K-Pop conglomerate HYBE currently boasts some of the industry’s biggest girl groups, from LE SSERAFIM (르세라핌) and NewJeans (뉴진스), to KATSEYE and ILLIT (아일릿). Now, the company is launching a new subsidiary specialising in girl groups!
On 8th May 2026 (Friday), HYBE announced its brand-new label, ABD, which focuses on the production of girl groups. According to reports, ABD stands for “A Bold Dream” and represents the “pursuit of a creative approach characterised by a flexible and lighthearted mindset that imagines ‘D’ coming after ‘A’ and ‘B’, rather than ‘C’. Here’s what we know about the new agency:
The Agency Is Tailor-made For Girl Groups
Unlike many of HYBE’s subsidiaries and sub-labels, ABD will position itself as a label specialising in girl groups with unique and distinctive intellectual property (IP). HYBE notes that the label will have a dedicated organisation and creative team tailored to produce high-quality girl groups.
The CEO & Executive Producer Have Ties To PLEDIS Entertainment
The CEO of ABD is No Ji Won (노지원), who previously served as Head of Artist Planning at PLEDIS Entertainment. Another key PLEDIS figure joining ABD is founder Han Sung Soo (한성수), who will serve as the executive producer for ABD’s new girl group, overseeing their music, concept and performances.
The Agency’s First Girl Group Will Debut This Year
Along with the announcement of ABD’s launch, HYBE also confirmed that the agency will debut its first girl group in the second half of 2026. Earlier this week, a rumoured list of PLEDIS girl group trainees, which included TWICE Jihyo’s youngest sister, circulated on social media. However, many netizens now suspect the trainees are part of ABD’s first girl group.
For now, K-Pop fans can only wait to see what ABD has in store for their new girl group. However, with seniors like LE SSERAFIM and NewJeans, it’s clear that many are anticipating another high-quality debut from HYBE. Are you excited for ABD and its girl groups?
