The group Baby DONT Cry has prepared to firmly establish its presence with a new comeback.
After releasing the debut digital single 'F Girl' in June last year and the second digital single 'I DONT CARE' in November and showcasing various charms, Baby DONT Cry will release and make a comeback with their first mini album 'AFTER CRY' at 6 p.m. on the 24th.
Earlier, they also released the pre-release track 'Shapeshifter' at 6 p.m. on the 11th. With the release of the song and music video and pre-release promotions, the song's structure, which naturally changes from beginning to end, and the members' chameleonlike charms and performances have drawn attention and received praise. The music video posted on YouTube surpassed 8.82 million views as of noon on the 18th, and fans have sent supportive messages such as "I love the pre-release track" and "I like all of the visuals and concept this time."
Ahead of the comeback, Baby DONT Cry announced the development of a future "three-part tears" project in the opening trailer 'The Story Begins Here' with the phrases 'CHAPTER 1. AFTER CRY', 'CHAPTER 2. WE BLOOM', and 'CHAPTER 3. BEYOND THE LIMIT', and the beginning of that project is the first mini album released on the 24th.
Amid this, factors that heighten expectations for Baby DONT Cry's comeback have drawn attention from music industry insiders and fans.
First is the meeting of hitmakers representing the music industry: lyricist Kim Eana and producer Ryan Jhun. Known for writing and composing hit songs for national vocalists such as IU, Sung Si Kyung, Park Hyo-shin and K-pop icon idol groups such as IVE, aespa and ITZY, the two have joined forces this time for Baby DONT Cry's success.
On this five-track mini album, the two collaborated as lyricists and composers on four tracks, including the pre-release 'Shapeshifter' and the title track 'Bittersweet'. Kim Eana's distinctive lyrics and Ryan Jhun's sensuous melodies form an exquisite harmony that is expected to be a driving force for Baby DONT Cry's comeback.
Meanwhile, Baby DONT Cry was named to the NME 100, the list of new artists to watch in 2026 published by the U.K. music magazine NME. They also appeared on Japan's terrestrial TV Tokyo music program 'Chouchouonpa', taking the first step toward a successful entry into the Japanese market. The attention from overseas media and the appearance on Japanese broadcasts ahead of the comeback are notable points as the group has set the first button for global expansion and success.
Despite being a rookie girl group, members Lee Hyun and Benny were recently selected as models for the makeup brand VDL, all members were chosen as brand models for the body care brand Body Fantasies, and they have received love calls to be models for a Japanese color cosmetics brand launching soon, showing they are emerging as blue-chip choices in the domestic and overseas advertising markets.
Team leader Lee Hyun has been meeting music fans every week after being selected as an MC for SBS' Inkigayo in January. She was chosen as the official MC after earning high marks for her excellent hosting as a special MC in July and November last year. Active as an Inkigayo MC, a position many stars have held, she has greatly contributed to raising Baby DONT Cry's profile.
These factors make expectations even higher for Baby DONT Cry's first comeback in 2026. The first mini album that will be a solid foundation for the team's success, 'AFTER CRY', will be released through various online music sites at 6 p.m. on the 24th.
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