Everything You Need To Know About K-Pop Girl Group NewJeans
L'OFFICIEL dives into all the groundbreaking pop culture moments, iconic music videos, and fashion collaborations that have contributed to the rise of your new favorite K-pop group.
Since the launch of their first single in 2022, 4th Gen K-pop girl group NewJeans has catapulted to success. With number-one hits on global music charts, dedicated fashion collaborations, and numerous brand ambassadorships under their belt all before the age of 20, NewJeans has rapidly emerged as one of the most popular—and influential—K-pop groups in the world.
Chances are, if you've spent any time on social media in the past few years, you've heard NewJeans. Songs like "Super Shy," "Ditto," and "OMG" have reigned supreme on TikTok and Instagram as some of the most popular sounds available on the apps, and it seems creators are going viral for recreating hair or makeup styles popularized by NewJeans every other day—take Hanni's TikTok-famous ultra-glowy, blush-forward makeup look and Pinterest's fascination with Hyein's chic elevated pigtail look as examples.
Get to know Danielle, Hanni, Hyein, Minji, and Haerin of NewJeans and follow their history as a group, starting from NewJeans' beginnings back in 2021 to their status as global popstars in 2024.
NewJeans Members
NewJeans is comprised of five members—Danielle, Hanni, Hyein, Haerin, and Minji. Unlike many K-pop groups in the industry, none of the members have particular roles in the group—rapper, dancer, vocalist, leader, and visual are common positions that members hold—making NewJeans singular in its group structure, but also in the fact that its members are uniquely multi-talented at such a young age. Individually, several of NewJeans' members began working in the entertainment industry from a young age. Danielle and Hyein included both took part in variety shows and youth music groups throughout their childhoods, while Hanni and Minji made their first major public appearances while working as background dancers in BTS' "Permission to Dance" music video.
Of all the NewJeans members, only Minji, Haerin, and Hyein were born and raised in South Korea. Danielle and Hanni—who is Vietnamese-Australian—both grew up in Australia, but moved to Korea later in life to pursue becoming idols.
While all of the members are beloved by fans across the world, Hanni and Haerin are among the most popular in Korea and abroad. Hanni currently serves as a brand ambassador for Armani Beauty, UGG, Gucci, and most recently Gucci Beauty, while Haerin has worked closely with Dior, Minji is currently partnered with Chanel Korea, and Hyein is a Louis Vuitton ambassador.
Danielle has also widely become recognized, especially by international fans—as she grew up in Australia—and by major fashion brands. As NewJeans has skyrocketed to fame, she has become a global brand ambassador for YSL Beauty, Burberry, and Celine.
Beginnings of NewJeans
Although many of its members—Hyein, Hanni, Danielle, and Minji—debuted in other groups or were involved in the entertainment industry prior to the formation of NewJeans, none of them experienced the level of commercial success and fan attention that they would soon see under NewJeans.
The search for potential members of a new girl group began in 2019, with the effort spearheaded by Big Hit Entertainment—the same label that BTS is signed under—and Source Music. Producer and art director Min Hee-jin—who currently serves as the CEO of Ador, NewJeans' current label and a subsidiary of Hybe, and previously worked with Hybe and SM Entertainment, two hugely influential corporations in the Korean music industry—was instrumental in the group's formation and subsequent success. With past experience working with global K-pop icons like SHINee, Girls' Generation, and f(x), Min gained invaluable insight into the industry and the culture surrounding it, and has learned what works and what does not.
As the visual director and executive producer for NewJeans, Min has had a major role in shaping the image of the group, training the members, and directing music production. While the group has been praised by critics for its fresh, youthful energy in terms of visuals and choreography, the unique, easy-listening style of music that NewJeans tends to pursue has also been a big draw for fans and reviewers alike. "I had a strong aversion to the somewhat typical melody development method and singing style that existing K-pop has been pursuing, like essential high-pitched parts, awkward raps that appear suddenly, and singing styles that feel uniform to me," Min said in a 2023 interview.
Rather than dropping continuous teaser trailers and introduction videos in the lead-up to their debut single, as is typically standard in the industry, NewJeans opted for a surprise release of the "Attention" music video—a risky move that ultimately ended up paying off. With NewJeans, Min has operated with a pioneering philosophy and has said that through this group, she wants to change the industry entirely, and this unconventional move was just the first step in a series of innovative ideas.
"We tend to stick with what’s stable because we fear failure, but nothing interesting ever happens if you just stick with what’s stable. If we’re ever going to make the world a little more interesting, we have to try new things and adopt an attitude of being more open and accepting about it. I always talk with the members of NewJeans," Min said in a Billboard interview. "We’re ready to take on this adventure together, and I hope that all the new things we’re working on fill people’s lives with a lot more fun!"
Following the release of NewJeans' first EP, fans instantly took note of the unique sound and style of the group. Clad in Y2K-inspired outfits and sporting super simple, but timeless and effortlessly chic hair and makeup styles, NewJeans quickly became beloved by fans for their refreshing debut and charismatic allure. NewJeans has cited early 2000s movies like Mean Girls, The Princess Diaries, and Clueless as inspiration for their look. Following the physical release of the group's debut EP in August 2022, fans purchased over a million copies, making it the best-selling debut album by a female K-pop group in South Korea in history.
"When you see them in person, they have such tremendous skill, talent and passion that you hardly even notice how young they are," said Min in a 2022 BeAttitude interview in regards to the NewJeans members. "And what makes them so special is how they each have their own talents and appeal."
NewJeans' 2023 Rise To Fame
Following the breakout success of the group's self-titled debut EP in 2022, NewJeans wasted no time in building on their budding stardom and released their second EP, Get Up, in July 2023, which featured "Super Shy," "ETA," and "Cool With You" as singles. In the days following its release, Get Up reached number one on the Billboard 200 chart, making it the second K-pop girl group, after Blackpink, to do so. This was a monumental achievement for NewJeans, as it meant that not only did the unique, experimental nature of the group appeal to its domestic audience in Korea, but it also emerged as a hit group in the international market, with widespread success in the United States in particular.
NewJeans subsequently went on a short global tour, making notable stops at Lollapalooza in Chicago and the Summer Sonic Festival in Japan.
The commercial success of their first two EPS, along with their burgeoning fan base, growing media attention, and sensational music videos has paved the way for numerous brand collaborations, with partnerships between NewJeans and prominent corporations like Levi's, Apple, Coca-Cola, and LG.
NewJeans members have also broken into the fashion scene, with members serving as global ambassadors for luxury labels like Dior, Gucci, YSL Beauty, Louis Vuitton, Burberry, Celine, and Chanel Korea.
What Does NewJeans Have In Store For The Future?
Whether you've been missing NewJeans since their last release or you've been waiting for a sign to get into their discography, there's no time like the present to stream NewJeans in anticipation of the group's busy year ahead. The 4th-Gen group has announced the release of two double singles in 2024. "How Sweet" and "Bubblegum" are set to drop in May 2024, while "Supernatural" and "Right Now" are currently slated for a June 2024 release, and a full album is reportedly in the works for a late 2024 drop date.