In a whirlwind of magnetic charm, the latest girl group sensation from HYBE stormed onto the global music scene with a fervent buzz around their debut single.
Hailing from HYBE LABELS’ BELIFT LAB agency, ILLIT released their debut mini album, SUPER REAL ME on March 25, serving not only as a captivating introduction to the quintet but showcasing international promise.
Comprising four whimsical tracks, SUPER REAL ME offers listeners an intimate glimpse into ILLIT’s vibrant pop world. From the infectious, TikTok-ready beats production of lead single “Magnetic,” to the teenage musings woven throughout experimental B-side tracks “My World,” “Midnight Fiction” and “Lucky Girl Syndrome,” the short-but-sweet pop treat of an EP looks to deliver a narrative of relatable emotions and everyday experiences from members YUNAH, MINJU, MOKA, WONHEE and IROHA.
Produced under the guidance of HYBE chairman Bang Si-Hyuk, alongside his company’s trusted team of creatives including Slow Rabbit (who has worked extensively across K-pop including many songsfor BTS and TOMORROW X TOGETHER), and even burgeoning teenage producers, SUPER REAL ME centers ILLIT around a blend of dance, pop, R&B and house music peppered with unexpected beat drops and vocal switch-ups.
While a natural curiosity was bound to bring in listeners worldwide due to their HYBE association and their popular R U Next? survival reality that created them, the group and “Magnetic” are finding an unprecedented amount of success when ILLIT became the first K-pop girl group to have their debut song enter the Global Spotify chart within just one day of its release, debuting at No. 160, and eventually reaching into the Top 40 of the ranking.
At their debut media showcase ahead of the release of SUPER REAL ME, the ILLIT members expressed their aspirations to carve out a distinct identity within the K-pop industry, emphasizing their commitment to authenticity and enjoyment both on and off the stage. WONHEE remarked, “Because we’re rookies, a qualitative goal is to enjoy on stage and offstage just like other senior artists. We want to show that we actually enjoy what we do. So, after some time, we hope that we can be comfortable amongst ourselves.”
Addressing inquiries regarding the group’s differentiation from existing girl groups including their HYBE label mates NewJeans and avoiding “overlap,” member MINJU emphasized ILLIT’s immersive approach to performance and daily life. “Just as the meaning of our album, our strength is being super immersed in our performance and in our daily lives.” MOKA added, “We worked really hard, and I think what’s really important is to show that we’ve worked really hard on this performance and album. I think we have a lot of different charms, and I hope fans can listen to a diverse array of music [among girl groups].”
As they continue to captivate audiences around the world, ILLIT stands poised to leave an indelible mark on the music industry and charts around the world should soon feel their impact.
What does ILLIT Mean?
According to a global press release from HYBE, the name ILLIT is the combination of the phrase “I will,” representing an “independent spirit and an adventurous will,” and the pronoun “It,” to symbolize “something unique.”
HYBE added that, “The name highlights the five-piece act’s potential for infinite possibilities and the anticipation for what the future holds.”
The group’s name was initially stylized as I’ll-It, with the same pronunciation, but officially debuted under the more accessible and easy-to-read ILLIT.
Who are the members of ILLIT?
Consisting of five members, ILLIT is made up of YUNAH, MINJU, MOKA, WONHEE and IROHA. The K-pop girl group was formed through the Korean reality survival competition show R U Next? in 2023, to become the first girl group under BELIFT LAB, the same label home to ENHYPEN who were also created through a similar model in 2020.
The accompanying music video for “Magnetic” transports viewers into ILLIT’s whimsical universe and each of the members’ individual superpowers. YUNAH wields superhuman strength, MINJU possesses X-ray vision, MOKA manipulates time, WONHEE controls light and IROHA exhibits telekinetic abilities.
The quintet even managed to make waves in the fashion world ahead of their debut as global campaign models for Acne Studios after sitting front row at the brand’s Womenswear Fall/Winter 2024-2025 show at Paris Fashion Week in February.