Illit (/ˈaɪlɪt/; EYE-lit; Hangul: 아일릿; RR: aillit; stylized in all caps) is a South Korean girl group formed by Belift Lab, a sub-label of Hybe, through the JTBC 2023 survival competition show R U Next?. The group has five members. They are Yunah, Minju, Moka, Wonhee, and Iroha. The group let out a song on March 25, 2024, with the extended play (EP) Super Real Me.
Name
Illit's official logo
The name I'll-It (before) was chosen during the live broadcast of the final vidoe of R U Next?. In the video, it was said that the name "shows choosing your own verb to put between I'll and It", showing the ability of the members to act and make decisions by themselves.[2]
Career
2023–2024: Pre-debut activities and making through R U Next?
The JTBC show R U Next?aired for ten episodes from June 30, through September 1, 2023. 22 people competed to debut in a six-member girl group under Belift Lab,[3] their first girl group. It was the third girl group to debut under Hybe, after Le Sserafim and NewJeans.[4] The final video saw the making of the group's six-member group. Two members would be selected by the public. Four members would be selected by the company's producers.[5] The final group of Wonhee, Youngseo, Minju, Iroha, Moka, and Yunah, was shown at the end of the episode.[6] On January 5, 2024, Belift Lab said Youngseo was leaving the group. Before, Youngseo and Belift Lab had talked about the future activities of her and her group and had decided with agreement to end her contract.[7]
2024–present: Debut with Super Real Me
On February 13, 2024, Belift Lab said that Illit will be debuting in March.[8] On February 21, it was said again that Illit will debut on March 25 with their first extended play.[9] Hybe's chairman, Bang Si-hyuk, would be participating as producer of their album.[9] On February 26, the agency said the name of Illit's first extended play, Super Real Me, with pre-orders opening on the same day as the report. On February 28, Illit made their first public appearance as a group at the Acne Studios show during Paris Fashion Week.[10] It made Illit the first K-pop artist to appear at the event before their official debut.[11] The list of songs of Super Real Me was shown a week later on March 9, with "Magnetic" serving as the lead single.[12] A total of four tracks, including "Magnetic", would be let out. The three other tracks on the album are "My World", "Midnight Fiction", and "Lucky Girl Syndrome".[13][14] The teaser for the music video of their next debut single "Magnetic", was officially let out on March 22.[15]
Eight days after the debut of Illit, "Magnetic" entered four U.S. Billboard charts.[16] Illit became the first K-pop group to enter the UK Official Singles with their debut single, which was at number 80.[17] On April 16, 2024, Illit became the fastest K-pop act to go on the Billboard Hot 100, when "Magnetic" was at number 91.[18] "Magnetic" also became the first debut song by a K-pop act to come on the Hot 100.[19][20] The music video for the track "Lucky Girl Syndrome" was let out on April 17.[21] In May 2024, Super Real Me went on the Billboard 200 chart at number 93. Also, Illit also went at number 41 on the Billboard Artist 100 chart, and went at number two on the Emerging Artist chart.[22]
On June 28, Billboard named Illit as their first ever "K-Pop Rookie of the Month".[23][24]
On March 2024, Illit was chosen as the new face of Acne Studios' latest SS24 global campaign.[26] Three weeks after Illit's debut, Wonhee was chosen as a new model for Japanese sports drinkPocari Sweat in May 2024.[27] On March 28, 2024, Illit was chosen as the new Y brand model of KT Y.[28][29] On May 1, 2024, Illit became the new model for the French cosmetics brandBioderma.[30][31] On May 28, 2024, Illit became the new model for the American footwear companyCrocs.[32]
↑Jeong, Seung-min (September 2, 2023). "'알유넥스트' 여정 마무리...하이브 차기 걸그룹 '아일릿' 결성" ['RU Next' journey concludes... Hybe's next girl group 'Illit' formed]. MHN Sports (in Korean). Archived from the original on September 2, 2023. Retrieved September 2, 2023.
↑ 3.03.1"하이브 새 걸그룹 누구?...'알유넥스트', 티저 영상 공개" [Who is Hybe's new girl group?...'RU Next', teaser video released]. MBN (in Korean). June 7, 2023. Archived from the original on June 20, 2023. Retrieved September 1, 2023 – via Naver.
