Hybe launches new label ABD with planned girl group debut in second half

K-pop powerhouse Hybe announced Friday it has created a new label named ABD to produce girl groups, with its first act scheduled to debut later this year.

Hybe said the label's name stands for its slogan "A Bold Dream" and embodies an approach to "imagine D instead of C after A and B."

No Ji-won, who heads artist planning at Hybe subsidiary Pledis Entertainment, will lead the new label. Pledis veteran producer Han Sung-soo, known for work with Seventeen, After School, IZ*ONE and TWS, will oversee production for the upcoming girl group.

The debut will expand Hybe's existing girl group lineup, which includes Le Sserafim under Source Music, NewJeans under ADOR, ILLIT under Belift Lab and Katseye under Hybe Labels.

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Min Hee-jin speaks at Seoul press conference, offering to waive 25.6 billion won award to end HYBE lawsuits against NewJeans.
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Min Hee-jin offers to forgo payment for HYBE to drop NewJeans lawsuits

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Former ADOR CEO Min Hee-jin proposed waiving her 25.6 billion won court award against HYBE in exchange for the company dropping all legal actions involving NewJeans members and others. The offer came during a press conference on February 25, 2026, in Seoul, amid an ongoing dispute that began in April 2024. HYBE stated it has no position on the proposal, while ADOR unveiled a new brand film signaling a fresh start.

The K-pop group NewJeans has announced its return to ADOR following a court ruling upholding their contract through 2029. After a year-long legal battle stemming from internal conflicts at HYBE, the five members expressed intentions to resume activities with the label. The resolution comes after public support for former CEO Min Hee-jin and criticisms of the parent company.

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The K-pop industry is preparing for a busy year in 2026, with several high-profile groups announcing upcoming albums and EPs. Fans can look forward to comebacks from acts like BTS, BLACKPINK, and IVE, alongside debuts and releases from others. A recent calendar outlines key dates starting in February.

Blackpink returned with their third mini-album 'Deadline' on February 27, 2026, achieving 1.46 million first-day sales and setting a new Hanteo record for K-pop girl groups. The release features the title track 'GO,' which topped iTunes in 32 countries but sparked backlash over AI-generated visual effects and a collaboration credit involving producer Dr. Luke. Promotional events included a billboard screening in Seoul's Myeongdong and a listening session at the National Museum of Korea.

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K-pop girl group Le Sserafim will release its second studio album, "Pureflow pt. 1," next month, the group and its agency Source Music announced on April 13. The album is set for May 22 at 1 p.m. Korean time through major online music services, following the lead single "Celebration" on April 24. It marks the quintet's first full-length album in nearly three years since "Unforgiven" in 2023.

February 2026 saw a series of new releases from K-pop artists, including comebacks and debuts across various groups and soloists. The Honey POP rounded up notable entries, from virtual idols to established acts. Fans were treated to diverse genres and themes in the month's music.

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Dayoung, the youngest member of K-pop girl group WJSN, said in a recent interview that the success of her solo debut single 'body' boosted her confidence. She introduced her second digital single 'What's a Girl to Do,' set for release on Tuesday, highlighting pop and R&B influences. In the interview at Starship Entertainment headquarters, she expressed gratitude for her group experiences.

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