'Baby Shark Boy' Park Geon-roung Makes K-pop Debut at 17 with Single 'WAVE'

Park Geon-roung, who became a global phenomenon as the star of Pinkfong's 'Baby Shark' video a decade ago, is set to launch a music career of a very different kind. The 17-year-old will release his debut K-pop single 'WAVE' on 20 August, featuring Joohoney of South Korean boy group Monsta X.

From viral child star to K-pop artist

Geon-roung was seven years old when he appeared in the video that would go on to become the most-watched YouTube video of all time, currently standing at 17.2 billion views. The Pinkfong Company, which produced the original video, is backing his musical debut. Geon-roung co-wrote the lyrics of 'WAVE', a Korean-language track he describes as expressing the feeling of riding a wave of change.

Global record-holder

'Baby Shark' surpassed 'Despacito' to become YouTube's most-viewed video in 2020 and has held the record since. The song has spawned a global franchise including TV shows, merchandise and live performances. The Pinkfong Company said Geon-roung's debut reflects the brand's evolution from children's content to youth culture.