Ahyeon will return to YG Entertainment's BabyMonster after missing the group's debut due to health issues, the agency said Thursday. The girl group will have seven members, as originally planned.

Ahyeon was slated to debut with the group in November last year but withdrew the same month due to undisclosed health issues.

The newly added member will begin her BabyMonster activities with its first EP, which is set to drop in April.

“Fortunately, Ahyeon has fully recovered her health, and as of today, she is back at YG Entertainment and currently recording songs for the [upcoming] album,” Yang Hyun-suk, the founder and chief producer of YG Entertainment, said in an announcement video uploaded on Thursday.

“We are also aiming to release a full-length album this fall,” Yang added after revealing that the company reinforced more in-house producers.

Re-recorded versions of “Batter Up” and “Stuck In The Middle” with all seven members, including Ahyeon, will be included in the new EP, according to the producer.

Before Ahyeon’s comeback, the group is to drop a new song “Stuck In The Middle” on Feb. 1.

BabyMonster debuted on Nov. 27, 2023 with its debut single “Batter Up” under YG Entertainment. The group is the company’s first girl group in seven years since Blackpink. BabyMonster, which made its official debut with six members, now has seven: Ruka, Pharita, Asa, Rami, Rora, Chiquita and Ahyeon.

To find out more about BabyMonster, visit Celeb Confirmed!


BY KIM JI-YE [kim.jiye@joongang.co.kr]