Origins & Early Life

15& (Korean: 피프틴앤드, also known as Fifteen And) was a South Korean duo formed by JYP Entertainment in 2012. The duo consisted of Park Ji-min and Baek Ye-rin. The name refers to fifteen being their age at debut, with the ampersand meaning they can continue to have success into the future. They released their debut single "I Dream" on October 5, 2012.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

Following a four-year hiatus which began in February 2015, the group de facto disbanded upon the expiration of both members' contracts with JYP Entertainment in 2019. In 2012, Park Ji-min was the first-place winner of the first season of the South Korean reality TV competition K-pop Star. With the opportunity of signing with three major record labels (YG Entertainment, SM Entertainment and JYP Entertainment), she had chosen to sign with JYP Entertainment on May 21. When Baek Ye-rin was ten years old, she was introduced as an "R&B genius" on Star King. In 2008, she auditioned with Beyoncé's "Listen" and was accepted as a trainee at the same time as 2PM's Wooyoung and Highlight's Doo-joon.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

Baek had been a JYP trainee for five years before she officially debuted with Park.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Adam Yauch — Historical peer (Died in 2012) (2012): Founding member of Beastie Boys; influential rapper, filmmaker, and Tibetan activist.
• Albert O. Hirschman — Historical peer (Died in 2012) (2012): Pioneering American economist known for development and political economy theories.
• A. P. J. Abdul Kalam — Historical peer (Died in 2015) (2015): Visionary aerospace engineer, scientist, and former President of India.
• Adrian Frutiger — Historical peer (Died in 2015) (2015): Pioneering Swiss typeface designer, master of sans-serif aesthetics.
• Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi — Historical peer (Died in 2019) (2019): Iraqi militant leader and founder of the Islamic State (IS)
• Agnès Varda — Historical peer (Died in 2019) (2019): Pioneering French filmmaker, artist, and documentarian celebrated for her unique vision.
• Alain Robbe-Grillet — Historical peer (Died in 2008) (2008): Pioneering French writer and filmmaker associated with the Nouveau Roman movement.
• Albert Hofmann — Historical peer (Died in 2008) (2008): Swiss chemist renowned for synthesizing LSD and pioneering psychedelic research.