ILLIT Celebrates 1st Debut Anniversary: A Year of Triumphs and Challenges

ILLIT has celebrated their first anniversary since debut, a year filled with unprecedented achievements and challenges that set them apart in the K-pop industry. Formed through JTBC's 'R U Next?' and debuting on March 25, 2023, with their mini-album 'Super Real Me', ILLIT quickly captured hearts with their title track 'Magnetic'. This dance genre song, a mix of Pluck N B and House, stood out for its catchy melody and unique charm, topping major domestic music charts and making history by entering both the US Billboard Hot 100 and the UK Official Singles Top 100—a record for the fastest entry by a K-pop debut song.

Their debut's success led to winning 13 awards, including 7 rookie awards at prestigious music ceremonies like the '2025 iHeartRadio Music Awards' and 'The 66th Japan Record Awards'. However, this success set a high bar. Their follow-up releases, including the mini-album 'I Like You' with the title track 'Cherish (My Love)' and the Japanese original song 'Almond Chocolate', were well-received but inevitably compared to 'Magnetic's' groundbreaking success.

ILLIT's journey hasn't been without hurdles. Shortly after their debut, they were directly impacted by the HYBE-Min Hee-jin controversy, a major industry scandal that overshadowed their early days. Despite these challenges, the members have shown resilience, supporting each other through highs and lows.

Looking ahead, ILLIT is set to hold their first fan concert, '2025 ILLIT GLITTER DAY IN SEOUL', in June, followed by performances in Japan, marking an exciting new chapter for the group as they aim to solidify their unique identity and fanbase in their second year.