K-pop hit-making label JYP Entertainment has unveiled the first album by its new nine-member girl group Twice.

The group is the agency’s first new girl group since Miss A debuted five years ago, and has already gained a substantial amount of publicity by choosing its members through an intensely rigorous audition process broadcast by music channel Mnet through the show “Sixteen.”

“We were able to do this showcase today because our fans supported us and waited for us through (‘Sixteen’), and we’ve released our songs as well. It’s a great result, and we’re so happy,” leader Jihyo said at a press showcase at AX-Korea in Seoul on Tuesday.

Twice had initially been planned as a seven-member group, but was suddenly expanded to nine members by JYP head producer Park Jin-young on the last episode of “Sixteen,” leading to a controversy about fairness. The two extra members who made the cut were Momo and Tzuyu.

“I was so amazed and surprised,” said Momo. “I’m glad I was able to make my debut, and I think I’ll be able to show you a great side of me.”

“I was so surprised and grateful that he chose me,” Tzuyu said. “I want to work hard now that I have this opportunity, and I’ll try my best not to disappoint him.”

Twice’s first album “The Story Begins” is a six-track EP with the lead track “Like Ooh-Ahh” written by Black Eyed Pilseung, the team behind girl group Sistar’s hit “Touch My Body.”

JYP’s choice to bring in outside composers to write the group’s first lead track was surprising to some, considering that the girls had been mentored by Park Jin-young throughout the “Sixteen” process.

“We took it as a sign that (JYP) was willing to try new things with us,” said Jihyo. “We felt that the company was putting a lot of faith in us, and that we had to try even harder to meet those expectations.”

“Like Ooh-ahh” is an energetic “color pop” song with a catchy chorus and a music video featuring the girls dancing in various settings while zombies clamor for them. At the showcase, Twice also performed two other tracks called “Must be Crazy” and “Do it Again,” both upbeat dance songs with strong beats.

“We’re the first (JYP) girl group in five years, and we’ve prepared a lot,” said Chaeyoung. “We worked hard on ‘Sixteen,’ but this is just the beginning.”

Twice’s nine members are Chaeyoung, Jeongyeon, Dahyun, Nayeon and Jihyo from Korea, Sana, Momo and Mina from Japan, and Tzuyu from Taiwan. The oldest, Nayeon, was born in 1995; the youngest members, Chaeyeong and Tzuyu, were born in 1999.

"The Story Begins” was released Tuesday.

By Won Ho-jung (hjwon@heraldcorp.com)