The end of the year in K-Pop is shaping up to be not just a wrap-up but a 'fresh start'. This November, major new male and female idol groups are set to make their debut. YG Entertainment's (YG) rookie girl group BABYMONSTER and C-JeS Studio's ambitious project WHIB, a renowned acting agency and prominent production company, are the stars of the show.
Their consecutive debuts are already drawing significant attention in the K-Pop scene, which is always thirsty for new talent. The fact that they hail from agencies recognized as industry leaders and their coincidentally similar debut timings have only magnified the spotlight on them.
Firstly, BABYMONSTER, dubbed as the 'post-BLACKPINK' expected to carry YG's future, is already showcasing a unique presence even before their official debut. They have secured a considerable 'potential global fandom', evidenced by their official YouTube channel's whopping 3.12 million subscribers and nearly 450 million cumulative views.
BABYMONSTER's debut also draws attention as it seems to confirm the 'YG Super Girl Group 7-Year Cycle Theory', suggesting that it's no longer just a hypothesis but an established pattern. This 7-year cycle theory, traceable through YG's girl group lineage, started with 2NE1 in 2009, followed by BLACKPINK in 2016, and now BABYMONSTER this year.
On the other hand, C-JeS, known for its top actors and as a film and drama production company, is also making headlines with its new boy group. The 8-member idol group WHIB announced their official debut just a few hours before BABYMONSTER's announcement.
WHIB, a portmanteau of WHITE and BLACK, aims to apply C-JeS's core sophisticated image to K-Pop, planning to unveil an unprecedented shade as a 'High-End Boy Band'. Profile posters of the 8 members, which served as a sort of teaser, immediately became a hot topic on various idol communities, marking their potential success as representatives of the 5th generation idols.
C-JeS houses top actors like Seol Kyung-gu, Moon So-ri, Ra Mi-ran, and Ryu Jun-yeol, as well as top-tier musicians like Gummy and Noel. They also gained recognition for their production capabilities with last year's hit movie 'Owl'.
