The K-pop music label behind Blackpink announced that what is shaping up to be its next chart-busting group, BabyMonster, features two Thai members.
Putting a Thai artist at the fore helped make YG Entertainment’s Blackpink the No. 2 K-pop group in the world, so for its next act, the label is doubling down with Two young Thai women. In a rollout last night of the label’s first new roster in seven years, CEO Yang Hyun-suk said the group will feature two Thai members: 13-year old Chiquita and Pharita, 17.
Riracha “Chiquita” Phondechaphiphat, the youngest in the group at 13, is from Nakhon Ratchasima province. Pharita Chaikong is from Bangkok and attended high school at Ruamrudee International School.
Yang said Chiquita had the least training – one year and nine months – but was growing quickly and had great potential. He said Pharita was chosen because the label was impressed with her English skills, and they want the idol group to reach the same global heights as the four-member Blackpink, whose most popular member is Thai singer Lalisa “Lisa” Manobal.
The announcement made a splash, having been watched three million times in 13 hours and rising to the No. 1 spot on Thai YouTube.
Other members are Korean – Ahyeon, 15; Haram, 15; Rora, 14 – and Japanese members Ruka, 20; and Asa, 16.
Pharita and Chiquita are the second and third Thai artists on the label following Lisa.
It marks the first group announced by the pop music giant in seven years. It’s also created successful pop acts BigBang and Treasure.
Created with a “high-teen” image different from the label’s prior female acts, BabyMonster was touted as an “all-rounder” group and its members described as “elites” in breathless media reports. Each was said to be proficient at vocals, rapping, and dancing.
The label first teased its introduction in late December with a trailer that earned 15 million views in three days.
Though the band has yet to release a single song, its YouTube has already surpassed two million subscribers in four months, becoming the fastest K-pop girl group to reach that milestone.
The channel has videos promoting each member including Chiquita and Pharita.
