Hyori-su and Jisoo: A perfect cross-generational K-pop meeting

Hyori-su—a unit consisting of Girls' Generation members Hyoyeon, Kwon Yuri, and Choi Sooyoung—met BLACKPINK's Jisoo in the heart of New York, creating an unexpected and delightful combination. As Jisoo joined in the three members' playful chemistry, the meeting of two representative generations of K-pop girl groups resulted in a charming scene.

On the 11th, Elle Korea released photos via official SNS of Hyori-su and Jisoo attending a fashion brand event in New York. The four posed together in front of the camera, naturally leading the atmosphere, as the meeting of stars spanning generations drew significant attention.

In particular, a single comment from Sooyoung turned the scene into a sea of laughter. Pointing to Jisoo, she suggested, "You should be part of Hyori-su all the way here," and Jisoo responded without hesitation, "I'm down." This created a moment where a BLACKPINK member was essentially being 'recruited' into the new Girls' Generation unit on the spot.

This scene is even more interesting because it connects to the background of Hyori-su's creation. Hyori-su was not a typical idol project planned from the start as a formal unit. It began as Hyoyeon's personal YouTube content, unfolding like a variety show where Hyoyeon, Kwon Yuri, and Sooyoung competed for the positions of main vocal and center.

However, the fans' reaction was hotter than expected. Ultimately, the combination found within the playful content of "Fake Kim Hyoyeon" led to an actual music release, and Hyori-su officially entered the music industry by releasing the digital single "Skibidi" on the 31st of last month.

"Skibidi" is a track that starts with house and transitions into hip-hop, featuring a versatile composition with Arabian string samples. Like the message "Let's create our own new path," the song chose a direction different from the stylized image of the original Girls' Generation, putting the three members' playful characters at the forefront.

The B-side track "Lowkey In Love" is also composed as a dance pop song that combines a retro mood with brass sounds and a rhythmical groove. Rather than remaining a simple event-based project, there are clear traces of an attempt to build a unique, independent unit color through these two songs.

The interesting point is that although Hyori-su carries the name of a "rookie," the members' resumes are not rookie-like at all. Hyoyeon, Kwon Yuri, and Sooyoung are core members of Girls' Generation who have been at the center of K-pop for a long time. The setting itself—starting again like rookies under a new team name just before their 20th anniversary—is the most unique irony of this project.

In fact, prior to the official music release, Hyori-su pre-released their new song stage at the "2026 Casscool Festival" held at Seoul Land in Gwacheon on the 22nd of last month. As the characters created in the content connected to actual stage activities, it demonstrated a new way of idol activity: "YouTube variety project → music release → stage performance."\

As a result, the debut song "Skibidi" secured unexpected buzz. It climbed to number one on the YouTube Trending Music Chart in Korea in early September, and the performance video also reached the top of the daily popular music video chart in Korea, showing how a project starting from light laughter can lead to actual musical achievements.

In this flow, Jisoo, met in New York, became a figure who further clarified Hyori-su's playful personality. Since Jisoo has also established herself as a global K-pop star through BLACKPINK, the symbolism of members representing different eras—Girls' Generation and BLACKPINK—appearing in one frame is significant.

In particular, this meeting left a meaning beyond a simple "visual combination." If Girls' Generation was the leader of the 2nd generation that spearheaded the global expansion of K-pop, BLACKPINK is the core group of the 3rd generation that expanded that flow into a massive global pop culture phenomenon. The fact that icons of different generations mingled naturally in New York, the international center of fashion and culture, shows that the generational shift in K-pop is progressing not as a disconnection, but as a form of succession and exchange.

Above all, the charm of Hyori-su lies in the ability to satirize and enjoy themselves regardless of age or career. The three, who had carried the massive brand of "Girls' Generation" for a long time, stood on stage this time with laughter and playfulness ahead of perfect image management, under a new name.

Sooyoung's joke to Jisoo, "You should be part of Hyori-su all the way here," is an extension of that atmosphere. Regardless of the realistic issue of whether she can become an official member, the fact that stars who have been at the top for a long time can play "our team" with a junior so casually shows their current status.

Ultimately, the photos of the four captured in New York contain much more than a simple fashion event snapshot. As the past of Girls' Generation, the present of BLACKPINK, and the new experiment of Hyori-su overlap in a single scene, it captures how K-pop stars create new narratives as they move through the years.