UNCHILD, a new girl group introduced by High Up Entertainment approximately six years after STAYC, officially debuted on April 21. Composed of six members—Park Ye-eun, Heekie, Tina, Ako, Evon, and Na Ha-eun—UNCHILD stood before the public for the first time that afternoon at the Blue Square WooriWON Banking Hall in Hannam-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, where they held a showcase for the release of their debut single, ‘We Are UNCHILD’.
The team name ‘Unchild’ was created by combining the prefix ‘UN-,’ which rejects ‘ordinariness,’ with ‘CHILD (PERSON),’ meaning a person not confined by any standards. Expressing the team’s unique identity through a frog symbol that defies conventional molds, they declared a break from stereotypes and standards. The ambition to present a new paradigm for 5th generation K-pop is embedded in the team name itself.
Among the members, the most familiar face to the public is Na Ha-eun. Na Ha-eun first made a name for herself in 2013 on SBS’s “Star King” as “Baby Hyuna” for her outstanding dance skills, and later established herself as a “dance prodigy” with 5 million subscribers on her YouTube channel, “Awesome Ha-eun.” However, the way Na Ha-eun introduced herself at the showcase that day was different. She declared, “I am not dance prodigy Na Ha-eun, but Unchild’s Na Ha-eun.”
Na Ha-eun, who joined the team for the first time after a long period of solo activities, revealed that performing on stage with the members had been a long-held dream. She shared that along with the happiness she felt during the practice process, she also felt some pressure due to having been in the public eye for so long, but she prepared by accepting it positively. Recalling the moment she received her debut name tag, she said, “It felt like I had reached the finish line.”
Each member has a distinct background. Leader Heekie serves as the main rapper, anchoring the team’s musical core with his solid skills and leadership. Park Ye-eun is a former contestant on Mnet’s ‘I-LAND2: N/a,’ having made a comeback with Unchild after being eliminated from the audition. Park Ye-eun stated, “Back then, I didn’t have the mindset to overcome fear, but now I have become the Park Ye-eun who can easily overcome it.” Tina, from China, possesses stunning visuals and exceptional talent, while Ako, from Japan, takes charge of the “killing parts” with her witty and quirky charm. Evon is the main vocalist who elevates the group’s musical quality with her distinctive voice.
The title track ‘UNCHILD’ is an electronic pop song combining raw electric guitar riffs with psychedelic electronic sounds, conveying a message of lightly overcoming fear and moving forward on a new adventure. The choreography was directed by RENAN, BABY ZOO, and ROOT, while Na Ha-eun and Heekie personally created and selected the dance break choreography. Na Ha-eun cited teamwork as a distinguishing feature of the performance, emphasizing, “A performance created together is what sets us apart.”
The track ‘ENERGY’ combines a house-based rhythm with upbeat synth sounds, capturing the awakening and excitement of the moment of first encountering a new world. The members also revealed how they want to be remembered as a group; Heekie suggested “Unchild putting an exclamation mark on the world,” while Park Ye-eun proposed “Unchild that is unfamiliar yet someone you want to keep seeing” as their goal. Unchild’s debut single, ‘We Are UNCHILD,’ will be released on various music streaming sites at 6 p.m. today.
