Who are K-pop girl group NewJeans?


Evelyn Lau
  • English
  • Arabic

Even if you’ve never heard of them, you’ve probably heard one of their songs on Instagram or TikTok.

NewJeans have taken the K-pop world by storm since making their debut in July. Made up of Minji, Hanni, Danielle, Haerin and Hyein, the five members range in age from 14 to 18. They wear Y2K-influenced outfits and have been praised for their unique throwback sound, with some comparing it to 2000s RnB and pop music.

Since their surprise debut, they’ve already released five singles, with four of them (Attention, Hype Boy, Ditto and OMG) reaching the top of Billboard's South Korea Songs chart. Earlier this month, they became the first K-pop female act to sell more than one million copies of a debut album.

Here’s what to know about them.

What makes NewJeans unique?

In an unusual move for the K-pop industry, there was little promotion about the newly formed girl group ahead of their debut.

Their label Ador, a subsidiary of Hybe Corporation, which is behind BTS, released three animated videos 22, 7, and 22 on social media with speculation that an announcement would come. Instead, it was the music video for the group’s unannounced debut single, Attention.

The surprise release was an anomaly as no other K-pop band had been introduced to the world in such a way.

The video reached more than 1.3 million views in less than 24 hours and was followed by the group’s second single Hype Boy, the next day. There was also an accompanying 50-second clip that introduced each member.

On August 1, they released their self-titled EP album NewJeans.

What does NewJeans mean?

According to the group’s website, NewJeans has a double meaning. One of them is in reference to jeans being timeless pieces of clothing with each generation having its own emblematic new style.

NewJeans became the first female K-pop group to sell one million copies of a debut album. EPA
NewJeans became the first female K-pop group to sell one million copies of a debut album. EPA

“Pop music, like clothing, is a part of culture that is inseparable from our everyday lives,” said Min Hee-jin, chief executive and head producer at Ador. "Just as jeans have withstood the test of time and found popularity among many regardless of their age and gender, NewJeans aspire to become an icon of generations — one you never grow tiresome of putting on."

The other meaning is that NewJeans is a wordplay on “new genes” and the idea the band will help usher in a new generation of K-pop music, which they seem to be proving they are capable of doing.

Who are the members?

Minji is the oldest of the group at 18 and a former trainee from JYP Entertainment (the agency behind groups such as Stray Kids and Twice). She was also in the BTS music video for Permission to Dance in 2021, along with Haerin, 16. Danielle, 17, is Korean-Australian, while Hanni, 18, is Vietnamese-Australian. Both trained for two and a half years prior to their debut with NewJeans. Hyein is the youngest member at 14.

While most K-pop groups tend to have leaders and positions assigned (such as vocalist or dancer), it appears that NewJeans will forgo that format as previously announced on their app "Phoning", meaning all members will perform in equal and various roles.

What's next for NewJeans?

While they aren't yet headlining Coachella like Blackpink or selling out arenas worldwide like BTS, NewJeans have shown tremendous promise in the little time they've been together. They made their first international performance with a set at KCON Saudi Arabia in Riyadh in October, much to the delight of K-pop fans in the region.

In addition to their music, the members have already individually branched out into the lifestyle realm by partnering with luxury brands. Minji was recently named as Chanel’s newest global ambassador and will represent the French luxury house in three categories: fashion, watches and beauty.

Hanni has been selected as the global makeup ambassador for Armani Beauty, while Hyein and Danielle are ambassadors for Louis Vuitton and Burberry. Haerin has yet to announce a collaboration but, based on past outings, Dior could be a potential partnership.

While new K-pop groups seemingly arrive every other day, NewJeans look poised to stay with their concept and nostalgic sound that can unite young and older fans alike. During an interview with the newspaper Korea JoongAng Daily, Min explained her idea behind NewJeans was to try something more innovative.

"I envision NewJeans as a truly ‘whimsical’ group — not whimsical just for the sake of being quirky, but trying out what hasn’t been done in K-pop even though it should have been,” she said.

“The members are ready to go on an adventure with me," she added. "If things go as planned, it [their next release] will also be a very whimsical album.”

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Started: April 2017

Founders: Mostafa Kandil, Ahmed Sabbah and Mahmoud Nouh

Based: Cairo, Egypt

Sector: transport

Size: 450 employees

Investment: approximately $80 million

Investors include: Dubai’s Beco Capital, US’s Endeavor Catalyst, China’s MSA, Egypt’s Sawari Ventures, Sweden’s Vostok New Ventures, Property Finder CEO Michael Lahyani

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UN Panel of Experts found regime secretly sold a fifth of the country's gold reserves. 

