ILLIT

ILLIT was formed through JTBC's survival competition show R U Next?, which aired from June 30 to September 1, 2023. Twenty-two trainees competed across multiple rounds for a chance to debut in BELIFT LAB's first girl group. Source: DK Blog

The group was originally planned as a six-member act. However, on January 5, 2024, pre-debut member Youngseo mutually agreed to terminate her contract with BELIFT LAB, leaving the remaining five members to continue toward debut. Source: Kpop Profiles / ILLIT Wiki Fandom

Before officially debuting, ILLIT attended Paris Fashion Week in February 2024 for an Acne Studios show. The appearance made them the first K-pop group to participate in Paris Fashion Week before debuting, and member Yunah later revealed that the group practiced their runway walks in advance. Source: DK Blog / Billboard

ILLIT's debut EP, SUPER REAL ME, was released on March 25, 2024, with creative involvement from HYBE chairman Bang Si-hyuk alongside renowned producers Slow Rabbit and Stint, both known for their work with BTS and TXT. Source: Billboard / KBizoom

SUPER REAL ME sold 380,056 copies during its first week on Hanteo Chart, setting a new record at the time for the highest first-week sales by a debut album from a girl group. The album later received Platinum certification in South Korea. Source: Kpop Wiki Fandom

The title track Magnetic made K-pop history by becoming the first debut song from a K-pop group to enter the Billboard Hot 100, debuting at No. 91. The achievement exceeded even the members' own expectations. Source: Billboard / Soompi

Magnetic also became the first debut song by a K-pop act to enter the UK Official Singles Chart. The track went on to top Billboard's Hong Kong Songs, Singapore Songs, South Korean Songs, and Taiwan Songs charts. Source: Open Korea / Billboard

By the end of 2024, Magnetic ranked No. 15 on Billboard's Year-End Global 200 Songs chart, solidifying its status as one of the most successful K-pop songs released that year. Source: omgidol

Billboard selected ILLIT as its inaugural "K-Pop Rookie of the Month" in June 2024, creating the recognition specifically to highlight the group's extraordinary rookie achievements. Source: Billboard

ILLIT's official fandom name is GLLIT (pronounced "Glit"), inspired by the word glitter. The name symbolizes fans shining brightly alongside the members and was adopted after an earlier proposed fandom name, LILLY, was withdrawn following fan feedback. Source: Kpop Wiki Fandom / ILLIT Wiki Fandom

The group's second EP, I'll Like You, debuted on the Billboard 200 and later earned Platinum certification in South Korea. One of its standout tracks, Tick-Tack, even received an English-language version titled Baby It's Both featuring American pop singer Ava Max. Source: Wikiwand / Kpop Wiki Fandom

In February 2025, ILLIT released Almond Chocolate, their first original Japanese song. The track served as the theme song for the live-action Japanese film It Takes More Than a Pretty Face to Fall in Love. Source: Wikiwand / ILLIT Wiki Fandom

Members Yunah and Minju were featured on American singer Kylie Cantrall's song See U Tonight in 2025, marking one of ILLIT's earliest collaborations with a Western pop artist. Source: ILLIT Wiki Fandom

ILLIT's third EP, Bomb, became their strongest opening-week release yet, selling more than 400,000 copies. Its B-side jellyous, featuring Sophie Powers, later surpassed 100 million Spotify streams and became the group's seventh song to reach the milestone. Source: Open Korea

ILLIT is a multinational group made up of three Korean members — Yunah, Minju, and Wonhee — and two Japanese members — Moka and Iroha. They became the second multinational girl group launched under HYBE following LE SSERAFIM. Source: Starvia Media

The group shares BELIFT LAB with ENHYPEN, making them labelmates with one of HYBE's most successful fourth-generation boy groups. BELIFT LAB itself is a joint venture between HYBE and CJ ENM. Source: KBizoom / ILLIT Members Profile

In January 2022, long before releasing a second single, ILLIT was voted the most anticipated K-pop artist of the year by a panel of leading Korean music industry experts — an early sign of the enormous expectations surrounding the group. Source: IMDB / ILLIT Group Page