PLEDIS new boy group in the house! In this current generation, K-pop agencies would love to hop on the train (and trend) and have a representative to raise their names. PLEDIS Entertainment may be up to the challenge as an announcement came out that the agency is set to debut a new boy group in the coming 2024. Interestingly, a thought came to mind of why and where are their current groups, SEVENTEEN and fromis_9. Let’s take a look!
An Upcoming Fourth-Gen Group To Capture Fans’ Hearts
It’s worth noting that the announcement didn’t come directly from PLEDIS Entertainment. Industry insiders said the agency is preparing to unveil the highly anticipated boy group as early as January 2024. The news traveled quickly last November 7, KST, and now K-pop enthusiasts can hardly control their excitement.
[INFO] Hybe has officially confirmed that Pledis's new boy group will finally debut in the 1st quarter of 2024 (January-March)! 🎉#PLEDIS #플레디스
pic.twitter.com/bLQ8ygeH2L— Pledis Trainees (플레디스) (@pledis_trainees) November 2, 2023
- Why the anticipation, if you may ask? Well, after almost a decade, this would be the first time that PLEDIS would debut a boy group after their third-generation and globally massive SEVENTEEN. The 2015 boy group consisted of 13 members, but for the upcoming band it will be more likely to have five to six members. International members are confirmed to be included in the lineup. I’m pretty sure PLEDIS would love to have more impact (and sustain SEVENTEEN’s) on global fans.
In Korean media news reports, according to these insiders, the PLEDIS new boy group is wholly geared up and set to make their entry into the K-pop industry next year.
Why the sudden debut announcement?
The debuting group may have shocked several fans of the groups under PLEDIS. Sure, new groups are not really surprising, but for the agency, it’s been long years of waiting before they finally opened the door for a new set of idols to captivate fangirls and fanboys. Are there any reasons behind it?
[Exclusive] After 9 years, Pledis 'Seventeen's Dongsaeng/Younger Bros' will debut in January next year.
"accdg to music industry insiders, on the 7th, the new boy group launched by Pledis 9 years after Seventeen haas completed all preparations for its official debut in early… pic.twitter.com/XEl6SzIeAJ
— luna🧃 (@gyupachups) November 7, 2023
- While the K-pop agency has no words about the new group yet, it had us thinking, why? It’s not that we’re opposed to the thought of a debuting group, but more of, where are PLEDIS Entertainment’s current groups?
- A single thought only came to mind when we heard of the announcement: military enlistment. Unfortunately, that could be one reason PLEDIS set up, trained, and prepared for this upcoming group. Of course, SVT would still be working with subunits and solo schedules when the group members eventually enter the military. But PLEDIS would want to keep the business running with a new group and their girl group, right?
I’m honestly super scared how pledis will handle svt’s enlistment. They obviously must push for a new boy group to take the helm but pledis CANNOT multitask… they do not know how to keep more than one group on top. I’m v scared they’ll get the sm treatment
— DK 가슴점¨̮ (@sebongteeny) November 7, 2023
- SEVENTEEN’s oldest members possibly render their military service at 28 years old, so S.Coups and Jeonghan will enlist by 2025. The rest would follow, except for Joshua (we’re unsure if he still has American citizenship) and the Chinese members, Jun and The8.
PLEDIS’ best interest is to start making a name for the boy group as early as 2024, a year before the SVT members hyungs are slated to enlist.
Currently, SEVENTEEN is promoting its most recent release, God of Music, and will be having its Follow Tour starting next year, too. Their schedules are jampacked, but CARATs do hope that the members still have enough time to rest!
Where is their girl group, fromis_9?
SEVENTEEN and their music have been all over this year, and we’re not complaining! In April, they released their 10th mini album, FML, and this October, their 11th, SEVENTEENTH HEAVEN. But it had me thinking, where is PLEDIS’ girl group?
- It has been a running humor that the agency “does not know how to take care of their girl group.” Years ago, they debuted top-tier girl groups After School and PRISTIN. I’m positive that these girl groups have the potential to be huge, but PLEDIS can’t manage them well. The agency left these groups in the dungeon and didn’t look back. After School members slowly left the company, but they weren’t officially disbanded. PRISTIN was set aside, but a subunit emerged, PRISTIN V, and you guessed it right; it was dissolved later on.
- I have only seen fromis_9 this year, last June, when they released their first full-length album, Unlock My World. When PLEDIS fully acquired the group in 2021, they quickly dropped a single album, Talk & Talk. In 2022, fromis_9 successfully released two EPs, Midnight Guest and from our Memento Box, respectively.
- While SEVENTEEN has been at their peak, and the agency is slating a new boy group debut, I hope they will keep their girl group afloat. fromis_9 has much potential; I’m not speaking as a fan, but as what I’ve seen through their group’s career. PLEDIS should take this chance to keep fromis_9’s momentum and build their name as one of the all-rounder groups of the generation.
FLOVERs wish to hear a piece of new music and, perhaps, a world tour soon. With the SVT’s nearing enlistment, I think it would be best for PLEDIS to also focus on their girl group and maybe take the opportunity to remove their title of not the best agency in taking care of girl groups.
Who’s excited for the PLEDIS new boy group? We are!
