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Lucy Jeong

Finally tapping into the girl band market, South Korean entertainment company Hybe will unveil its first female group this year. On April 13, the agency announced its anticipated album release date for one of the newbies on the roster, Lesserafim, which is set to debut on May 2.

For most K-pop fans, Hybe is usually looked upon as a successful boy band agency, producing popular groups like BTS, TXT and Enhypen. But Hybe is aiming for another title this year with its girl group projects set to launch one after another.
Read on for a sneak peek of Hybe’s Lesserafim before they debut.
Lesserafim will be Hybe Label’s first girl group with Source Music

After months of speculations and guesses on the group’s details, it was on March 28 that Hybe and Source Music announced their first girl group’s name. After a three-day countdown on its website headlined with “I’m Fearless” in bold, the phrase turned out to be an anagram of the band’s name. Along with the grand reveal, various social media channels opened for the band’s upcoming debut. The six-member girl group will debut in May.
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Three members were revealed first

Before all six members were revealed, three familiar faces from idol competition shows were already known to be debuting as part of Lesserafim. After former members of Iz*One, Miyawaki Sakura and Kim Chae-won, signed an exclusive contract with Source Music in March, it was confirmed that they would be debuting as part of the group. Huh Yun-jin, who appeared in the show Produce 48 with the two girls, was revealed to be part of the team too.
The big reveal – and controversies

Source Music unveiled the six members of the group one by one, one day after another, and new faces – Japanese member Kazuha, Hong Eun-chae and Kim Garam – were introduced. After the grand reveal, heated debate also followed with concerns raised over the group’s short tennis skirts and high heels being too sexual, as the members include 15-year-old Hong.
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Also, past photos of Kim spread around online communities with claims that she was a bully in middle school. Following these claims, Source Music put out a statement denying all allegations and even saying that Kim was actually the victim.
Bang Si-hyuk will spearhead the project

As Hybe’s first girl group, Lesserafim’s debut album will be produced by none other than Bang Si-hyuk himself, who played a big part in BTS’ success. He’s already coming out in full support as a head producer, posting a welcome picture with Kim Chae-won and Miyawaki Sakura on his Instagram when they joined Source Music.
In July 2021, Bang stepped down from his CEO position at Hybe to be more involved in the music production side.
Another girl group debut on the line?

K-pop fans are in for a feast, as we will see another girl group coming from Hybe’s sub-label Ador as well. As per BE(ATTITUDE) Magazine’s interview feature, Ador’s CEO Min Hee-jin shared that the group will debut in the third quarter of the year.
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Min Heejin, former creative director for SM Ent has been appointed as BigHit's new CBO (Chief of Branding)

Min Heejin will be working on both BIgHit as well as upcoming subsidiary labels of BigHit in launching a new girl grouphttps://t.co/qiT9JvR0vY
— 파룬 (@balloon_wanted) June 30, 2019

Many fans are excited to see a new girl group coming from Min, who is praised for her distinctive artistic direction, having worked with many groups during her 17-year role as creative director at SM Entertainment.


Appearing on the show You Quiz on the Block last year, she shared how confident she is in the success of the upcoming group, revealing “I already had the [group’s debut] song ready two years ago.”
I-Land 2, Hybe’s girl group global audition programme, will air too

It will for sure be a busy year for Hybe, as it is also co-hosting a girl group global audition programme I-Land 2 with Mnet.


It will be a female version of the show I-Land, where the finalists debuted as boy band Enhypen in 2020. It’s reported that the show will air around the first half of this year.
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The female BTS? Meet Hybe’s first K-pop girl band, Lesserafim: the music giant unveiled six members from Kim Chae-won to Miyawaki, but is Kim Garam really involved in a scandal already?

Meet Hybe’s first girl group, Lesserafim. Photo: Source Music

Hybe’s Lesserafim will debut in May. Photo: Source Music

The name Lesserafim is an anagram of “I’m Fearless”. Photo: Source Music

From left to right we have Lesserafim’s Miyawaki Sakura, Kim Chae-won and Huh Yun-jin. (left to right) Photos: @39saku_chan, @_chaechae_1, @huhneyunjin/Instagram

Girl band Lesserafim has six members. Photo: Source Music

Kim Garam, 16, and Hong Eun-chae, 15, posing in short skirts sparked controversy. Photos: @le_sserafim/Instagram, Source Music

Kim Chae-won with successful producer Bang Si-hyuk and Miyawaki Sakura. Photo: @hitmanb72/Instagram

Hybe’s sub-label Ador will also debut another girl group in 2022. Photo: @alldoorsoneroom/Twitter

Boy band Enhypen was born from the show I-Land in 2020. Photo: Getty

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Son Ye-jin announced her engagement with a photo of a mini wedding dress on Instagram. Photo: @yejinhand/Instagram

Son Ye-jin and Hyun Bin will have a private wedding with only close friends and family. Photo: @vast.ent/Instagram

Hyun Bin and Son Ye-jin are openly affectionate with each other. Photo: @serineblack/Twitter

Hyun Bin and Son Ye-jin are rumoured to be moving into Hyun Bin’s new penthouse after the wedding. Photo: @yejinhand/Instagram

Son Ye-jin and Hyun Bin enjoy playing golf together. Photo: @yejinhand/Instagram

Hyun Bin and Son Ye-jin won hearts as a couple in the 2019 K-drama Crash Landing on You. Photo: TVN

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K-pop idols synonymous with luxury fashion brands like Chanel (Blackpink’s Jennie), Gucci (BTS’ V), Dior (Blackpink’s Jisoo) and Miu Miu (Ive’s Wonyoung). Photos: @jennierubyjane, @sooyaaa__, @for_everyoung10/Instagram; Big Hit Entertainment

Blackpink’s Jennie is seen wearing Chanel at every type of occasion. Photo: @jennierubyjane/Instagram

Blackpink’s Jennie at Paris Fashion Week in 2021. Photo: @jennierubyjane/Instagram

Blackpink’s Jisoo is Dior’s global ambassador. Photo: @sooyaaa__/Instagram

Blackpink’s Jisoo during Paris Fashion Week 2021. Photo: @sooyaaa__/Instagram

BTS’ V’s stage outfits often incorporate bold Gucci items. Photo: @aspire_for_BTS/Twitter

BTS’ V wore Gucci for the “Wings” album photoshoot. Photo: Big Hit Entertainment

Gucci even acknowledged Exo’s Kai as “human Gucci”. Photo: @zkdlin/Instagram

Kai x Gucci features a teddy bear motif. Photo: @zkdlin/Instagram

Ive’s Wonyoung became Miu Miu’s ambassador in 2021. Photo: @for_everyoung10/Instagram

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Son Ye-jin getting dolled up. Photo: @yejinhand/Instagram

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Son Ye-jin about to enjoy some fruit. Photo: @yejinhand/Instagram

Son Ye-jin is picky about what beauty products she uses. Photo: @yejinhand/Instagram

Son Ye-jin says that sunscreen is a must. Photo: @yejinhand/Instagram

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South Korean agency Hybe has produced some of the most popular K-pop boy bands including BTS, TXT and Enhypen thanks to Bang Si-hyuk, who will head Lesserafim
The six members include Miyawaki Sakura, Kim Chae-won, Huh Yun-jin, Kazuha, Kim Garam and Hong Eun-chae, but the latter two teens sparked backlash for their outfits



Could they be the next BTS in female form? Meet Hybe’s first-ever K-pop girl group, Lesserafim, set to debut in May this year
