YG to launch septet BabyMonster in September

Girl group BabyMonster [YG ENTERTAINMENT]

YG Entertainment's newest girl group, BabyMonster, will debut in September with "a powerful hip-hop track," the K-pop agency said Tuesday.

The seven-member girl group was first announced last December as the latest addition to the K-pop company and also the first girl group since Blackpink.

YG Entertainment previously said that only five out of its seven trainees — Ahyeon, Ruka, Chiquita, Haram, Pharita, Rora and Asa — will debut as BabyMonster, but changed its plan to include all seven.

Out of the seven members, Ahyeon, Haram and Rora are Korean, Pharita and Chiquita are Thai and Ruka and Asa are Japanese.

According to the agency, the septet's song will be "a YG style hip-hop genre continuing the line of girl groups 2NE1 and Blackpink," but no further details were given.

"The band has not only an international makeup of members but the vocals, dance, rap and visuals are also exquisite," the agency said. "It is truly set to be the 'monster' rookies to rock the K-pop scene."

BY YOON SO-YEON [yoon.soyeon@joongang.co.kr]