JYP Entertainment, run by one of the nation’s most successful music producers Park Jin-young, will be launching its new boy band “GOT7” next week. 


Coming a year after the debut of duo JJ Project, who since its launch has released only two singles to little success, officials at JYPE announced plans to do away with the group and move the two members into the seven-member K-pop idol boy group. 


The public has already glimpsed a number of the members in action during the airing of YG Entertainment’s previous reality show “WIN: Who Is Next?” The show aired an episode with the trainees of YG and JYPE in an all-out battle of skills, and concluded with YG CEO Yang Hyun-suk disappointed, expressing his embarrassment at the fact that his trainees had lost the battle.


The range in nationality will include Asian members both Korean and non-Korean. Thus far JYPE has revealed four of the GOT7 members: Jackson from Hong Kong, Mark from the U.S, and locals Yoogyeom and JB (former JJ Project member.)

Prior to JJ Project, the last boy band the powerhouse agency had produced was in 2008 with the K-pop idol group 2PM and the ballad singers of 2AM. After the announcement of the Wonder Girls’ hiatus and member Sohee’s decision to leave, JYPE has lagged behind on the K-pop forefront, especially in launching new talent, as rivals SM and YG Entertainment reaped tremendous success with their new faces.

Representatives from JYPE have also announced plans to debut two more groups this year: Boy band 5Live as well as a six-member girl group currently in the making.

GOT7 is set to launch its first music video and hold its debut showcase on Jan. 15 as well as release the group’s first mini-album on Jan. 20.

By Julie Jackson (juliejackson@heraldcorp.com)