As the lineup for YG Entertainment's newest girl group, BabyMonster, solidifies with seven members, all eyes are drawn towards the surprising 'U-turn' by Yang Hyun-suk, the Chief Producer. YG's first venture into larger groups is set to leave an indelible mark on the K-pop scene.

Emerging victorious from thousands of hopefuls, the final members of BabyMonster, announced on May 12, are Ah-hyun, Ha-ram, and Rora from South Korea, Parita and Chiquita from Thailand, and Luca and Asa from Japan. The group's multinational composition is noteworthy, with most members being all-rounders, equally adept at singing, rapping, and dancing.

What's intriguing, however, is the size of the group. The number of members in BabyMonster has been one of the biggest curiosities for global fans. YG's girl groups have previously had a tradition of four members, from 2NE1 to Blackpink.

For BabyMonster, the first girl group from YG in about seven years after Blackpink, the original plan was a five-member group. Yang Hyun-suk had initially stated, "From the planning stage, it was meant to be five members. There haven't been larger groups in YG's girl group history." Yet, true to YG's 'never-know-till-the-end' style, a seven-member possibility remained open, with all the members from the survival show eventually debuting, changing the group to seven.

The U-turn had a reason. Through the broadcast of 'Last Evolution' that documented the members' survival journey, Yang expressed, "I've been continuously pondering over who the best combination would be. There is no ranking of who did well or not. I couldn't decide on five members in my heart." He showed a constant struggle, filled with sincere appreciation for the efforts of the members, urging them to applaud each other for their hard work.

In the 'BabyMonster' channel where he announced the final members, he noted, "I think there will be many people who blame me," revealing a five-member lineup excluding Rora and Asa. He explained that Lola was excluded due to her young age, intending to put her as the main vocalist in the next girl group or another 'Monster' team. As for Asa, he regretfully shared, "Asa is an essential member as an all-rounder multi-player. I want to put her in a project to form a girl group in Japan, which will progress by the end of this year or early next year."

Thus, while introducing the five members as a producer, Yang revealed the deep contemplation he underwent for two weeks. "There were so many fans who wanted a seven-member debut. Nearly 98% or 99% demanded a seven-member lineup. I was confused whether it was right or wrong for me, as a producer, to ignore you and go as planned. I had time to look back," he confessed.

He then touched upon the real 'YG Family'. He reminisced, "In the early days, YG crews made albums and held concerts, and I had this thought. I believe that the true YG Family includes not only the artists but also the fans," and shockingly announced that they finally decided on a seven-member lineup together with the fans. "YG chose five, and the rest were chosen by you," he added.

Moreover, he reflected, "I think I have worried too much over the past four months when the answer was already there," expressing his belief that through both unit and group activities, he can achieve both pictures he had in mind. As a larger group, the members can exhibit a more dynamic 'together yet apart' approach in their activities.

Regarding BabyMonster's debut, he asserted, "We won't cross this fall. I'll step on the accelerator," emphasizing that "It's been a long time since I've greeted or interviewed in front of fans. Now, I will dedicate all my efforts to support and help Baby Monsters from behind the scenes," indicating his wholehearted commitment to the debut as the executive producer.

The change in original plans can be attributed to the impressive talents of the members and Yang Hyun-suk's genuine consideration and affection for the YG Family.

The seven-member debut has already played a significant role in preventing potential fan attrition and cementing a massive initial fandom. Indeed, BabyMonster's official YouTube channel has garnered more than 2 million subscribers at an unprecedented speed among K-pop girl groups, and the cumulative video views surpassed a monumental 400 million in just 127 days. Along with the announcement of the final lineup, Baby Monsters tossed their first gauntlet into the music world by releasing their pre-debut song 'DREAM'. It remains to be seen whether YG, which has previously dominated the global scene with 2NE1 and Blackpink, will achieve meaningful success in the fifth generation of K-pop with BabyMonster.

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