JYP’s New Girl Group Unveiled: OURBIRTHDAY Steps into the Spotlight with Mystery and Energy

JYP Entertainment's newest girl group, OURBIRTHDAY, has officially stepped into the K-POP scene bringing together seven members, a new self-defined "WHIP-HOP" sound and ambitions that far extend beyond the group's debut stage.

The seven-member team consisting of Cho Hyejin, Kuk Chorok, Shin Hyewon, U, Baby, Achiraya and Kilala held a media showcase at Blue Square Woori WON Banking Hall in Seoul's Hannam District on August 19. Here, they reflected on the pressure of following the company’s established girl groups since NMIXX's debut four years ago, and set their early goals for the path that follows them ahead as rookies.

The group's name embodies a vibrant energy that embraces free and exhilarating moments as though every day were a birthday. Drawing on the special excitement and anticipation of the one day each year that is uniquely your own, the group aims to deliver fresh, unpredictable fun.

Speaking about finally reaching their debut, leader Cho Hyejin reflected on the significance of beginning promotions with all seven members after their earlier pre-debut activities.

"This is a moment that the members and I have waited for for a very long time, so I'm incredibly excited," she said. "During our pre-debut activities, we worked very hard together, and now that we’re able to promote as a complete seven-member group, it feels even more meaningful."

OURBIRTHDAY presented "SQUEEZY" as the title track for their official debut as a seven-member group, following the earlier release of "HUNGRY (Side A)" when only three members had been introduced. "SQUEEZY" is a funk-based dance track characterized by its highly addictive melody.

Its unrestricted, free-spirited atmosphere combines with hip-hop choreography to highlight the members' individuality and energy. Introducing the track during the showcase, Chorok explained, "'SQUEEZY' is a song that really showcases the charm of our original genre, 'WHIP-HOP.' We combined a sweet and catchy mood with powerful, hip performance elements, allowing the individual personalities and energy of all seven members to come through freely."

The group describes "WHIP-HOP" as its signature genre, bringing together the playful and free-spirited feeling of whipped cream with the members’ individual personalities and a stronger hip-hop performance style.

Hyewon explained that while the concept is intended to form an important part of OURBIRTHDAY's identity, it will not limit the group musically.

"I think WHIP-HOP is a unique genre that belongs specifically to OURBIRTHDAY and is something only OURBIRTHDAY can create," she said. "However, because we also want to show the public many different sides of ourselves, we plan to show many other genres in addition to WHIP-HOP as well."

The group’s first single, "Our Birthday," consists of four tracks. Alongside title track "SQUEEZY" is "Our Birthday," characterized by its heavy 808 bass and addictive trumpet sound. The track captures the excitement and energy of finally reaching the debut moment the members had long dreamed of.

The release also includes both "HUNGRY (Side A)" and "HUNGRY (Side B)." Side A, which served as a pre-release track, is performed by Cho Hyejin, Baby and Achiraya, while Side B features Kuk Chorok, Shin Hyewon, U and Kilala. The song showcases OURBIRTHDAY's identity through witty lyrics comparing the members’ endless desire to perform on stage with literal hunger.

During the showcase, the group unveiled their performance of both "HUNGRY (Side A) and (Side B) going in and out of the formations while simultaneously showcasing the group’s synergy. The group's concept and tracks are reminiscent of the 2019 K-POP era in which JYP groups such as ITZY had debuted with a similar bright concept and vibe.

Being from the JYP family, the members addressed the expectations surrounding them as Achiraya acknowledged that the position naturally came with pressure.

"Since there are so many incredible senior artists, I think it would be a lie to say we felt absolutely no pressure," she said. "But we want to turn that pressure into positive motivation, work even harder, and show great performances and OURBIRTHDAY’s charms."

Cho Hyejin later echoed the sentiment, noting that JYP Entertainment’s reputation for performance added another layer of expectation for the rookie group. "There are so many incredible senior artists, and because we're being referred to as JYP's first girl group in four years, it would be a lie to say there wasn't pressure," she said. "That’s why we’re trying to work even harder."

The members have also received advice from JYP Entertainment founder and producer Park Jin-young ahead of their debut. According to U, rather than focusing solely on performance, he emphasized the importance of the seven members’ relationship with one another.

"Park Jin-young PD told us that the most important thing is for all of us to maintain a good relationship with one another," she explained. "Even when our opinions differ, we try to respect and consider each other's opinions and speak honestly with one another."

For Cho Hyejin, who became familiar to audiences after winning KBS2's "The Ddanddara" and previously drew speculation over whether she would debut as a soloist, becoming part of a group was also a decision tied closely to her background as a dancer.

"Because I majored in dance and genuinely love dancing, I really enjoy working together with team members and achieving things as a group," she said, explaining that her debut direction was ultimately decided alongside with the company.

Hyejin now takes on the role of leader alongside her position as one of the team's main dancers with Baby. Asked how the group balances its performance despite some choreography placing greater focus on certain members, she said different stages would provide opportunities for each member to stand out.

With Thai, Japanese and Taiwanese members, the multinational lineup also reflects the global nature of the group. Achiraya, who described herself as the third Thai artist to debut under JYP Entertainment, said she had not yet been able to personally receive advice from the company's previous Thai artists but hoped to continue growing into a strong artist herself.

Meanwhile, Kilala, who's originally from Japan, recalled discovering TWICE through social media while she was in elementary school, pointing to the group's performance and teamwork as an early influence that eventually led her toward K-POP.

Moving forward, the group said that rather than seeking a specific nickname or title from the public, their priority is establishing their own name and identity as OURBIRTHDAY. "Our biggest goal is to stand on even more stages and show ourselves to even more members of the public," Chorok said.

Still, when asked to name a concrete achievement that would make their debut year feel as celebratory as their team name suggests, Hyejin offered one clear target. "Now that we've debuted, we want to work really hard and hopefully win a Rookie of the Year award," she said.

With their pre-debut period now behind them, OURBIRTHDAY begin their first official chapter with all seven members together, aiming to establish a recognizable musical and performance identity while expanding beyond the "WHIP-HOP" sound that introduces them.

"Starting from today, we'll work even harder so that we can show OURBIRTHDAY's unique music and performances to many people," Achiraya said in the group's closing remarks. "We want to promote in a way that really allows people to feel the energy and individuality of all seven members."

OURBIRTHDAY's first single "Our Birthday" was released on August 19 at 6 p.m. KST on various streaming platforms.