ILLIT's 'Lucky Girl Syndrome' MV out: About new K-pop group
What's the story
HYBE, the South Korean entertainment company behind globally renowned K-pop groups like BTS and SEVENTEEN, has unveiled its latest sensation: a girl group named ILLIT. The group's debut has been creating ripples in the music industry since its launch last month. Managed by BELIFT LAB, ILLIT was formed through the popular survival show R U Next? aired in June last year. Interested in following this new group? Learn all about it here.
Group formation
Formation and debut album release
ILLIT—initially a six-member group—became a quintet following the departure of Youngseo before their official debut. Now the group members include Yunah, Minju, Moka, Wonhee, and Iroha. The final lineup was determined by audience votes and feedback from industry veterans like Jo Kwon from 2AM and Kim Jae-hwan, formerly of Wanna One. The group made their debut with the mini album SUPER REAL ME and lead single Magnetic on March 25.
Group identity
ILLIT's name significance and multicultural dimension
The name ILLIT is a creative fusion of the English words "I'll" and "it," symbolizing the group's resolve to overcome any challenge. The term "I'll" represents their independent spirit and adventurous attitude, while "it" highlights their unique appeal. The five members of ILLIT hail from Korea and Japan, adding a multicultural aspect to their language skills, with rapper Minju showing a particular interest in learning new languages.
Rising stars
ILLIT's early successes with chart-topping hit 'Magnetic'
On the day of its release, Magnetic became the first debut single by a K-pop girl group to enter the Global Spotify chart, achieving an impressive rank of 15 by April 6. On Tuesday, ILLIT made history as the fastest K-pop act to enter the US Billboard's Hot 100 main songs chart, with Magnetic debuting at 91. Additionally, the music video for Illit's side track Lucky Girl Syndrome premiered on Wednesday.
Unprecedented success
Record-breaking brand value and influence
In a testament to their soaring popularity, ILLIT topped the girl group brand rankings for April, according to the Korea Institute of Corporate Reputation. They achieved a record-breaking brand value index of 3.3M, redefining debut success. Their brand is associated with terms like "record-setting," "bold," and "honest," reflecting their impactful entrance into the music world.