HYBE Debuts TUIDE, Its First Girl Group in 2 Years, Featuring TWICE Jihyo's Younger Sister

HYBE's newest girl group TUIDE held their debut showcase at Yes24 Live Hall in Gwangjin-gu, Seoul on the 24th, introducing seven members and a debut mini album that the group says is already built for your playlist.

"We're excited and thrilled to finally show the world who TUIDE is," the members said at the showcase, adding that they want to "become a source of joy in fans' everyday lives through our own personality and atmosphere." The confidence was visible throughout: when asked about their point choreography, they demonstrated it without hesitation, and they rounded out the press event with greetings in English and Japanese for international fans.

A new label, a familiar name

TUIDE is the first girl group from ABD, a brand-new label under the HYBE umbrella, and HYBE's first girl group debut overall since KATSEYE launched two years ago. The team's name derives from "Tune the Tide" and carries the meaning of "orchestrating the flow", an idea the members say reflects their approach to music.

Among the seven members, Seoyeon, Seohee, Elena, Jia, Saki, Sea, and Lee Ha-nui, Seoyeon draws particular attention as the younger sister of TWICE's Jihyo. At the showcase, Seoyeon shared advice her sister gave her ahead of the debut: "Jihyo unnie told me that your members are the people you'll see more than your own family, so trust them, lean on them, and build your career together."

Overall production for the group is handled by Han Sung-soo, a master professional with credits that include shaping the careers of SEVENTEEN, After School, IZ*ONE, and TWS. Elena described his philosophy simply: "He told us that finding enjoyment in the practice process itself is what matters most. We try to carry that energy into every performance."

What's on TUNE & PLAY

The debut album was produced by Groovyroom and contains five tracks, including title track SUN KISS, along with ABD, Echo, and two others. According to the group, SUN KISS is built around the idea of trusting your own voice and expressing yourself fully in the moment.

Each member offered a different way into the album's sound. Elena put it plainly: "When I heard the title track for the first time, I loved it immediately. I'm confident it'll end up on people's playlists." Jia framed it more broadly: "The tracks cover different sub-genres, but every single one gives you an energetic, bright feeling. Music where vitality coexists, that's TUIDE's music."

Targets set, no role model required

On the subject of role models, TUIDE's answer was notably self-directed. "There are so many great seniors in this industry, but we haven't set a specific role model for the team," they said. "That's because we want to move forward according to our own color."

Their stated goals are concrete: Seа wants TUIDE to become the kind of act people actively seek out for their playlists and look forward to hearing from again. Jia was even more direct: "Through this promotions cycle, I really want to earn a good reception and win a rookie award."

Groovyroom's production pedigree and Han Sung-soo's track record with long-running acts give TUIDE a foundation most debut groups would envy. Whether the early returns match the ambition is still to be seen, but the group enters the second half of 2026 with every structural advantage in place. Circle the date: August 24 is when TUIDE started the clock.