ILLIT addresses plagiarism controversies, strives to establish distinct identity
HYBE Labels' rookie quintet unveils 2nd mini-album 'I'LL LIKE YOU'
Previously accused of "copying" K-pop group NewJeans, HYBE Labels' rookie girl group ILLIT is attempting to rebound from past controversies with a new mini-album titled, "I'LL LIKE YOU," aiming to establish its own identity in the industry.
The five-member group - Yunah, Minju, Moka, Wonhee and Iroha - has faced a turbulent journey since its March debut under Belift Lab, a HYBE subsidiary.
ILLIT was swept into controversy amid claims that it was modeled after NewJeans, a group produced by Ador's former CEO, Min Hee-jin. Critics, alongside Min's direct claims, alleged that ILLIT's music and concept bore too many similarities to NewJeans, leading to widespread criticism.
The controversy deepened when ILLIT's name recently emerged in an internal management dispute. The group's manager was accused of instructing the ILLIT members to "ignore" Hanni of NewJeans, sparking further criticism and fueling ongoing tensions.
Monday's media showcase at the Yes24 Live Hall in Gwangjin District, eastern Seoul - initially held to commemorate the release of the new "I'LL LIKE YOU" album - marked the first time ILLIT members directly addressed these controversies to the public.
While steering clear of directly addressing the allegations, the members expressed their gratitude to fans and emphasized their commitment to focusing on their creative direction.
"We've been working hard on this album, keeping in mind the fans who have consistently supported ILLIT," said Yunah, briefly touching upon the controversies. "Rather than dwelling on the controversy, we concentrated on showing our true colors and improving ourselves for those who believe in us."
The new mini-album, "I"LL LIKE YOU," released Monday, centers around the candid emotions of a love-struck girl expressing her feelings. The group also revealed that HYBE Chairperson Bang Si-hyuk was closely involved in the production process.
"Chairperson Bang gave us meticulous advice on how to convey the song's message, from choreography to facial expressions," said Wonhee. "His input helped the song become even more dynamic and engaging."
The album features a total of five tracks, including the title song, "Cherish," along with the eponymous track, "I'll Like You," "IYKYK (If You Know You Know)," "Pimple" and "Tick-Tack."
Yunah described the title track, "Cherish," as an upbeat dance-pop song about the thrill of liking someone while enjoying the feeling of being in love.
"We recorded it seven times to get it just right," she said. "It's a song that helped us grow, and I hope people will recognize our efforts."
Despite the post-debut backlash, ILLIT's inaugural single, "Magnetic," achieved global success after its release in March. With its catchy melody and viral choreography earning widespread attention on social media, the song made history as the first debut track by a K-pop group to enter both the Billboard Hot 100 and the U.K. Official Singles Top 100 charts.
When asked whether they hoped to match the success of "Magnetic" with their new release, the members struck a humble tone.
"We received so much love for 'Magnetic,' and instead of feeling pressure, we're just grateful," said Minju. "We want to show our growth and deliver even better performances."
Wonhee added, "We didn't have any grand expectations for this release, but if we could dream, it would be incredible to make it onto the Billboard charts again, like we did with 'Magnetic.'"
you can check out their comeback MV in this post
source: The Korea Times
Previously accused of "copying" K-pop group NewJeans, HYBE Labels' rookie girl group ILLIT is attempting to rebound from past controversies with a new mini-album titled, "I'LL LIKE YOU," aiming to establish its own identity in the industry.
The five-member group - Yunah, Minju, Moka, Wonhee and Iroha - has faced a turbulent journey since its March debut under Belift Lab, a HYBE subsidiary.
ILLIT was swept into controversy amid claims that it was modeled after NewJeans, a group produced by Ador's former CEO, Min Hee-jin. Critics, alongside Min's direct claims, alleged that ILLIT's music and concept bore too many similarities to NewJeans, leading to widespread criticism.
The controversy deepened when ILLIT's name recently emerged in an internal management dispute. The group's manager was accused of instructing the ILLIT members to "ignore" Hanni of NewJeans, sparking further criticism and fueling ongoing tensions.
Monday's media showcase at the Yes24 Live Hall in Gwangjin District, eastern Seoul - initially held to commemorate the release of the new "I'LL LIKE YOU" album - marked the first time ILLIT members directly addressed these controversies to the public.
While steering clear of directly addressing the allegations, the members expressed their gratitude to fans and emphasized their commitment to focusing on their creative direction.
"We've been working hard on this album, keeping in mind the fans who have consistently supported ILLIT," said Yunah, briefly touching upon the controversies. "Rather than dwelling on the controversy, we concentrated on showing our true colors and improving ourselves for those who believe in us."
The new mini-album, "I"LL LIKE YOU," released Monday, centers around the candid emotions of a love-struck girl expressing her feelings. The group also revealed that HYBE Chairperson Bang Si-hyuk was closely involved in the production process.
"Chairperson Bang gave us meticulous advice on how to convey the song's message, from choreography to facial expressions," said Wonhee. "His input helped the song become even more dynamic and engaging."
The album features a total of five tracks, including the title song, "Cherish," along with the eponymous track, "I'll Like You," "IYKYK (If You Know You Know)," "Pimple" and "Tick-Tack."
Yunah described the title track, "Cherish," as an upbeat dance-pop song about the thrill of liking someone while enjoying the feeling of being in love.
"We recorded it seven times to get it just right," she said. "It's a song that helped us grow, and I hope people will recognize our efforts."
Despite the post-debut backlash, ILLIT's inaugural single, "Magnetic," achieved global success after its release in March. With its catchy melody and viral choreography earning widespread attention on social media, the song made history as the first debut track by a K-pop group to enter both the Billboard Hot 100 and the U.K. Official Singles Top 100 charts.
When asked whether they hoped to match the success of "Magnetic" with their new release, the members struck a humble tone.
"We received so much love for 'Magnetic,' and instead of feeling pressure, we're just grateful," said Minju. "We want to show our growth and deliver even better performances."
Wonhee added, "We didn't have any grand expectations for this release, but if we could dream, it would be incredible to make it onto the Billboard charts again, like we did with 'Magnetic.'"
you can check out their comeback MV in this post
source: The Korea Times