HyoRiSoo Finally Scores SM Debut Song After Burrito Bribery and Dramatic Return Home

HyoRiSoo—the impromptu Girls’ Generation sub-unit formed on Hyoyeon’s YouTube channel—has officially secured a debut song from SM Entertainment. The trio sealed the deal by handing out burritos to SM employees in the company hallway, pleading for a track after a brief flirtation with other labels.

The unit, composed of Hyoyeon, Yuri, and Sooyoung, launched its “HyoRiSu Debut Project” on the channel “Hyo’s Level Up” in May, where members even held a mock election for main vocal. Their comical, self-deprecating image quickly drew attention, but the project took a twist when the members openly considered reaching out to outside producers like Teddy of YG Entertainment and Park Jin-young, joking about breaking away from SM.

For fans following the project, this return to SM is both a homecoming and a relief: the group that teased a YG-style departure has now reaffirmed its roots, with Hyoyeon admitting that “the one who knows us down to our bones is SM.” The burrito visit and subsequent acquisition of a reserved song signal that the long-rumored debut is finally on track, giving SONEs and casual viewers a concrete payoff to the months-long YouTube series.

Key Facts

• HyoRiSoo was formed through Hyoyeon’s YouTube channel “Hyo’s Level Up” and gained attention for its intentionally comical image.
• On June 20, the trio visited SM Entertainment’s offices, distributing burritos to employees as a promotional tactic while asking for a debut song.
• Sooyoung told employees, “Eat one burrito, cheer up, write a good song, and give it to HyoRiSu.”
• SM employees expressed surprise, questioning why the group wasn’t getting a song from YG’s Teddy, leading Sooyoung to nervously reply, “There seems to have been a misunderstanding.”
• HyoRiSoo noticed untaken “reserved songs” at SM, and Hyoyeon mentioned that even Girls’ Generation’s debut track “Into the New World” had been passed around before landing with them.
• In a later interview, Hyoyeon explained, “We are SM. Honestly, the one who knows us down to our bones is SM. I think they were a bit hurt because we played push-and-pull in the middle, but now that we’re back at SM, we need to get our act together.”

Key Terms

• Kwangya: SM Entertainment’s trademark fictional universe (“wilderness”) referenced by Sooyoung when she said “The wilderness is my land,” reaffirming their allegiance to SM.

Key Quote

“We are SM. Honestly, the one who knows us down to our bones is SM. I think they were a bit hurt because we played push-and-pull in the middle, but now that we’re back at SM, we need to get our act together.” —