HYBE to launch first girl group project on March 28

Miyawaki Sakura, left, and Kim Chaewon [ILGAN SPORTS]

K-pop powerhouse HYBE’s first girl group debut project begins on March 28, Source Music said Friday.

Source Music is a label under HYBE and managed the now-disbanded girl group GFriend.

Source Music is teasing the news on its website that shows the words “IM FEARLESS” in the center of a black background. Red numbers counting down from 72 hours is shown underneath.

The countdown will end as clocks strike 12 the morning of March 28.

On Monday, Miyawaki Sakura and Kim Chaewon, both of whom are ex-members of now-disbanded girl group IZ*ONE, revealed that they signed with Source Music.

“They will debut as members of the first girl group launched through HYBE and Source Music’s collaboration,” Source Music said through a statement.

Miyawaki debuted in 2011 as a member of Japanese girl group HKT48, then appeared as a contestant on Mnet’s hit K-pop audition program “Produce 48” (2018). She and Kim were two of the show’s 12 finalists and debuted as members of IZ*ONE in 2018. The girl group disbanded in April 2021.

IZ*ONE had hit songs “La Vie en Rose” (2018), “Fiesta” (2020) and “Panorama” (2020).

BY SHIN MIN-HEE [shin.minhee@joongang.co.kr]