Jaejoong Drops a Bombshell: New Boy Group Coming in January
Jaejoong just lit up the K-pop rumor mill—and no, it’s not about a comeback. During his appearance on the Chuseok special of the web variety show Ko Soyeon’s Popstran, the veteran idol casually announced plans to debut a brand-new boy group in January 2025.
The K-pop Icon Turns Mentor
While enjoying a homemade kalbijjim (a Korean braised short-rib dish) prepared by host Ko Soyeon—using Jaejoong’s own recipe, no less—the topic shifted from food to flirty fan service. When teased about having a girlfriend, Jaejoong cheekily replied with a wink and a heart, “Hello, my babies,” addressing his fans.
On a more reflective note, he opened up about his dating past: “In my twenties, I was often approached by older women, but many of them saw dating as a step toward marriage. That felt like a lot of pressure.”
From Idol to Industry Shaker
When asked about his current plans as a producer, Jaejoong shared: “Our girl group SAY MY NAME is about to celebrate its first anniversary, and a new boy group is coming in January. We’ll be revealing them in December.” That news alone was enough to spark fan theories faster than a TikTok trend.
Familiar Faces from BOYS PLANET 2
K-pop fans were quick to connect the dots. Jaejoong had previously appeared as a master on BOYS PLANET 2, the survival show that launched ALPHA DRIVE ONE. Several standout trainees like Park Junil (formerly of HYBE’s Trainee A), Masato (from Japan), and Sen (a fan favorite) also came from his agency, iNKODE.
Adding fuel to the speculation, recent buzz confirms that BOYS PLANET 2 trainees Soon Jia Yang and Pong Jinyu have officially joined iNKODE. This move only strengthens predictions that they’ll be part of the upcoming boy group debut.
A Year-End Reveal for a New Gen Group
With years of experience under his belt and a sharp eye for talent, Jaejoong is positioning himself as the next big K-pop producer to watch. Whether this group will break the internet à la BTS or become cult favorites like ATEEZ, one thing’s certain: K-pop’s 2025 line-up is getting interesting.
