3-4-2024 (SEOUL) K-pop enthusiasts celebrated as BabyMonster, the highly anticipated seven-member group under YG Entertainment, officially marked their debut on Monday (Apr 1) with the release of their inaugural EP, ‘BABYMONS7ER’.
After a hiatus of nearly four months due to health concerns, 16-year-old Ahyeon has made a triumphant return to the fold, rejoining the ranks of YG Entertainment’s burgeoning K-pop sensation.
Speaking to South Korean press at the YG Entertainment headquarters following the EP’s midnight release, BabyMonster’s Rora expressed the group’s collective joy at Ahyeon’s comeback, stating, “We took for granted that we would be debuting as a group of seven – we’ve been together for quite some time too.”
“We are so very happy to have Ahyeon back,” the 15-year-old added, radiating enthusiasm.
Prior to Ahyeon’s reinstatement, BabyMonster had already captured hearts with the release of two singles, ‘Batter Up’ and ‘Stuck In The Middle’. Their latest EP promises refreshed versions of these tracks, now enriched with Ahyeon’s vocal contributions.
“The songs felt somewhat hollow, somewhat empty when they were first released with the six members,” remarked BabyMonster’s Asa, 17. “Now that Ahyeon is here, I feel like both songs are filled.”
Meanwhile, Ahyeon expressed her gratitude towards her fellow members and fans for their unwavering support during her hiatus.
“I had a hard time mentally,” she confessed. “I wanted to recover fast, but it didn’t go as I hoped. I was upset at myself and I felt sorry for the members.”
“But (my) six other members – Rami, Rora, Pharita, Chiquita, Ruka and Asa – did so well and they helped me calm my nerves when I just resumed my musical activity,” she recounted. “I want to take this opportunity to show my appreciation to them.”
‘BABYMONS7ER’ boasts seven tracks, including ‘Monsters’, ‘Sheesh’, ‘Like That’ and ‘Dream’.
Dubbed as Blackpink’s “sister group”, BabyMonster marks YG Entertainment’s first girl group debut in seven years.
The budding K-pop ensemble is set to embark on its first meet-and-greet tour, ‘See You There’, in the coming months, with scheduled stops in Singapore, Japan, Indonesia, Taiwan, and Thailand, promising to bring their electrifying performances to fans across the region.
