HYBE ABD Girl Group Debut Planned for Second Half of 2026 Under New Label

HYBE has established ABD, a new label focused on girl group production, and plans to debut its first rookie girl group in the second half of 2026. The HYBE ABD girl group project will be led by ABD chief executive No Ji-won, with Han Sung-soo serving as the executive producer for the new act. ¹

The announcement, reported on May 8, 2026, places ABD within HYBE’s broader multi-label system and gives the company a new unit dedicated specifically to developing girl groups. ABD stands for “A Bold Dream,” and its first act is currently described only as a rookie girl group scheduled for later in 2026. ²

ABD Girl Group Debut Set for Later in 2026

The planned debut is the central first move for ABD. Source reports say the label was created as a specialized organization for girl group production, with its debut act expected in the second half of 2026. No group name, member lineup, music release date, album title, or promotional schedule has been disclosed in the available source material.

HYBE’s announcement describes ABD as a label designed around girl group development rather than as a general artist-management unit. Newsis reported that ABD will operate around an organization and creator group specialized in girl group production, while also identifying the label as part of HYBE’s multi-label strategy. ³

The company framed the move as both a creative and strategic step. In a press release quoted by Newsis, HYBE said ABD aims to pursue “the essential joy of music” while expanding new areas of K-pop based on a deep understanding of fans and artists. ³ A HYBE official also described the establishment of ABD as a strategic move to secure IP diversity and further advance K-pop production capabilities. ³

The available reports do not state whether the upcoming group will be launched first in Korea, internationally, or through a specific audition or survival format. They also do not identify a distributor, fandom name, official channels, or debut concept beyond the broad emphasis on new musical attempts and concepts.

No Ji-won to Lead ABD

No Ji-won has been named the head of ABD. Yonhap’s Korean-language report identified her as Pledis Entertainment’s artist planning office chief, while other reports described her as the new chief executive responsible for the label’s overall management. ¹

Her appointment connects ABD to HYBE’s existing label infrastructure while giving the new company its own leadership. Hankyung reported that ABD is included in HYBE’s multi-label strategy, which emphasizes strengthening the expertise and autonomy of individual labels. ⁴

That positioning is important because HYBE already operates through multiple labels rather than a single centralized artist roster. Korea JoongAng Daily placed ABD alongside existing HYBE labels including BigHit Music, Pledis Entertainment, Belift Lab, Source Music, ADOR and KOZ Entertainment. ⁵

The reports do not provide further details about ABD’s staffing, headquarters, trainee structure, investment scale, or whether any existing HYBE trainees will be part of the debut group. The information currently available focuses on the label’s mission, its leadership and the production role assigned to Han Sung-soo.

Han Sung-soo Oversees Music, Concept and Performance

Han Sung-soo will oversee production for ABD’s first rookie girl group. Edaily reported that Han will direct the group’s music, concept and performance, placing him in charge of the main creative areas for the debut project. ⁶

Yonhap’s English-language report identified Han as a producer known for work with Seventeen, After School, IZ*ONE and TWS. ² His role at ABD therefore gives the new label a high-profile production lead for its first release, although the sources do not specify whether he will write, compose, choreograph, or supervise through a broader executive producer role.

HYBE also linked the debut group to a stated creative direction. In a press release quoted by Edaily, the company said it would propose new musical attempts and concepts through the rookie girl group and create fresh change in the global music market. ⁶

That statement gives the clearest available indication of HYBE’s ambitions for the project, but it stops short of naming a genre, image, performance style, market campaign, or concept theme. The company has not disclosed whether the group will use ABD’s name in branding or whether it will be promoted primarily under HYBE, ABD, or both.

HYBE ABD girl group second half 2026 debut lineup concept

The ABD launch adds another dedicated label to HYBE’s multi-label structure and sets up a new girl group debut for the second half of 2026. For now, the confirmed facts are limited but clear: ABD stands for “A Bold Dream,” No Ji-won leads the label, Han Sung-soo oversees the first group’s production, and HYBE plans to introduce the rookie girl group later in 2026.