In just two years, Babymonster has gone from heavily hyped rookies to one of K-pop’s most aggressively positioned global acts.
In that span, the seven-member girl group has released multiple hit records, dominated streaming charts across Asia, and built the kind of international fanbase that many acts spend years trying to reach. Now they’re taking the next step: a full-scale world tour.
Manila is on the list.
Babymonster officially announced the Asia and Oceania leg of its “Choom” world tour this week, with the group set to perform at the SM Mall of Asia Arena on Sept. 5, easily their biggest Philippine show yet.
The tour supports the group’s latest mini-album, Choom, released on May 4, and marks a major turning point for the act. While streaming numbers and viral clips can make a group feel huge online, world tours are where K-pop acts prove whether they can command arenas in real life.
Babymonster appears ready to try.
The tour launches with a three-night run at Seoul’s Jamsil Indoor Stadium from June 26 to 28 before expanding across Asia and Oceania, with stops in Manila, Bangkok, Jakarta, Singapore, Hong Kong, Taipei, Kuala Lumpur, Auckland, Melbourne, and Sydney. Combined with previously announced Japan dates, the tour now covers 18 cities and 27 shows, with Europe, North America, and South America still expected to be announced later.
The group, composed of Ruka, Pharita, Asa, Ahyeon, Rami, Rora, and Chiquita, arrived carrying the weight of expectation that naturally comes with debuting under YG Entertainment, the label behind acts like BLACKPINK and 2NE1. But rather than collapse under comparisons, Babymonster quickly carved out its own identity through high-impact performances, polished rap-heavy production, and songs engineered for arena-sized energy.
Tracks like Batter Up and Sheesh became viral staples online, generating massive streaming figures and relentless fan engagement across social media platforms.
Still, touring is a different test entirely.
The “Choom” world tour is less about proving Babymonster can go viral. They already have. It is more about proving they can sustain the kind of global momentum required to become a long-term arena act.
So far, YG Entertainment seems confident.
In announcing the tour, the company described “Choom” as one of its most ambitious launches yet for a rookie girl group, adding that both the artists and production teams are “pouring their hearts and souls” into the performances as the tour expands across five continents.
For Filipino fans, the Manila stop also says something larger about the Philippines’ growing importance in the K-pop economy. What used to be considered an optional Southeast Asian stop has increasingly become a mandatory part of major global tours, especially for acts with strong online traction in the country.