The K-pop genre has vastly advanced worldwide. Held in Tokyo, Japan, in 2023, the MAMA (Mnet Asian Music Awards) Awards is among the world’s biggest K-pop festivals. If you kept up with it, you’ve probably heard that NewJeans snagged the 2023 Artist Of The Year award, breaking BTS’s 7-year streak of receiving this title to their name. Collectively, they have received 30 music show awards. But how did they ascend to this substantial fame?

THEIR BACKSTORIES

Under the company ADOR, a subgroup of HYBE, NewJeans is a popular Korean girl group widely known for their girl-next-door image, unique songs, and captivating visuals. They have five members: Kim Minji, Pham Hanni, Marsh Danielle, Kang Haerin, and Lee Hyein. 

Minji was born on May 7, 2004, in Chuncheon, Gangwon, South Korea. In 2017, she became a trainee under Source Music for four and a half years before debuting in 2022. Although NewJeans has not confirmed any official roles, Minji has assumed the leadership position by always being careful and guiding her members. Hanni was born on October 6, 2004, in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Her parents are Vietnamese, making her one of the few Vietnamese K-pop idols to ever debut. In 2019, Hanni succeeded in passing the BigHit Global Audition and became a trainee in 2020. In 2021, Minji and Hanni were featured in a minor role in the music video for BTS’s song “Permission to Dance.” Danielle was born on April 11, 2005 in Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia. She became a trainee after passing BigHit’s Australian Global Audition in 2019. She is a popular group member with strong charisma and is the primary visual. Born on May 15, 2006, in Seoul, South Korea, Haerin dropped out of school in 2020 to become a trainee. Lastly, Hyein, the maknae (youngest member), was born on April 21, 2008 in Incheon, South Korea. In 2021, she became a trainee for HYBE. These five stars, together, make up the remarkable and sensational group NewJeans.

DEBUT

NewJeans officially debuted on July 22, 2022, with their song “Attention,” just one of the songs from their first (mini) album, NewJeans. They swiftly rose to fame due to their natural hair and minimal use of makeup, showing off their true beauty. Many fans also favor their modern Y2K aesthetic, bringing back many popular trends in clothing and fashion that were long forgotten.

THEIR STARDOM

Unlike other groups, NewJeans display a natural look at performances and have their own unique style. But what sets them apart is that they are the first K-pop group with all the members being fluent in English. This allows them to connect with fans worldwide without the flaws of miscommunication. Most of their songs have the same amount, if not more, English lyrics than Korean lyrics. As a result, international fans can sing along to their captivating melodies without learning a new language. Their music has especially traveled westward to the U.S., where NewJeans was invited to participate in the 2023 Lollapalooza in Chicago. By doing so, they became the first K-pop girl group to perform at Lollapalooza. But this is not their only outstanding achievement. They also broke the Guinness World Record for the fastest K-pop group to reach 1 billion streams on Spotify after 219 days, surpassing BTS’s Jungkook and BLACKPINK’s Lisa.

NewJeans has become extremely popular and successful over the last year. Their fans all around the world love and support the members for their stunning visuals, alluring vocals, and rhythmic dancing. Just a year after their debut, NewJeans has spread their music and positivity across the globe. As time passes, they will continue to grow and attain many more accomplishments, and while they do, their fans will support them in their journey.