Baby Shark Boy, now 17, debuts as K-pop singer a decade after viral video

Park Geon-roung, known as Baby Shark Boy, is stepping into the spotlight as a recording artist more than a decade after appearing in the most-watched YouTube video of all time. His debut single 'WAVE' will release on August 20 across streaming platforms in Korea and internationally, marking The Pinkfong Company's first artist project centred on a real human performer.

Park was just 7 years old when he danced alongside the animated Baby Shark family in Pinkfong's 2016 'Baby Shark Dance' video, which has accumulated over 17 billion streams on YouTube. Now 17, he is stepping back into public view with a track that samples the original 'Baby Shark' hook paired with a synth-pop beat.

'WAVE' features K-pop star Joohoney of the boy band Monsta X and marks Park's first songwriting credit—he is listed as a co-writer of the lyrics. A teaser for the single was released on Baby Shark Boy's and Baby Shark's YouTube and social media channels, showcasing Park singing in both Korean and English.

According to reports, the single draws directly from Park's own experiences of stepping back into public view after a decade away. In a statement, Park said: "I've always been grateful that people still remember the video I was in as a child. Ten years ago I danced next to Baby Shark. Now I want to share my own voice and a story I wrote myself."

Pinkfong framed the project as more than a nostalgic callback. "Baby Shark Boy grew up alongside Baby Shark and built a special connection with fans around the world," the company said. "This isn't just about bringing back the boy from the video. It's about him telling his own story, and we want to carry that new beginning forward authentically."