SEOUL — OURBIRTHDAY, the first new girl group launched by JYP Entertainment in more than four years, made its pre-debut on Wednesday, releasing the digital single “HUNGRY (Side A)” across major streaming platforms at 6 p.m. KST on July 22. The three members revealed so far — Jo Hye-jin, Baby, and Achiraya — will perform the song on television for the first time on Mnet’s M Countdown on Thursday, July 23.
The release ends a long wait for a new girl group from one of K-pop’s “big four” agencies: JYP has not debuted a Korean girl group since NMIXX in February 2022, and before that ITZY in 2019 and TWICE in 2015.
An “explosive” pre-debut single
According to the agency’s announcement, carried by Korean outlets including Star News and Metro Seoul, “HUNGRY (Side A)” channels “an unceasing hunger for the stage” through an explosive sound, built around the trio’s vocal and performance chemistry. The track is positioned as a pre-debut release — a first taste of the group’s music ahead of an official debut, a rollout format JYP has used to build anticipation for new teams. Alongside the single, JYP released an official performance video for the track on its YouTube channel.
The group name carries the team’s concept: living “as if every day were a birthday,” reframing ordinary days in the group’s own color. JYP began seeding the debut on its official social media channels in mid-July with concept photos, a mood sampler on July 20, and a music video teaser ahead of Wednesday’s release.
Who are the members?
OURBIRTHDAY pre-debuts as a multinational trio, and each of the three revealed members arrives with a distinct calling card.
Jo Hye-jin
The best-known face of the lineup, Jo Hye-jin appeared on Mnet’s dance survival show Street Dance Girls Fighter 2 and took first place on a KBS 2TV entertainment competition program, giving her both dance credentials and broadcast experience unusual for a pre-debut idol.
Baby and Achiraya
Baby is described by the agency as the team’s dance specialist, while Achiraya anchors the group’s vocals. Together the three cover the performance, dance, and vocal axes that JYP girl groups have traditionally balanced.
Why “(Side A)” matters
The single’s title has fueled speculation among fans that a companion “Side B” release — and possibly additional members — will follow before the group’s full official debut. JYP has so far confirmed only the three current members and has not announced the final size of the group or a full debut date, so any expanded lineup remains unconfirmed. What the “Side A” framing does make clear is that Wednesday’s single is the opening move of a longer rollout rather than the finished picture.
What’s next
The immediate next step is the group’s first broadcast stage on M Countdown on July 23, where the agency has promised an energetic performance befitting the song’s concept. From there, attention turns to how quickly JYP moves from pre-debut to official debut — TWICE, ITZY, and NMIXX each became pillars of the agency’s lineup, and OURBIRTHDAY now inherits that runway with the K-pop girl group market more competitive than it was when NMIXX arrived in 2022.
FAQ
When did OURBIRTHDAY’s “HUNGRY (Side A)” come out?
The digital single was released at 6 p.m. KST on Wednesday, July 22, 2026, on major Korean and global streaming platforms.
Who are the members of OURBIRTHDAY?
Three members have been revealed so far: Jo Hye-jin (known from Street Dance Girls Fighter 2), dancer Baby, and vocalist Achiraya. JYP has not announced whether more members will join ahead of the group’s official debut.
Where can I watch OURBIRTHDAY’s first stage?
The group’s first televised performance of “HUNGRY (Side A)” airs on Mnet’s M Countdown on Thursday, July 23.
Sources: JYP Entertainment official announcements and social channels, as reported by Star News, Metro Seoul, and Sports Kyunghyang.
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