The U.K.’s Observer newspaper predicted that South Korean girl group Girl’s Generation (SNSD) will continue the worldwide hallyu syndrome sparked by “Ganganm Style” singer Psy.

“The women, all aged between 21 and 23, are the obvious choice to take up Psy’s mantle in the U.K., where artists who sell millions of albums in Korea and Japan are known only to a small number of K-pop devotees,” the article posted on Saturday said.

The article also quoted Steve McClure, a Tokyo-based executive editor of McClure’s Asia Music News, and Mio Scobie, overseas editor of US Weekly, both highly praising the group’s potential to exceed Psy’s overseas success and maintain a stronger staying power.

The nine-member group is expected to release its first all-English album next year with Lady Gaga’s label, Interscope, according to the article.

Debuted in 2007 with “Into The New World,” the highly polished band with signature hot pants, has racked up sales over 30 million digital singles and 4.4 million albums. The group’s 2011 single “The Boys” was released in English as well as in Korean and Japanese. The group members are all fluent in English and made a guest appearance on CBS’s “Late Show with David Letterman” earlier this year.

By Lee Hyun-jae, Intern reporter (lhj137@heraldcorp.com)