONSTER, initially consisting of seven members—Ruka, Pharita, Asa, Ahyeon, Rami, Rora, and Chiquita—was formed through a meticulous selection process documented in the reality show “Last Evaluation.” The final lineup represents the group’s multicultural identity, featuring members from South Korea, Japan, and Thailand.

Despite facing initial uncertainties, such as rumors of member Ahyeon departing due to health reasons, YG Entertainment clarified that Ahyeon would remain part of the lineup. She chose to temporarily exclude herself from debut activities to prioritize her recovery, emphasizing the agency’s commitment to the well-being of its artists.

As BABYMONSTER continues to make waves with their debut, the anticipation surrounding their future activities and contributions to the K-pop landscape is growing. The group’s achievement not only underscores their talent and appeal but also solidifies YG Entertainment’s commitment to nurturing and promoting exceptional artists in the dynamic world of K-pop. BABYMONSTER’s rapid success highlights the global appeal of K-pop and the enthusiasm of fans worldwide for new and exciting groups emerging from renowned entertainment agencies.

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Ahyeon to No Longer Debut With BABYMONSTER

Ahead of its highly anticipated debut, BABYMONSTER has undergone a change in its lineup, with trainee Ahyeon departing the group. 

On Wednesday, YG Entertainment announced that Ahyeon would no longer debut with upcoming girl group BABYMONSTER due to health reasons

According to the agency, they’ve decided to let Ahyeon “focus on getting rest for the time being due to health reasons.” Moreover, they added that the decision was made for the sake of the artist’s health. Additionally, they promised that they will prioritize Ahyeon’s recovery so that she’ll return to good health. 

Prior to YG Entertainment’s announcement,  some fans had long speculated about Ahyeon’s absence from BABYMONTER’s activities, noting that it might be the reason why there’s a delay in the group’s debut. 

Several eagle-eyed fans have pointed out that Ahyeon has been missing from the group’s social media content with her last video posted in July.

On top of that, the  group was also seen attending BLACKPINK’s Born Pink finale concert in Seoul, but only six members were present. Based on the photos circulating online, Ahyeon wasn’t in attendance.

As of writing, Ahyeon has yet to address her departure from the group. 

How will BABYMONSTER go from here? 

Following Ahyeon’s departure, YG Entertainment confirms that BABYMONSTER will debut with six members: Ruka, Pharita, Asa, Haram, Rora, and Chiquita

On November 10, YG Entertainment released a teaser for the group’s debut slated for November 27. Since then, the agency has started releasing individual teasers for the members. However, further details about the group’s release are yet to be disclosed. 

 

Ahead of the group’s official debut, BABYMONSTER has already built a substantial social media following, boasting 3.4 million Instagram followers and 3.1 million YouTube subscribers. 

Moreover, the debut of BABYMONSTER holds significance for YG Entertainment, considering the departure of several artists between 2022 and 2023. Notably, BABYMONSTER also marks YG Entertainment’s first girl group since the debut of BLACKPINK in 2016.

 

The journey to BABYMONSTER’s debut was documented through the reality show Last Evaluation, which was launched in March. Originally intended to consist of five members, overwhelming demand from viewers led to the inclusion of all seven members in the final lineup. 

In May, they released their pre-debut song, “DREAM,” generating excitement among fans. 

Featured image: Ahyeon in her teaser for Last Evaluation. Credit: Website/YG Life

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YG Entertainment Addresses Ahyeon’s BABYMONSTER Exit

It’s finally happening: YG Entertainment has confirmed that BABYMONSTER is set for a November debut. However, there are still some concerns about the future for Ahyeon, who has seemingly disappeared from the group’s lineup. Interestingly, the agency has since addressed Ahyeon’s possible BABYMONSTER exit.

YG Entertainment Seemingly Debunks Ahyeon’s BABYMONSTER Exit

On October 11, YG Entertainment confirmed that BABYMONSTER is ready for their debut. The recent announcement finally put an end to the anxious anticipation of fans. Originally scheduled for a September debut, the plans faced a delay, with YG Entertainment explaining that it was essential to select the perfect song for their introduction. However, all preparations have now been concluded, and the group is set to begin filming their debut music video at the end of October. BABYMONSTER’s official debut is slated for November.

While this announcement alleviated concerns about the debut, it also raised questions regarding the group’s lineup. Recent speculations have been circulating about Ahyeon, one of the supposed seven members of BABYMONSTER, potentially leaving the group. Notably, during BLACKPINK’s Born Pink Seoul finale concert in September, only six BABYMONSTER members were observed in the audience. Ahyeon’s prolonged absence from the group’s social media further fueled suspicions of her departure.

The latest notice from YG Entertainment did not specify the final lineup of BABYMONSTER either. However, a YG representative informed JTBC that Ahyeon is “also preparing for her debut.” This statement, lacking additional details, has added to the uncertainty surrounding Ahyeon’s status within BABYMONSTER. It remains unclear whether she is still part of the lineup or if she is preparing to join another girl group under the same agency.

Ahyeon had been a standout participant in “Last Evolution,” the YouTube reality content that showcased the potential skills and talents of BABYMONSTER members. Despite not having made her debut yet, Ahyeon has amassed a substantial domestic and international fanbase through her performances. Her future path within the group or in another venture remains a topic of curiosity and anticipation among fans.

The BABYMONSTER official debut date has not yet been announced but is already set for November 2023. Stay tuned for more updates on this story.

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