Ahyeon’s sudden departure from BABYMONSTER may have dealt a blow to the group’s debut
On November 15, Korean media reported Ahyeon’s exit from BABYMONSTER citing personal reasons. This was later confirmed by YG Entertainment.
Expressing regret, YG stated, “We are deeply sorry that we cannot introduce Ahyeon as a member of BABYMONSTER. However, this decision was made for the artist’s health. We are making efforts to support Ahyeon’s full recovery and return in the best condition.“
Losing Ahyeon, BABYMONSTER’s “ace” in both skills and popularity
BABYMONSTER originally consisted of 7 members, with Ahyeon being the standout for her striking resemblance to Jennie, while Chiquita shared similarities with Lisa. Ahyeon’s all-rounded skills, charismatic aura, and confidence reminiscent of Jennie set her apart.
Not only did Ahyeon excel in singing, dancing, and rapping, but she was also praised by former YG’s CEO Yang Hyun Suk as a “warrior armed with all the weapons.”
Ahyeon’s departure is particularly significant as she was BABYMONSTER’s most popular member. Her cover of “Dangerously” went viral across social media platforms, amassing 32 million views, ranking as the third-highest on BABYMONSTER’s YouTube channel.
Haram’s “Pick Up Your Feelings” stands at second place, but with a significant gap of 12 million views compared to Ahyeon’s video.
Currently, the news of Ahyeon leaving BABYMONSTER stands at No. 10 among the most-read entertainment news on Korea’s Naver portal, underscoring her influence.
The departure of the most popular member, both in terms of popularity and skills like Ahyeon, is undoubtedly a heavy blow to BABYMONSTER’s debut. Losing a stan attractor like Ahyeon may diminish the hype unless BABYMONSTER’s debut song is catchy enough.
BABYMONSTER’s lineup has more foreigners than Koreans
Beyond Ahyeon’s exit, a more critical concern looms for BABYMONSTER is the scarcity of Korean members in the group. Only two members, Haram and Rora, are from Korea, while the remaining four members come from Japan (Ruka and Asa) and Thailand (Pharita and Chiquita).
This demographic composition deviates from the norm in K-pop idol groups, where Korean members typically outnumber foreign members. The imbalance is raising concerns, with some netizens questioning whether a group with over half its members being non-Korean can be considered a Korean idol group.
In the competitive K-pop market, having a substantial fanbase domestically is crucial before venturing into the international market. However, BABYMONSTER’s challenge is compounded by the departure of Ahyeon, who was a significant attraction for Korean fans.
G)I-DLE is a rare successful K-pop group with more foreign members, but initially, they debuted with a lineup of 3 Koreans and 3 foreigners, before the departure of Soojin disrupted the balance. Unlike BABYMONSTER, (G)I-DLE had already established a core fan base over several years when the balance shifted.
Notably, BABYMONSTER’s foreign member ratio is not just higher but even double that of the Korean members. Therefore, fans are understandably anxious about BABYMONSTER’s future.
YG attempts to allay concerns, emphasizing their efforts to ensure BABYMONSTER’s successful debut. The company claims to have selected high-quality songs from top global artists, with the support of senior artists and producers at YG to perfect BABYMONSTER’s “dream lineup.”
Despite the hurdles, BABYMONSTER’s fate remains uncertain as fans eagerly await their debut.
Source: K14
