KB News Desk
JYP Entertainment’s new multinational girl group OurBirthday made its first appearance as a full group during its debut showcase in Seoul on Wednesday, where it introduced its own brand of music called “whip-hop.”
The group, consisting of three Koreans, two people from Japan, one from Thailand and one from Taiwan, took the stage at Yongsan-gu’s Blue Square. It is the first girl group launched by JYP in four years following Nmixx, and it is managed by JYP subsidiary Innit Entertainment.
At the showcase, OurBirthday performed its debut song “Squeezy” as well as a version of its predebut track “HUNGRY,” which was previously released as separate Side A and Side B unit performances.
The group described whip-hop as a genre that blends the seven members’ distinct charms with the strong impact of hip-hop, just like whipped cream, creating a unique sound and atmosphere.
During a Q&A session, Kuk Cho-rok, who handles rap in the group, said OurBirthday’s strength lies in the members’ “energetic and distinctive performances,” adding that they hope to carve out their own path through whip-hop and be remembered simply as OurBirthday.
The group stressed that its music would not be confined to a single genre.
“Whip-hop is a genre that only OurBirthday can create, but we also have many different sides to us, so we plan to present diverse genres as well,” vocalist Shin Hye-won said.
The group’s multinational lineup, with four of its seven members being non-Korean, is another defining feature. Each shared how K-pop had influenced them and eventually led them to pursue careers in Korea.
Thai member Achiraya said Blackpink first inspired her to dream of becoming an idol, particularly after watching Lisa’s charismatic dancing and seeing how the group appeared to genuinely enjoy performing.
Japanese member U said she had loved listening to music from an early age and was particularly influenced by the lyrics of K-pop songs, which inspired her to dream of performing on a large stage herself.
Kilala, another Japanese member, said she became a fan of Twice after coming across the group on social media while in elementary school, admiring both their performances and teamwork. She later auditioned for JYP and was accepted.
Taiwanese member Baby said she began learning dance at a young age and frequently watched K-pop videos, which eventually inspired her to pursue becoming a K-pop idol.
Several members were already familiar to viewers before their debut. Leader Cho Hye-jin appeared on Mnet’s “Street Dance Girls Fighter 2” before winning KBS’ survival audition program “The Ddanddara,” which is a reference to the Korean slang word for entertainers. U, who previously competed on SBS’ “Universe Ticket,” placed third on “The Ddanddara,” while Shin appeared on JTBC’s survival show “R U Next?”
Cho’s debut as part of a group drew particular attention, as some viewers had expected her to pursue a solo career following her frequent solo or duet appearances on “The Ddanddara.”
“As someone who majored in dance and loves dancing, I liked the idea of working in harmony with the other members and achieving things together,” Cho said. “That’s what led to this decision, which I made together with the company.”
