Baby V.O.X.

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A promotional picture of Baby V.O.X during their "Ride West" days. Clockwise from top left: EZ (Eiji), Eunhye, Miyoun, Heejin, Eunjin.

Baby V.O.X is a popular Korean pop group. Their name stands for "Baby Voices of Expression." The group was formed in 1997. Although their first single ("Haircut") was not a horrible failure (hitting #47), the success of the first album was dismal. This was attributed by the different style that Baby V.O.X had, considering that their rivals Fin.K.L and S.E.S. were harping on the cute look at the time. DR Music (their record company) then replaced two members with Kan Miyoun and Shim Eunjin. Their second album, titled Baby VOX II, was a much bigger success, hitting #7 on the Korean pop charts. However, there was a scandal when it was found that one of the members, Lee Gai, was much older than the rest of the girls and had actually lied to the management company. Considering that she was also viewed as not fitting in with the rest of the members, she was given the boot and replaced by Yoon Eunhye, who was significantly younger and seen as very cute. Their third album showed off the new Baby V.O.X, and it was a success.

Baby V.O.X has gone through several image makeovers through the years, focusing on a "cute" image in their early years (apparent in their video Ya Ya Ya) but transitioning into a starkly different, hipper, sexier, more mainstream, and more internationally appealing image in later years.

Their album Ride West, released in April 2004, featured songs in English, Chinese, Japanese, and Korean, as well as appearances by well-known American hip hop artists, such as Tupac Shakur, and Jennifer Lopez. The music video for the album's feature song, Xcstasy, was done in English, featuring expensive luxury vehicles and well-dressed, highly preened divas, apparently in emulation of the "Bling bling" style of hip-hop videos popular in the United States during the late 1990's and early 2000's. However, this release was accompanied by controversy as to whether their managing group, DR Music, could legally use Tupac's material in the recording, with Tupac's repesentatives claiming that DR did not have authorization.

The "sexy" Baby Vox: Lee Heejin and Kan Miyoun in a 2004 KBS broadcast of "Xcstasy"

As of 2004, the members of Baby V.O.X were:

Kim E-Z (김이지; 金倚珍 or 金丽芝¹), rapper
Lee Heejin (이희진; 李姬珍 or 李喜珍¹)
Shim Eunjin (심은진; 沈恩珍)
Kan Miyoun (간미연; 簡美妍)
Yun Eunhye (윤은혜; 尹恩惠).

However, in 2006, Baby V.O.X slowly imploded. Shim Eunjin was the first to leave the group (in order to pursue a solo career), followed by Yoon Eunhye (who went into acting and established herself on the hit drama "Palace"). Baby V.O.X continued for a while as a threesome, with their record company promising that Baby V.O.X would continue. However, as the months passed on, so did the members. Kim EZ left sometime in early 2006 (to pursue acting), with Kan Miyoun also leaving (and signing a solo deal on another label). Lee Heejin was the only remaining Baby V.O.X member, and she also left DR Music to pursue a career in acting. However, DR Music insists that Baby V.O.X will go on with new members.

¹Multiple sources give differing versions of the Hanja versions of these names.

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Baby V.O.X.

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