Find Out More On The Best Idol Group Debutants In 2018
Every year, various new idol groups make their way to debut in the Korean music and entertainment industry. They followed the global phenomenon on the Korean wave that grabbed the attention of the global music industry.
In 2018, various idol girl groups made a debut, each with their own unique concept. Some of them came from mainstream entertainment companies, but most of them came from the lesser-known Korean entertainment companies. Let’s find out which of the idol girl groups made the best debut in 2018.
In this article, Byeol Korea will talk about K-Pop girl groups that debuted in 2018 and compare their debut success. Find out more and keep reading!
Fromis_9
Fromis_9 is one of girl groups formed from the winners of a survival idol program. The group’s name, Fromis_9, comes from the phrase From Idol School and the fact that the group has nine members. The girl group debuted on January 24, 2018, under Stone Music Entertainment. Their To. Heart EP peaked at the number 4 position and sold more than 22,000 copies in Korea and 1,100 copies in Japan. Fromis_9 is a permanent girl group, totally different from other girl groups formed by other idol survival shows, like I.O.I or IZ*ONE. The members of fromis_9 are : Saerom, Hayoung, Gyuri, Jiwon, Jisun, Seoyeon, Chaeyoung, Nagyung and Jiheon.
On their debut day, fromis_9 released their first extended play (EP), To. Heart. There are six tracks on the EP album with To. Heart as the title song. Later, in September 2018, fromis_9 changed its management to Off The Record Entertainment, a subsidiary of Stone Music. The concept of their debut music video was a school girl concept. Their music video is charming and lovely, while their music is recorded in an addictive mid tempo and has cute lyrics.
Honey Popcorn
Honey Popcorn is a Japanese girl group that debuted and mainly promoted their activities in Korea. The group worked under the management of Kyun Create. Honey Popcorn debuted on March 21, 2018. Originally, Honey Popcorn was formed from three active AV (adult video) artists. Their debut in Korea was met with criticism for the members being adult movie performers when announcing their group in Korea. The original members are Yua, Moko, and Miko Matsuda. Miko Matsuda graduated from the group in 2019, and three new members, Sara, Ruka, and Nako were added in June and July of 2019.
Honey Popcorn released their debut EP, Babidi Babidi Boo, and reached a sale of a mere 1,500 copies in Korea. It peaked at the number 18 position on the Korean music charts. Honey Popcorn released two Babidi Babidi Boo music videos, one of them was a dance version, while the other was the original version. The original version was viewed more than 3.3 million times on YouTube as of March 2020.
(G)-IDLE
(G)-idle is a Korean girl group with members from different Asian countries, formed by Cube Entertainment. (G)-idle was formed in 2018 and made of six members: Soojin, Miyeon, Minnie, Soyeon, Shuhua, and Yuqi. (G)-idle made a debut with their debut EP I am on May 2nd, 2018. The singles in their debut EP were : LATATA, $$$, Maze, Don’t Text Me, What’s In Your House, and Hear Me.
Their name, (G)-IDLE, came from their leader, Jeon So-yeon, who came up with the name when composing the Idle Song. Later, she handed the name to her management company and the company decided to use the name after all the members were confirmed and decided.
(G)-IDLE released their music video for LATATA in May 2018. They decided to go strong at their concept, and chose a rather brave and sexy concept, a risky method when comparing their average age. It turned out to be a good choice, since they stood out from other girly and cute girl groups. Their music was recorded in upbeat and dance tempos and making it an instant favorite for K-Pop lovers.
The debut performance for LATATA resulted in the group’s first show win on SBS MTV’s The Show, and second win on Mnet’s M Countdown. Though it started slowly and failed to enter music chart on the week of release, LATATA peaked at number 13 on the Korean Gaon Digital Chart.
Uni.T
The survival idol program KBS’s The Unit successfully produced a nine-member idol girl group. The group debuted as UNI.T on May 18th, 2018. UNI.T consisted of Woohee, Jiwon, Yoonjo, ZN, NC. A, Euijin, Yebin, Hyunjoo, and Suji. Uni.T released their debut EP, Line, on their debut day. The lead title for Line was No More, which was composed by producer Shinsadong Tiger and written by Design88.
