Kid from viral ‘Baby Shark’ video returns as a K-Pop singer

Do you still remember the boy from the “Baby Shark” video a decade ago? That cute little boy is now seventeen going on eighteen, and he is ready to go back into the spotlight as a K-Pop act.

Park Geonroung, the child once known as “Baby Shark Boy” was only six when he appeared in the viral “Baby Shark” dance video in 2016.

Park is set to make his official K-pop debut on August 20 at 11 am Philippine Time (12 pm KST) with the digital single “WAVE.” The track features singer and rapper Joohoney of Monsta X with Park credited as a co-writer.

A 17-second teaser for “WAVE,” released on Monday, August 10, offers a first look at the new track. It opens with a snippet of the original “Baby Shark” song before transitioning to a pop beat as Park dances and sings.

The familiar “Baby Shark doo-doo-doo” hook is still there— only this time, it molded into a more contemporary, K-pop sound. Toward the end of the teaser, Park sings in both Korean and English before closing with the line, “I’m your boy.”

The “Baby Shark” video became a worldwide hit after its release in 2016, racking up more than 17.2 billion views on YouTube  becoming the platform’s most-viewed video ever.

Park returned to the franchise last year in a series of short-form videos marking the song’s 10th anniversary.

With his upcoming single, Park is looking to move beyond being remembered as just the boy from “Baby Shark.” As reported by The Korea Herald, Park, who is turning 18 this year, said he wants to share his own voice and story through music.

The Pinkfong Company, which created “Baby Shark,” said the project is meant to introduce Park as an artist in his own right rather than simply revive his childhood image associated with the viral song.

For now, “WAVE” is a one-off project, with the company saying Park’s future activities will be decided after the single’s release. 

A behind-the-scenes documentary about the project is reportedly being planned.