↑Lee, Yu-na (June 30, 2024). "아일릿, 美 빌보드 '이달의 K-팝 루키' 선정..."전례 없는 기록 세워"[공식]" [Illit, selected as 'K-Pop Rookie of the Month' by Billboard in the US... "Setting an unprecedented record" [Official]]. Sports Chosun (in Korean). Archived from the original on June 30, 2024. Retrieved June 30, 2024 – via Naver.
↑"ko:KT, Y 브랜드 모델로 '아일릿' 발탁..."신규 광고 선보여"" [KT Selects 'Illit' as Y Brand Model... "Introducing New Advertisement"]. BIGDATAnews (in Korean). March 29, 2024. Archived from the original on June 4, 2024. Retrieved March 29, 2024.
↑"ko:KT Y브랜드 새 광고 모델에 걸그룹 아일릿" [Girl group Illit is the new advertising model for KT Y brand]. ZDNET Korea (in Korean). March 29, 2024. Archived from the original on April 4, 2024. Retrieved March 29, 2024.
↑"ko:바이오더마의 NEW 엠버서더 Illit" [Bioderma's NEW Ambassador Illit]. @bioderma_kr (twitter) (in Korean). May 1, 2024. Archived from the original on May 11, 2024. Retrieved May 11, 2024.
↑"ko:크록스와 아일릿이 함께한 순간" [The moment when Crocs and Illit came together]. WKOREA (in Korean). May 28, 2024. Archived from the original on May 28, 2024. Retrieved May 28, 2024.
"オリコン月間 アルバムランキング 2024年03月度" [Oricon Monthly Album Ranking March 2024]. Oricon (in Japanese). Archived from the original on April 10, 2024. Retrieved April 10, 2024.
"オリコン月間 アルバムランキング 2024年04月度" [Oricon Monthly Album Ranking April 2024]. Oricon (in Japanese). Archived from the original on May 8, 2024. Retrieved May 8, 2024.
"オリコン月間 アルバムランキング 2024年05月度" [Oricon Monthly Album Ranking May 2024]. Oricon (in Japanese). Archived from the original on June 12, 2024. Retrieved June 12, 2024.
↑@aff_1844 (April 16, 2024). "Lucky Girl Syndrome - Illit". Archived from the original on April 23, 2024. Retrieved April 23, 2024 – via Instagram.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
↑Go, In-hye (October 10, 2023). "아일릿, 좌충우돌 첫 여행 리얼리티...'아일 라이크 잇'" [Illit, first travel reality show with ups and downs...'I'll Like It'] (in Korean). Newsis. Archived from the original on November 18, 2023. Retrieved October 24, 2023 – via Naver.
↑Seon, Mi-kyung (February 14, 2024). ""데뷔만 남았다"..아일릿, 리얼 버라이어티 마지막 회 공개" ["Only debut left"..Illit, last episode of real variety show released] (in Korean). Osen. Archived from the original on June 13, 2024. Retrieved February 14, 2024 – via ChosunBiz.
↑Moon, Wan-sik (June 25, 2024). "아일릿, 자체 콘텐츠 'Super Illit'으로 돌아온다" [Illit returns with its own content 'Super Illit'] (in Korean). StarNewsKorea. Archived from the original on June 25, 2024. Retrieved June 25, 2024.
↑Ahn, Tae-hyun (July 4, 2024). "아일릿, 새 자체 콘텐츠 선보인다...오늘 '아일릿의 밤' 공개" [Illit, presents new original content...'The Night of Illit' released today] (in Korean). News1. Archived from the original on July 4, 2024. Retrieved July 4, 2024 – via Naver.
↑Illit、〈Rakuten GirlsAward 2024〉で日本初パフォーマンス 華々しいステージで魅了 [Illit's first performance in Japan at Rakuten GirlsAward 2024 captivates with a spectacular stage performance]. CDJournal (in Japanese). May 4, 2024. Archived from the original on May 6, 2024. Retrieved May 4, 2024.
↑Illitが魅せた！「Rakuten GirlsAward 2024 S/S」で日本初ステージ 「日本のファンに会えてうれしい」 [Illit puts on a great show! The first stage in Japan at "Rakuten GirlsAward 2024 S/S" "I'm happy to meet my Japanese fans"]. Yorozu News (in Japanese). May 3, 2024. Archived from the original on May 5, 2024. Retrieved May 3, 2024.
