The Korean music scene is stirring once again, this time thanks to Yang Hyun-suk, the former CEO and now executive producer of YG Entertainment. YG Entertainment has long been regarded as one of the stronghold (or ‘Big Four’) music labels in Korea, with the entertainment label has successfully debuting and managing a number of globally acclaimed K-pop acts, such as Big Bang, 2NE1, Blackpink and more
So when Yang recently took to the YG Entertainment YouTube account to share updates regarding the management label’s current artists, fans were, safe to say, more than excited. In the video, Yang, an idol-turned-music-producer, spoke about upcoming projects from Blackpink, BabyMonster, Treasure and more. Here, we’ve distilled everything you need to know from the video announcement, and how we see the K-pop world evolving from it.
Blackpink’s Comeback And World Tour
The girls of Blackpink have been on an unofficial group hiatus for a while now, following the news of the girls each pursuing solo opportunities through other entertainment companies. 2024 and early 2025 saw Rosé, Lisa, Jennie and Jisoo release new solo records but YG Entertainment has since announced that the members will soon be returning to K-pop as a quartet.
In the video, Yang spoke about the girls’s upcoming world tour, and their soon-to-be released album. While the specifics remain to be seen, Blinks all over the world are definitely looking forward to some new releases from the group, especially since their last collective release, The Girls, was back in 2023.
However, given that Yang kept the Blackpink segment of his announcement video short and sweet, some fans are worried that this is a last hurrah for the group. It’s also worth mentioning, at this juncture, that the upcoming world tour is titled Deadline, which has just added to the concerning narrative surrounding the singers’s collective future at YG Entertainment.
BabyMonster’s New Mini Album
Rookie girl group BabyMonster will be coming out with a new track Hot Sauce on 1 July. Yang has shared that the ’80s-inspired hip-hop track, which he describes in the announcement video as “simple and upbeat”, is a song he personally enjoys very much and is excited to release this summer.
The executive producer also officially stated that the six-member girl group will be unveiling their mini album on 1 October this year, which will include Hot Sauce. Yang shared that while it is still too early to reveal the mini album’s name or its title track, he did share that another track from the album is one of the group’s personal favourites. The unnamed song promises to deliver a hip-hop theme as well, but will be a slower-paced record that Yang says is a great listen.
Treasure
Boy band Treasure recently travelled to USA for the first time since their debut, for promotions of their Pleasure mini album. And Yang said that, in 2025, the group is coming back with yet another mini album, slated for tentative release on 1 September, with a greater focus on promotional activities in Korea, much to the delight of K-Treasure Makers (as Treasure fans are endearingly referred to).
Yang shared that, after an in-depth conversation with the ten boys from Treasure, the group will now be working towards the lofty goal of releasing two mini albums (or one full album) every year. This is in addition to the current activities on the group’s calendar, which includes a world tour starting this October.
Upcoming Rookies From YG Entertainment
Perhaps the most unexpected announcement that Yang made revolved around the trainees and upcoming rookie groups under the YG label. He candidly shared that there are four groups who are potentially making their debut in the foreseeable future—two female and two male.
Of course, no names or faces have been revealed, but he said that the group he is looking to debut next is a four-member girl group. Come 28 May, he will share more information about the first member from the upcoming girl group and shed more light on their training process. One of the bigger promises that he has made surrounds this new team as well, with Yang stating that he hopes to release solo tracks for each of the four members starting next year. Exciting times ahead!
Some netizens, however, have shared their concerns after Yang’s video. Blinks, in particular, have taken to social media to discuss the potential complications that could arise from YG debuting another four-member girl group when Blackpink is still active. Could YG Entertainment be trying to create another global phenomenon just as they did with Blackpink?
The Conclusion
Ultimately, Yang ended his video by emphasising that the label promises to be more consistent and regular with their artists’s promotions and album releases. Even new K-pop enthusiasts would know that the company has long dealt with feedback from fans regarding YG’s long runs between an artist’s comebacks. And this is a problem that still plagues the company to this day, like with Blackpink, for instance.
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