THEBLACKLABEL—home to hitmakers like BLACKPINK’s Rosé, MEOVV, and Taeyang—is about to shake things up with their very first co-ed group. This isn’t just another debut; it’s a bold move in an industry where mixed-gender groups are rare.
The YG-affiliated label, led by the legendary Teddy, is shifting its focus from managing solo artists to debuting new groups. For those unversed, Teddy is a popular K-pop producer who has produced many hits for BLACKPINK, BIGBANG, and 2NE1.
Now, the former 1TYM member is venturing into rather unfamiliar territory by debuting a mixed group. Generally, the co-ed groups are not as popular as the boy or girl groups. So it would be a challenge for him to make the new group stand out. So far, there is only one active co-ed idol group, KARD, which debuted in 2017.
Teddy’s got his work cut out for him – making this group stand out in the cutthroat K-pop world is not going to be a small feat.
From rumored members to possible group names, here’s everything we know so far.
Meet the (Possible) Co-ed Group Members
While THEBLACKLABEL has yet to confirm the final lineup officially, insider reports and industry buzz point to these standout talents:
Lee Chae Won (Tarzzan)
- Birth Year: 2002
- Nationality: Korean
A rising model under KPLUS, Tarzzan gained attention after appearing in NewJeans’ Supernatural music video last year. He is trained in modern dance and attended Korea National University of Arts. Lee is not an unfamiliar face and already has over 50K Insta followers.
He has modeled for top brands and graced the pages of Dazed, Elle, GQ, Singles, Vogue, and Cosmopolitan Korea.
Bailey Sok
- Birth Year: 2004
- Nationality: Korean-American
Just like Tarzzan, Bailey Sok needs no introduction as well. Her dancing journey began at a very, very young age of 2, and she was already a dance teacher at 14.
Now, Bailey is a globally recognized choreographer who has worked with Red Velvet, Kai, Jackson Wang, SHINee, and BIGBANG’s Taeyang. She has already won multiple awards, including Dance Creator of the Year at the 2023 Adweek Awards, and has choreographed for K/DA (POP/STARS).
Jo Woochan
- Birth Year: 2005
- Nationality: Korean
On the rap side, Jo Woochan is a former BIGHIT trainee and ex-member of the pre-debut group Trainee A. He made history as the youngest contestant on Show Me the Money 6 and debuted as a solo rapper in 2019. Jo Woochan made his solo comeback with the mini-album, Bl[ ]nk, last year.
Lee Youngseo
- Birth Year: 2005
- Nationality: Korean
Youngseo is a former ILLIT member (pre-debut departure) and a trainee under SM, Source Music, and ADOR. Her contract with BELIFT LAB, ILLIT’s agency, was terminated a few months before the group’s debut. Fans were quite disappointed when Youngseo was removed from the ILLIT lineup.
She was a contestant on the survival show R U Next?, which formed ILLIT, finishing in second place.
Annie Moon
- Birth Year: 2002
- Nationality: Korean
The granddaughter of Samsung’s chairwoman, Annie, was initially set to join MEOVV but left due to personal reasons. A Columbia graduate and fashion icon, she might pursue her dream of becoming an idol by debuting with the co-ed group.
Group Name
THEBLACKLABEL recently filed trademark applications for two possible names: “SKRRT SKRRT” and “KRUZZty.” It is worth noting that these names haven’t been confirmed yet, so they might be subject to change.
“SKRRT SKRRT” sounds like a high-energy, hip-hop-inspired vibe, while “KRUZZty” might be the fandom name. Either way, with Teddy at the helm, the branding will be sleek, stylish, and impossible to ignore.
Debut
While THEBLACKLABEL has not provided a debut timeline, they have confirmed that preparations are underway. Since the rumored members are quite talented and already have ample experience, the label may introduce them later this year.