The panel’s 2017 report followed a trail to West Africa where large sums of cash and gold were hidden by Abdullah Al Senussi, Qaddafi’s former intelligence chief, in 2011.

Cases filled with cash that was said to amount to $560m in 100 dollar notes, that was kept by a group of Libyans in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.

A second stash was said to have been held in Accra, Ghana, inside boxes at the local offices of an international human rights organisation based in France.

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Born in Spain, Tribulietx took sole charge of Auckland in 2010 and has gone on to lead the club to 14 trophies, including seven successive Oceania Champions League crowns. Has been tipped for the vacant New Zealand national team job following Anthony Hudson's resignation last month. Had previously been considered for the role. 

THE SPECS

Engine: 1.6-litre turbo

Transmission: six-speed automatic

Power: 165hp

Torque: 240Nm

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THE SPECS

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Transmission: Constant Variable (CVT)

Power: 141bhp 

Torque: 250Nm 

Price: Dh64,500

On sale: Now

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Four out of five stars 

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More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions

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Dialysis is a way of cleaning your blood when your kidneys fail and can no longer do the job.

It gets rid of your body's wastes, extra salt and water, and helps to control your blood pressure. The main cause of kidney failure is diabetes and hypertension.

There are two kinds of dialysis — haemodialysis and peritoneal.

In haemodialysis, blood is pumped out of your body to an artificial kidney machine that filter your blood and returns it to your body by tubes.

In peritoneal dialysis, the inside lining of your own belly acts as a natural filter. Wastes are taken out by means of a cleansing fluid which is washed in and out of your belly in cycles.

It isn’t an option for everyone but if eligible, can be done at home by the patient or caregiver. This, as opposed to home haemodialysis, is covered by insurance in the UAE.

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Key facilities
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  • Premier League-standard football pitch
  • 400m Olympic running track
  • NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
  • 600-seat auditorium
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  • AR and VR-enabled learning centres
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Tips from the expert

Dobromir Radichkov, chief data officer at dubizzle and Bayut, offers a few tips for UAE residents looking to earn some cash from pre-loved items.

  1. Sellers should focus on providing high-quality used goods at attractive prices to buyers.
  2. It’s important to use clear and appealing photos, with catchy titles and detailed descriptions to capture the attention of prospective buyers.
  3. Try to advertise a realistic price to attract buyers looking for good deals, especially in the current environment where consumers are significantly more price-sensitive.
  4. Be creative and look around your home for valuable items that you no longer need but might be useful to others.
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Venue Insportz, Dubai, September 16-23

UAE squad Saqib Nazir (captain), Aaqib Malik, Fahad Al Hashmi, Isuru Umesh, Nadir Hussain, Sachin Talwar, Nashwan Nasir, Prashath Kumara, Ramveer Rai, Sameer Nayyak, Umar Shah, Vikrant Shetty

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6.30pm Handicap US$135,000 (Turf) 2,410m

Winner Dubai Future, Harry Bentley (jockey), Saeed bin Suroor (trainer).

7.05pm UAE 1000 Guineas Listed $250,000 (Dirt) 1,600m

Winner Dubai Love, Patrick Cosgrave, Saeed bin Suroor.

7.40pm Dubai Dash Listed $175,000 (T) 1,000m

Winner: Equilateral, James Doyle, Charles Hills.

8.15pm Al Bastakiya Trial Conditions $100,000 (D) 1.900m

Winner Laser Show, Kevin Stott, Saeed bin Suroor.

8.50pm Al Fahidi Fort Group Two $250,000 (T) 1,400m

Winner Glorious Journey, James Doyle, Charlie Appleby.

9.25pm Handicap $135,000 (D) 2,000m

Winner George Villiers, Tadhg O’Shea, Satish Seemar.

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Fixtures for Round 15 (all times UAE)

Friday
Inter Milan v AS Roma (11.45pm)
Saturday
Atalanta v Verona (6pm)
Udinese v Napoli (9pm)
Lazio v Juventus (11.45pm)
Sunday
Lecce v Genoa (3.30pm)
Sassuolo v Cagliari (6pm)
SPAL v Brescia (6pm)
Torino v Fiorentina (6pm)
Sampdoria v Parma (9pm)
Bologna v AC Milan (11.45pm)

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Manchester City - Pep Guardiola

Manchester United - Jose Mourinho

Southampton - Mauricio Pellegrino

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Engine: Duel electric motors
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Torque: 1075Nm
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Price: On request

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Starring: Raed Zeno, Hadi Awada, Dr Mohammad Abdalla

Director: Raed Zeno

Rating: 4/5

Updated: February 24, 2023, 2:03 PM`