NewJeans, a name which directly translates to 'new jeans', is an embodiment of the group's ambition to become an enduring icon of the times, loved by all, like a good pair of jeans. The group is made up of members Minji, Hani, Daniel, Haerin, and Hyein. Their dream to become a fashion and music icon was fulfilled within a year of their debut.

NewJeans first stepped into the K-pop market on July 22nd last year, with the release of their debut mini-album 'New Jeans' and its first title track 'Attention'. Initially, they were known as 'Min Heejin's girl group', referencing their affiliation with Min Heejin, who worked as an art director at SM Entertainment before moving to Big Hit Music (HYBE) and later founding her own label, ADOR, in November 2021.

Given Min Heejin's reputation for shaping unique identities for groups like Girls' Generation, SHINee, and f(x) during her time at SM, expectations were sky-high for the debut of her new girl group at HYBE. Notably, Min Heejin introduced a novel approach by revealing the music video for the group's debut track without releasing any teasers for the members or the group itself, drawing significant attention.

True to the phrase 'singers follow their titles', NewJeans captured the attention of K-pop fans worldwide right from their debut. Their other title tracks 'Hype boy' and 'Cookie' also went viral, with numerous memes created around them, signaling the dawn of the 'NewJeans era'.

Following their domination of Summer 2022 with their debut album, NewJeans released their first single 'OMG' in January, captivating listeners through the winter. Particularly, their song 'Ditto' achieved 14 consecutive weeks at number one on South Korea's largest music site, Melon - setting a new record.

Fast forward to July 21, 2023, one year after their debut, NewJeans released their second mini-album 'Get Up'. Once again, they delivered a triple header of title tracks: 'Super Shy', 'Cool With You', and 'ETA', all masterminded by Min Heejin and their star-studded production team. 'ETA' features lyrics by rapper Beenzino, and the music video for 'Cool With You', directed by Shin Woo-seok (known for his work on 'Ditto' and 'OMG'), includes appearances by international actors Yang Joowei and Jung Ho-yeon, creating quite the buzz.

Pre-orders for 'Get Up' surpassed 1.72 million copies a day before its release, more than doubling their previous record. Their debut single 'OMG' had around 800,000 pre-orders, eventually selling over 1.57 million copies. It's almost certain that NewJeans will become million-sellers for the third time with 'Get Up'.

At this point, it seems that NewJeans' only rival is NewJeans itself. In just one year since their debut, they have written a new chapter in K-pop history, achieving unprecedented success. Their early ambition of becoming an enduring icon of the times like a pair of jeans has already come true.

Now an international sensation, NewJeans has captured the attention of global media outlets, solidifying their status as 'icons of the era' in the worldwide music scene. The world eagerly awaits the impact and success of their latest work, 'Get Up', and looks forward to the irresistible charm they will continue to bring to the industry.

Copyright © 2023 Kpop Reporter. All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.