Uni.T performed on KBS’ Music Bank on their EP’s release date, marking their debut day with A Memory Clock and No More performances. No More was recorded with influences of a reggae beat and dance music. They debuted with a sexy girl group concept in an attempt to stand out from other girl group debutants. Line peaked at number three on the music charts, and sold more than 50,000 copies in Korea. Their debut music video, No More, was watched more than 3.3 milion times on YouTube.
Neon Punch
Neon Punch is a Korean girl group formed by A 100 Entertainment. Neon Punch debuted on June 27, 2018, with the album Moonlight. Their management announced that the company was doing a girl group project in March 2017. A 100 Entertainment posted music covers of popular songs by the project girl group, with their faces covered by masks and their identity kept in secret.
The Neon Punch members are Dayeon, Baekah, May, Iaan, and Dohee. Their previous member, Terry, left the group in January 2019 and was replaced by Dohee. Moonlight peaked at number 37. Neon Punch won the Female Rookie Award at the 25th Korean Entertainment Arts Awards.
When they debuted with Moonlight, their concept was cute, fun, and energetic. Their music video for Moonlight was produced with a catchy dance tune and addictive melody, while their outfits was colorful, simple, yet showing their youthfulness. Nine months after releasing their video for Moonlight, it had been viewed more than 100,000 times.
Nature
Nature is a Korean girl group made by n.CH Entertainment. The girl group debuted on August 3rd. 2018, with Girls and Flowers. The lead single for the album was Allegro Cantabile. Only two singles were recorded on the album, Allegro Cantabile and Girls and Flowers. Nature currently consists of nine members: Sohee, SAebom, Aurora, Lu, Chaebin, Haru, Loha, Uchae, and Sunshine. Two of its members, Yeolmae and Gaga, departed the group in October 2019. Nature promoted their activities into three sub-units: Twinkle, Charming, and Cutie.
Nature debuted with a very typical girl group music video. Their debut video, Allegro Cantabile, was filled with catchy tunes, easy listening melody, school uniforms, and cute choreography. They debuted with a natural and fresh concept that matched their group’s name. Girls and Flowers peaked at number 34, and sold a little more than a thousand copies.
Loona
BLockberry Creative released their girl group project, Loona, in 2018. Loona has 12 members, and the members were introduced one a month, and represent each month of the year. Loona started their pre-debut project in October 2016. Each member released a single throughout the 18 months before their actual debut. Later, Loona formed three small sub-units, Loona 1/3, Loona yyxy, and Loona Odd Eye Circle. Their debut arrangement was unique, and they became the first girl group that debuted in a periodic manner. The Loona members are: ViVi, Yves, JinSoul, HaSeul, Kim Lip, Chuu, Heejin, HyunJin, Go Won, Choerry, Olivia Hye, and Yeojin.
The pre-debut announcement project was finalized on August 7, 2018, marking Loona’s official debut. They released Favorite, an EP with the title single Hi High. Hi High peaked at number two on the Gaon Album chart. Loona made a debut performance in M Countdown that was broadcast on August 23rd, 2018.
Their concept when performing in M Countdown was a cheerleader concept, with sporty hairstyles and pure makeup. Hi High was produced with a catchy tune and easy listening lyrics. Each of the Loona members released their singles, that sold from between 2,000 to 11,000 copies. Loona’s debut music video gained a respectable number of views with more than 24 million views within six months after their official debut.
WeGirls
WeGirls is a Korean girl group formed by Aftermoon Entertainment. WeGirls debuted with the mini album On Air on August 31st, 2018. Currently, WeGirls consists of five members: E.You, JungA, Yehana, Ellie, and Nina. Three of its original members, Euna, Hyeni, and Ha, departed from the group to pursue another career path. The mini album On Air consisted of three single tracks We Go, On Air, and SelfieGram.
