On March 25th, HYBE’s highly anticipated new girl group, ILLIT, officially debuted with their EP “Super Real Me” and the mesmerizing “Magnetic” music video. Formed through the survival show “R U Next,” ILLIT comprises five talented members: Wonhee, Minju, Yunah, Iroha, and Moka. Embracing a refreshing concept with a touch of mystery and magic, ILLIT’s debut has garnered significant attention from fans and industry insiders alike.
Backed by HYBE, ILLIT’s debut has been meticulously crafted, with both their music and concepts receiving careful preparation. The group’s debut song has quickly captured the interest of audiences, with ILLIT already selling an impressive 200,000 copies of their debut album on Hanteo in three days of their debut.
Additionally, ILLIT has made history as the first K-pop girl group to enter Spotify Global on the first day of their debut, amassing 2.1 million streams and reaching No. 50 on the chart—an achievement that underscores their immense potential.
Besides ILLIT’s “Magnetic” MV has garnered widespread attention, accumulating 14 million views in just two days of its release. Despite the declining trend of YouTube views for K-pop MVs, ILLIT has defied expectations, with their MV trending at No. 2 on YouTube Korea. The song’s performance on music charts has also been promising, with “Magnetic” ranking high on various platforms, including Bugs, Genie, Melon, and FLO.
However, amidst ILLIT’s successful debut, comparisons with NewJeans have emerged, with fans noting similarities between the two groups. Despite these comparisons, ILLIT’s debut has received positive reviews overall.
In contrast, BLACKPINK’s junior group, BABYMONSTER, faced a less favourable reception with their debut song “Batter Up,” characterized by an old hip-hop style and minimal promotion. Despite garnering 22.5 million views on YouTube on their first day, BABYMONSTER’s debut failed to leave a lasting impact compared to ILLIT’s impressive debut.
As BABYMONSTER prepares for their comeback on April 1st, music fans eagerly anticipate the future trajectory of both groups, with ILLIT’s strong start positioning them as a formidable contender in the K-pop landscape.