BlingOne China, a franchise girl group formed through the World K-Pop Center’s global audition project “Click the Star,” is setting out to serve as a bridge between K-pop and C-pop, Chinese pop, blending elements from both industries.

The six-member group -- Ranee, Katrina, Sandy, Cassie, Junny and Chloe -- held a press showcase in Seoul on Wednesday to introduce their debut digital single, “Bubble Gum.” The event took place a day before their official Korean debut on Thursday.

"Bubble Gum" is a hybrid K-pop track that merges an energetic hip-hop dance beat with bright, lively synth sounds. The song also incorporates a melodic theme from an 1829 classical overture, making it easy for people of all ages to sing along. It is released in both Korean and Mandarin versions.

BlingOne China’s members arrived in Korea in September 2023 after passing a highly competitive audition process in China. Out of 1,000 hopefuls, only 17 candidates were initially selected. After three months of intensive training and evaluations, six finalists made it to debut.

Unlike many K-pop groups that aim for global fame, BlingOne China’s focus is on promoting both Korean and Chinese cultures through music. The group emphasizes that while they were trained under a K-pop system, they do not strictly identify as either a K-pop or a C-pop group.

"Since we were formed through ‘Click the Star’ in China, we represent China among the 32 participating countries. It would be great if we could establish ourselves as Chinese K-pop ambassadors,” said member Chloee.

Another member, Cassie, highlighted China’s long artistic traditions as a strength that could enrich their performances.

“China has a rich history and deep artistic traditions. With this background, we can blend diverse influences and showcase them on the global stage,” she said.

“As Chinese members, we see K-pop -- an internationally popular medium -- as a great opportunity to share our unique charm with the world,” Cassie added.

BlingOne China will begin its musical promotions this week with performances on Korean music programs including "Music Bank," "Show! Music Core," and "M! Countdown." The group will then travel to China next week to officially debut in their home country.

Meanwhile, Seoul's World K-Pop Center aims to launch 32 girl groups worldwide through “Click the Star” over the next five years. Each group, composed entirely of nationals from their respective auditioning countries, will debut under the BlingOne brand with their country name attached.

The project began with BlingOne Peru, which debuted in June 2023.