SEOUL (ANN/THE KOREA HERALD) – Katseye, the new K-pop girl group formed through a collaboration between Hybe and American record label Geffen Records, is set to make their debut in the United States on June 28.
This launch marks the first joint venture between the two labels to introduce a global girl group into the mainstream US pop market. All eyes are on the six-member multinational group to gauge the potential success of Hybe’s global training and development approach.
According to Hybe and Geffen Records, Katseye’s debut single will drop on June 28 at midnight Eastern Time in the US (1pm Korean time). Their second single is scheduled for release in July, followed by an EP in August.
In a joint statement, Hybe and Geffen Records expressed excitement for Katseye’s debut, promising fans an unforgettable journey ahead.
Katseye was formed through competition reality show “The Debut: Dream Academy,” which streamed via YouTube last year.
The six bandmates, who beat out the competition of some 6,000 other contestants, come from different backgrounds – Daniela, Lara and Megan are from the US, Manon is from Switzerland, Sophia is from the Philippines and Yoonchae is the only South Korean member.
During the 90-day audition process, they demonstrated their preparedness as global pop stars, undergoing evaluations across various categories, including dance, vocals, teamwork, concept interpretation and artistic expression.
On Friday, the group unveiled a team logo in its trailer on the YouTube channel Hybe Labels.
Even before the debut, Katseye garnered attention among fans who followed the journey. On Hybe’s global superfan platform Weverse, Katseye attracted fans from 220 regions with nearly 300,000 registered fans.
“After a long 12 weeks of journey, we are finally about to see the global girl group debut. I hope Katseye becomes the voice of our new generation and inspires young people all over the world, sending out a message that dreams will come true,” said Hybe Chairman Bang Si-hyuk in a video related to the audition show in November last year.
In February, Grammy.com included Katseye in its “11 Rookie K-Pop Acts to Know in 2024” list, further solidifying the group’s presence as an emerging force in the K-pop scene.
