BABYMONSTER Marks 2nd Debut Anniversary Today (1st)… Why the Future Looks Even Brighter [HT Focus]

BABYMONSTER celebrates their 2nd debut anniversary today (1st).

BABYMONSTER’s two years have been quiet yet solid. By overcoming immense pressure with their skills, they have steadily built their own place. Like a young sprout taking root, we look back on BABYMONSTER’s two-year journey.

■ Two years ago, a sprout bloomed under heavy expectations

From the moment YG Entertainment announced their next girl group lineup on May 12, 2023, BABYMONSTER became the center of attention. All trainees who participated in the survival program ‘Last Evaluation’ were included in the debut lineup. Although it was initially announced that not all seven contestants would debut, every member ultimately made it, driven by strong fan support.

BABYMONSTER’s first digital single ‘BATTER UP,’ released on November 27, 2023, was initially expected to be their official debut track. However, due to member AHYEON’s absence for health reasons, it remained a six-member pre-debut track. Nevertheless, the group made a powerful impact by achieving 22.59 million views within 24 hours of release and surpassing 100 million views in just 18 days, setting records for the highest and fastest views among K-pop group debut songs.

On April 1, 2024, their official debut date, BABYMONSTER released their first mini album <BABYMONS7ER> with all seven members, including AHYEON, who had returned after recovery. The title track ‘SHEESH’ currently holds approximately 397.91 million views on YouTube, the highest among their released music videos, reflecting the immense attention they received at debut.

As a girl group debuting under YG Entertainment after seven years, and as the direct junior group to BLACKPINK, the pressure was undeniable. However, BABYMONSTER eased that burden through their solid skills. Their bold lyrics about shaking the world gained credibility through stable live performances and strong stage presence, far beyond what is expected of rookies.

■ Nourished by love, their stem has grown stronger

The release of their first full album ‘DRIP’ in November 2024 became a turning point where their live performance skills were widely recognized. ASA’s rapid-fire rap following the first chorus and AHYEON’s triple high-note bridge became so-called “killing parts.” While there were initial concerns about whether such demanding parts could be performed live, the members proved otherwise by delivering them effortlessly on music shows with handheld microphones.

On December 25 of the same year, they appeared on Japan’s YouTube channel ‘THE FIRST TAKE,’ performing a one-take live, and at the SBS Song Festival, they performed entirely with handheld microphones, proving themselves as artists unafraid of live performance. These videos have currently reached 45.56 million and 17 million views, respectively. It highlighted how much the public had been craving stable live performances—and how perfectly BABYMONSTER fulfilled that demand.

In 2025, they continued active promotions with the digital single ‘HOT SAUCE’ in July and their second mini album ‘WE GO UP’ in October. Meanwhile, their YouTube subscribers surpassed 10 million in September, setting the fastest record among K-pop girl groups, proving the rapid growth of their global fandom.

■ And now, the flower is about to bloom

The skills they steadily built over two years began reaching the general public more prominently toward the end of last year. Their performance of ‘Golden’ (from the KPop Demon Hunters OST) at the 2025 MAMA AWARDS has garnered approximately 27.44 million views on YouTube. In December, ‘Really Like You’ from their first full album ‘DRIP’ began gaining traction. In January, the track ranked No.1 on TikTok Korea’s Music Viral 50 chart for five consecutive days, and in February, it even returned to music shows due to its reverse charting success. It marked the moment when their consistent efforts began resonating beyond their fandom.

Celebrating their 2nd anniversary today, BABYMONSTER is reportedly preparing for a comeback with their third mini album ‘CHOOM’ on May 4. Starting June 26, they will also embark on a world tour of the same name, beginning with a three-day concert in Seoul. One point of concern is that there has been no update yet on member RAMI, who halted activities last May due to health reasons. However, in the final scene of the ‘SUPA DUPA LUV’ music video released in December, a mysterious figure watching the six members running outside sparked speculation about her return, leaving room for hopeful anticipation of a full-group comeback.

Over the past two years, BABYMONSTER has quietly yet firmly established their place. They are no longer defined as someone’s juniors, but as BABYMONSTER themselves. That is why the future—filled with their comeback and world tour, is even more highly anticipated. If the past two years were about building strong, unshakable roots, the next two years will be about blooming into something uniquely brilliant as BABYMONSTER.