On Air reached a peak position at number 43, and sold 704 copies in Korea. WeGirls received a Rising Star Award from the KY Star Awards on November 26th, 2018. The On Air music video gained 275,000 views within six months after the release. WeGirls debuted with a feminine and girly concept. Their music was filled by dance beats and catchy tempos. Their dance choreography was planned well, and matched the beat of their music.
GWSN
GWSN is a global idol girl group that supports multinational members. GWSN stands for Gongwon Sonyeo in Korean, Girls in the Park in English. GWSN explained the group as a place where anybody can go and enjoy the place, be healed, and have a wonderful dream. GWSN was formed by Kiwi Pop Entertainment Company.
GWSN made a debut on September 5th, 2018 with the EP The Park in the Night Part One. The lead single for the EP was Puzzle Moon. Before their debut day, in July 2018, Mnet held a reality TV show, Got Ya! GWSN, that showcased and featured all the GWSN members. GWSN consists of seven members: Miya, Seokyoung, Seoryoung, Anne, Minju, Soso, and Lena. GWSN’s debut EP sold 9.301 copies, and reached a peak position at number 12. By March 2020, the music video for Puzzle Moon was watched by more than 3.3 million viewers. GWSN released a mystical themed music video for Puzzle Moon. All the members were dressed in white mini dresses, while the background showed mystical trees and sky. GWSN collected a New Artist Award in 2018, and a K-Pop Singer Award in 2019.
IZ*ONE
IZ*ONE is the product of Mnet’s idol survival program that was held in 2018. Idol trainees from the Japanese and Korean Entertainment Companies competed with each other for the right to debut in a new girl group. At the final episode, twelve members were selected and graduated from the competition. They are Jang Won-young, Sakura Miyawaki, Jo Yu-ri, Choi Ye-na, Ahn Yu-jin, Naki Yabuki, Kwon Eun-bi, Kang Hye-won, Hitomi Honda, Kim Chae-won. Kim Min-ju, and Lee Chae-yeon.
IZ*ONE debuted on October 29, 2019, and released the debut EP Color*Iz. Due to the connection with the mainstream media, IZ*ONE received immediate success, and recorded a peak position at number two on the Gaon Album Chart. The EP and its lead single, La Vie en Rose, set a record, charting on the Billboard World Albums and World Digital Songs. Color*Iz took the top spot in the Japan Music chart. The EP album sold more than 252.000 copies in Korea, and 48,000 copies in Japan. It also recorded a respectable record of selling 2,000 copies in the United States. The video for La Vie en Rose gained almost 120 million views within 6 months after its release. The music video showed each member dressed in sophisticated and elegant outfits. Their dance choreography is simple, without any complicated or signature dance moves.
DreamNote
Dream Note was formed by iME Korea, and debuted on November 7, 2019. The group was the latest girl group to debut in 2018. DreamNote debuted with the album Dreamlike. Dreamlike was produced with six music tracks: Dreamin’tro, Dream Note, I Think I Like, Fresh! Fresh!, Dream Note (instrumental version), and I Think I Like (instrumental version). Originally, DreamNote debuted with eight members: Boni, Youi, Lara, Miso, Sumin, Eunjo, Habin, and Hanbyeol. However, Habin and Hanbyeol left the group after debuting in DreamNote. Dreamlike peaked at the number 26 position, and sold 3,532 copies in Korea.
DreamNote’s debut showcase was held in BlueSquare iMarket hall in Seoul. On their debut day, DreamNote members were dressed in cheerleading outfits. Each of the members showed a sense of youthfulness and wore teenage hairstyles.
DreamNote’s debut album was meant to be a fulfilled dream for its eight members. The title track, Dream Note was recorded in they style of the upbeat pop of the sixties, that gave a bright and colorful atmosphere to the listener. The lyrics showed each member’s personality and energy. They showed their spirited and overflowing energy when performing on the stage.
That was all the information about the 2018 K-Pop girl idol groups with the best debut. Though it is still early, let’s wish some of them to become the next legendary idol girl group. Don’t forget to share your thoughts and opinions in the comment section below!
