BabyMonster tops music charts a month after debut

'BabyMonster' is the newest girl group in K-pop, and all eyes are on them, for they are YG Entertainment's apparent heirs to the world-famous Blackpink. The group has also managed to stir some controversy over ethics in the K-pop industry since their debut.

All images are from YG Entertainment unless otherwise stated.

BabyMonster, also known as 'Baemon',’ is a seven-member girl group founded by YG Entertainment. The group debuted on November 27, 2023, with their single, ‘Batter Up’.

News1 had reported far back in 2018 that talks for a new girl group in YG Entertainment had been circulating within the K-pop industry itself.

The industry kept a close eye on this news because YG Entertainment is well known for creating some of K-pop's best music groups, including 2NE1 and Blackpink.

Tatler Asia reported that selection for candidates began in the same year, when participants as young as 10 were allowed into YG Entertainment’s training program after passing auditions where they had to compete with thousands of other hopefuls.

According to SpoTV News, in order to choose the final lineup for BabyMonster, YG Entertainment created a reality TV show called 'Last Evaluation,' in which trainees were evaluated and eventually chosen for the final lineup by in-show judges and the general public.

Despite only intending for five members, The Korea Herald reports that seven girls were eventually selected for the final lineup for BabyMonster.

Today, BabyMonster consists of Korean members Ahyeon, Rami, and Rora; Japanese members Ruka and Asa; and Thai members Pharita and Chiquita.

Image: babymonster_ygofficial / Instagram

According to a Cosmopolitan report, Ahyeon is one of BabyMonster’s members who auditioned to be in the group out of thousands and was recruited in 2018.

Despite remaining in the official lineup, Ahyeon did not debut with the rest of the BabyMonster members due to health concerns and is considered a member on hiatus, reports Sports Donga.

Tatler Asia reports that prior to being part of BabyMonster, Rami worked as a child model at the young age of two. Before her final stage name as ‘Rami’ she was previously known as ‘Haram’.

One interesting fact about BabyMonster’s Rora is that she used to be in a children’s girl group, U.SSO Girl, with NewJeans’ Hyein, reports Elle Japan!

Ruka had previously been a member of a Japanese girl group before joining BabyMonster. The Korea Herald reports that she was a founding member of the 73-member group ‘Shibu3 project’ before she left to become a member of BabyMonster.

Asa is one of the two members of BabyMonster, other than Rora, who were selected to be part of the final lineup as part of a fan-favourite choice from ‘Last Evaluation’, reports The Korea Herald.

Pharita was initially a member of a Thai reality TV show, ‘Idol Paradise’, in hopes of being selected to be part of a Thai girl group, according to a TNN Online report. However, she left and auditioned for YG Entertainment in 2018 and eventually became part of BabyMonster.

Nation Thailand reports that Chiquita is no stranger to the music industry, as her brother, Copper, is a fellow entertainer in Thailand and is a member of the boy group 'BUS’.

Chiquita andd Copper's careers follow similar parallels, with them both being part of a reality TV programme and coming out on top to be selected as members of music groups.

Despite the hype surrounding BabyMonster, the Times of India reports that the final lineup choice of having an underage member, Chiquita, who was recruited at 13 and made her debut at 14, sparked controversy.

According to the same report, netizens have been buzzing about and criticising YG Entertainment for not only debuting legal children but also for their underage members' 'adult' clothing and styling choices.

Koreaboo reports that netizens have additionally more to say about YG Entertainment's choice in their latest girl group's styling, accusing the company of appropriating black music culture and for their subpar debut music compared to 2NE1 and Blackpink.

The controversies did not deter BabyMonster from being well-received by the media, as the group managed to top several charts, including Billboard and iTunes' Top 50, just after debuting with 'Batter Up' on November 27, according to Forbes and The Straits Times.