Promotional photo for K-pop group tripleS' album 'ASSEMBLE24.' Photos courtesy of MODHAUSIn October 2022, an ambitious project began to take shape in South Korea with the release of “Generation,” a single by Acid Angel from Asia. This four-member team was introduced as the first sub-unit of what would later become the 24-member girl group tripleS.

While tripleS’ large number of members and prolonged debut project might seem overwhelming for the uninitiated, this approach is well-established in the K-pop industry, as seen with groups like NCT and Loona.

The boy group NCT, in particular, currently has 26 members who perform in various sub-units, intended to cater to different markets. Meanwhile, the now-inactive girl group Loona introduced each of its 12 members (some of whom are now labelmates to tripleS) through solo and sub-unit releases over 18 months, attracting significant attention in the process.

In the months following “Generation,” tripleS continued to expand, releasing new music through sub-units that introduced additional members. The group formally debuted in February 2023 with the extended play "ASSEMBLE," featuring 10 members.

In May, tripleS released their first full album, “ASSEMBLE24,” marking the first time the group promoted with all 24 members.

“I’m reminded of tripleS’ first debut album which was released a year ago with 10 members. The album ‘ASSEMBLE’ was an important promotion that aimed to impress the public with the grandeur of 10 members,” ChaeYeon told ABS-CBN News.

“[‘ASSEMBLE24’] is a meaningful first album that contains the voices of all 24 members,” she said of the new album.

“ASSEMBLE24” features 10 tracks, fronted by the lead single “Girls Never Die,” a laidback track boasting a catchy “la-la-la” hook that fits within the group’s signature style.

“The song is about facing my true self and to not be afraid of failure, and to realize how valuable and cool it is to not give up during hardships and to keep striving,” ChaeYeon said.

TripleS, whose members are of different nationalities, also emphasizes fan participation, allowing supporters to vote on which members take part in sub-unit promotions through their official app Cosmo.

Notably, “Girls Never Die” became the album’s lead single through fan voting, according to a press release.

“At first I thought this system was very interesting. I thought it would be a survival [program],” said Taiwanese-Vietnamese member Nien, who likened the system to reality talent competition series that form K-pop groups.

“But when I joined, the fans always made great units so the members also find [the system] fun,” she added.

Through the voting system, the girls are able to “understand what fans want” and “what image we have to show for them to like us the most,” said NaKyoung, who was among the first members to be introduced through Acid Angel from Asia.

“We always think about what kind of image we have to show for fans to really enjoy and love us. Among those aspects are the synergy and chemistry between members. Since we’re 24 members, we can create so many combinations and various images,” stressed NaKyoung.

tripleS in a backstage photo for South Korean music show 'Show! Music Core' during their promotions for 'ASSEMBLE24.'

For NaKyoung, being part of the sub-units “was of great help to quickly adapt to new members and create teamwork.”

The more experienced members also lent a hand to their newer bandmates. “I was one of the last members to join so I wasn’t part of a sub-unit yet,” ChaeWon said.

“The members helped me out a lot while preparing for this promotion. In particular, NaKyoung went over the movements or formations once more with me and she approached me first to ask about any difficulties I had,” she recalled.

TripleS has successfully captured attention with their origin story and regular music releases. They were honored as Best New Female Artist at the 2023 MAMA Awards and named Rookie of the Year at the 31st Hanteo Music Awards.

tripleS in a backstage photo for South Korean music show 'Music Bank' during their promotions for 'ASSEMBLE24.'

With “Girls Never Die,” tripleS also reached a career milestone by taking home their first music show trophy on SBS M’s “The Show,” considered a major achievement for any K-pop act.

While the presence of 24 members may seem daunting, it adds enjoyment for those in the group. “We order a variety of food when we eat. So when I take a bite of each menu, I can get full,” ChaeWon said.

Meanwhile, Nien shared: “There are so many members that when one person bursts out laughing, it’s hard to tone it down.”

“If one member tells a funny story, it takes a long time for us to calm down and the laughter is just unstoppable,” she added.

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