↑Illit「GirlsAward」で日本初パフォーマンス！故郷でのステージに感慨深い想いも [First performance in Japan at Illit's "GirlsAward"! Feeling emotional about performing on stage in her hometown]. Kstyle (in Japanese). May 4, 2024. Archived from the original on May 6, 2024. Retrieved May 4, 2024.
↑Bae, Hyo-joo (March 22, 2024). 소녀시대 태연→아일릿까지...'KCON JAPAN 2024' 라인업 공개 [Girls' Generation Taeyeon → Illit... 'KCon Japan 2024' lineup revealed]. ChosunBiz (in Korean). Archived from the original on June 14, 2024. Retrieved March 22, 2024.
↑Bae, Hyo-joo (May 14, 2024). 뉴진스-아일릿 한 자리에 'K-WAVE 콘서트 인기가요' 라인업 [NewJeans - Illit 'K-WAVE Concert Inkigayo' lineup in one place]. Newsen (in Korean). Archived from the original on June 14, 2024. Retrieved May 14, 2024.
↑Park, Se-yeon (June 16, 2024). 아일릿, '위버스콘' 오프닝 "데뷔 첫 페스티벌, 소원 성취" [Illit, 'Weverse Con' opening "First festival since debut, wish fulfillment"]. ISPlus (in Korean). Archived from the original on June 16, 2024. Retrieved June 16, 2024.
↑Kang, Joo-hee (June 14, 2024). '음악중심' 인 재팬, 협찬·광고사도 뜨거운 관심...티켓 '하늘의 별 따기' ['Music Core' in Japan, sponsors and advertisers are also showing great interest... Ticket 'picking stars in the sky']. ISPlus (in Korean). Archived from the original on June 14, 2024. Retrieved June 14, 2024.
↑櫻井翔総合司会『The Music Day』出演者第1弾25組発表 Starto 勢7組、Number_i、ミセス、吉川晃司も [The first batch of 25 performers for "The Music Day" hosted by Sho Sakurai has been announced, including 7 groups from Starto, Number_i, Mrs., and Koji Kikkawa]. Oricon (in Japanese). June 22, 2024. Archived from the original on June 23, 2024. Retrieved June 22, 2024.
↑Ji, Seung-hoon (June 20, 2024). "아일릿, 데뷔 후 첫 중화권 음악 페스티벌 출격...단독 무대" [Illit appears at the first Greater China Music Festival since debut...solo stage]. Star Today (in Korean). Archived from the original on June 20, 2024. Retrieved June 20, 2024 – via Naver.
↑Ahn, Yoon-ji (July 10, 2024). '2024 SBS 가요대전' NCT 127·잔나비 출격..최종 라인업 완성 ['2024 SBS Gayo Daejun' NCT 127 and Jannabi to appear.. Final lineup complete]. StarNewsKorea (in Korean). Archived from the original on July 13, 2024. Retrieved July 10, 2024.
↑Jeong, In-gon (August 12, 2024). 인기 아이돌 총출동‥ 무더위 잊은 공연 열기 [Popular idols all gathered together.. Performances that made you forget the heat]. MBC (in Korean). Archived from the original on August 12, 2024. Retrieved August 12, 2024.
↑Jeong, Hyeon-tae (July 12, 2024). 아일릿·NCT WISH→QWER·영파씨...'케이 월드 드림 어워즈' 1차 라인업 < 연예 < 문화 < 기사본문 [ILLIT·NCT WISH→QWER·Youngpa C...'K World Dream Awards' 1st lineup < Entertainment < Culture < Article]. Slist (in Korean). Archived from the original on July 12, 2024. Retrieved July 12, 2024.
↑"LINE UP". SBS Inkigayo Live in Tokyo. SBS Inkigayo. July 5, 2024. Archived from the original on July 5, 2024. Retrieved July 5, 2024.
↑「MUSIC BANK」日本公演が今年も決定！12月福岡で2days開催へ…第1弾でStray Kids、ATEEZ、NewJeansほか8組を発表 ["MUSIC BANK" Japan tour confirmed again this year! 2 days in Fukuoka in December... 8 groups including Stray Kids, ATEEZ, NewJeans announced for first wave]. Kstyle (in Japanese). Kstyle. August 7, 2024. Archived from the original on August 7, 2024. Retrieved August 7, 2024.
