HYBE's new girl group ILLIT shares thoughts on making their debut ...

On March 25, HYBE Labels and BELIFT LAB's new girl group, ILLIT made their anticipated debut. In honor of the release of their first mini-album, 'SUPER REAL ME,' YUNAH, MINJU, MOKA, WONHEE, and IROHA held a media showcase ahead of their official debut in Seoul.

After posing individually and as a group on stage for the press members, the members thanked everyone who took the time to attend the showcase, relaying their feelings on finally making their debut after successfully making it in the survival reality show program, 'R U Next?'.

Starting with MINJU who feels grateful every moment now that she has become a member of ILLIT, said, "I'm thrilled to finally showcase the dedication I've put through a long period as a trainee," determined to bring her unwavering determinism and enthusiasm in everything she does. "I'll do my best as a member of ILLIT," said IROHA, who also couldn't contain her excitement about finally making their debut.

"I'm incredibly grateful to debut alongside my members. As this is our first official appearance, I stand here with a fluttering heart," added WONHEE, who shared her eagerness to embody the lively and whimsical vibe of ILLIT. "I've been eagerly anticipating this day," said MOKA, claiming that ILLIT's music will leave listeners feeling energized and positive. While YUNAH reflected on her journey, saying, "I've always enjoyed singing in front of my friends since I was young, so I'm really happy that I can now perform on stage." 

The group's name, "ILLIT," is the combination of the phrase "I will," representing an independent spirit and an adventurous will, and the pronoun "It," which stands to symbolize "something unique." MOKA added, "There's so much we want to do and show to our audience, and in that regard, it also means our group's limitless potential and possibilities."

WONHEE on the team's name: "When I first heard the name, I thought it was the perfect fit for our group. Each one of us has a unique identity, color, and vibe. I was really excited about the idea of the five of us coming together as ILLIT to create synergy and showcase a variety of looks."

Talking about the opening track, "My World," with a very unique intro and a hooking melody, YUNAH shared that the listeners will probably feel like they're being ushered to the world of ILLIT when they listen to it. "I believe it's a track that shows the true colors of ILLIT," WONHEE told the media. "You can see our liveliness and whimsicality in this song."

On the title track "Magnetic," WONHEE said that it depicts the confidence of a teenage girl approaching her crush. "There are a lot of whimsical melodies in 'Magnetic.' There are unpredictable tunes and heart-pounding feelings captured in the lyrics."

"My bandmates, including myself, are quite whimsical and witty. And those sides of us are infused in 'Magnetic.' We can show different versions of ourselves on music shows."

Aside from "My World" and "Magnetic," 'SUPER REAL ME' also boasts "Midnight Fiction" and "Lucky Girl Syndrome."

Following the girls' very first performances and a brief introduction to the tracks, they sat down to answer some questions from the press.

Reflecting, WONHEE revealed that she felt quite embarrassed and awkward at times. However, despite her short training period, she felt significant growth from the dedication she poured into practicing. "I've learned how to monitor myself. I was also able to find my moves and vocals. I think that's where I gained my confidence," she said.

"Our slogan says that we can become anything, and it's a sort of confidence booster. When we practice, we think about our own color and the slogan," YUNAH added.

Following the footsteps of successful HYBE girl groups like LE SSERAFIM and NewJeans, who captured the public's attention right from their debuts, one local reporter asked what ILLIT members think set them apart, "I think what sets us apart is that we're always super immersed in the moment. Outside music, we're also always super immersed in our daily lives and we're going to show those facets of us to our fans," said MINJU.

"We have a lot of seniors who we can learn from and look up to. And there are a lot of people who support us, and we know this, so we try to remember this and do our best," said MINJU, adding that they will work hard to live up to the expectations.

Regarding their goals, the girls wish to top the charts and get first place on a music show. "That's going to be flattering for us," said WONHEE, if they achieve their goals. "There's one more bigger goal that we all talked about. It's getting the 'Rookie of the Year' award," said MOKA. "We want to be the best newbies of the year. This is an award we can get only when we are rookies, so I hope we can get that award." 

[Photos courtesy of BELIFT LAB]