KPOP Meaning
A debut song is the first song a singer or group releases when they debut. The Korean dictionary Urimalsaem defines 데뷔 (debut) as appearing in a field for the first time, and 데뷔작 as the first work someone puts out on entering a field such as entertainment. The Cambridge Dictionary also gives "her debut album" for a first album. In K-pop coverage, the term refers to the title track of the debut release: Star News reported that ALPHA DRIVE ONE won on all three terrestrial music shows with "FREAK ALARM," the title track of its debut album EUPHORIA. A debut is the event or date; the debut song is the song released then, as distinct from songs released during a pre-debut.
Usage
Used for the song a group started with, as in "start with their debut song" or "a first win with the debut song." Pairing it with the debut date shows when and with what the group began.
Examples
- Black Mamba — aespa's debut song, released on music sites at 6 p.m. on November 17, 2020 (Newsis).
- FREAK ALARM — Title track of the debut album EUPHORIA; it won on all three terrestrial music shows (Star News).
In context
Sources
- Urimalsaem (National Institute of Korean Language): 데뷔
What we checked
Urimalsaem (National Institute of Korean Language): 데뷔
- Urimalsaem (National Institute of Korean Language): 데뷔작
What we checked
Urimalsaem (National Institute of Korean Language): 데뷔작
- Cambridge Dictionary: debut
What we checked
Cambridge Dictionary: debut
- Star News: ALPHA DRIVE ONE wins on all three terrestrial networks two weeks after debut (January 26, 2026)
What we checked
Star News: ALPHA DRIVE ONE wins on all three terrestrial networks two weeks after debut (January 26, 2026)
- Newsis: SM girl group aespa debuts today with "Black Mamba" (November 17, 2020)
What we checked
Newsis: SM girl group aespa debuts today with "Black Mamba" (November 17, 2020)