The Girls’ Generation Song That Made K-Pop History Was Actually Another Girl Group’s Song First

During a time when solo artists and the first generation of male K-Pop idols were shining, SM Entertainment released a girl group that helped ignite a new generation of K-Pop—Girls’ Generation.

Girls’ Generation debuted in 2007 with nine members: Taeyeon, Tiffany, Sooyoung, Yoona, Yuri, Jessica, Hyoyeon, Sunny, and Seohyun. With their impactful debut song “Into the New World,” which was filled with powerful melodies and synchronized choreography, Girls’ Generation quickly became “the Nation’s Girl Group.”

Girls’ Generation | SM Entertainment

“Into the New World” became an anthem for many and has been covered countless times by artists of all different backgrounds—from diva vocalist Lee Young Hyun of Big Mama singing it in Immortal Songs to K-Pop trainees performing it in the audition program Produce 101.

“Into the New World” is loved by so many K-Pop fans worldwide. What many people don’t know, however, is that this iconic song belonged to a different girl group first. In 2002, the song was set to be released by SM Entertainment’s four-membered girl group M.I.L.K.

Members of M.I.L.K. | SM Entertainment

M.I.L.K consisted of members Park Hee Von, Kim Bo Mi, Bae Yu Mi, and Seo Hyun Jin, and they debuted in 2001 with their first album, With Freshness and “Come To Me” as their title track.

Many may recognize M.I.L.K.’s maknae, or youngest member, as the actress Seo Hyun Jin. Before Seo Hyun Jin was a successful actress from popular K-Dramas, she was a K-Pop idol who was scouted by SM Entertainment for her visuals and talents.

Seo Hyun Jin in M.I.L.K. in 2002 | MBC Seo Hyun Jin in the K-Drama “You Are My Spring” in 2021 | tvN

After promoting “Come to Me” and then doing activities with the two sub-tracks in their album until 2002, M.I.L.K. finally prepared for their second album. The title song of the second album was going to be “Into the New World,” the song we know as Girls’ Generation’s debut song today.

The group had already recorded the song, but a member suddenly left the group, causing M.I.L.K. to reach their end. They eventually disbanded in 2003, only two years after their debut. “Into the New World” was then shelved until SM Entertainment formed Girls’ Generation.

M.I.L.K. | @heevonne/Instagram

It was even said that Seo Hyun Jin almost re-debuted as the leader of Girls’ Generation, but she decided to pursue her education as a college student. Many wonder what M.I.L.K.’s future would have looked like if they released “Into the New World” instead of giving it to Girls’ Generation.