ILLIT: See Exclusive Photos & Selfies of the June 2024 K-Pop Rookie of the Month (2024)

Find out Yunah, Minju, Moka, Wonhee and Iroha's favorite songs, movies, MBTI and more.

ILLIT: See Exclusive Photos & Selfies of the June 2024 K-Pop Rookie of the Month (1)

In a debut that has set new records for the K-pop industry, ILLIT emerged as a new pop titan upon its March start this year, earning its place as an undeniable new artist to watch — and as Billboard‘s first-ever K-Pop Rookie of the Month, for June 2024. The five-member act of Yunah, Minju, Moka, Wonhee and Iroha formed through HYBE’s reality show R U Next? has rewritten K-pop’s global expectations with an explosive, addictive entrance into the international music scene.

ILLIT’s debut single “Magnetic” made chart history by entering the Billboard Hot 100 at No. 91, a feat unprecedented for a K-pop group’s first song. Their Super Real Me EP also impacted the Billboard 200, with a No. 93 debut, and hasn’t left the World Albums chart since it first entered the listing, notching 13 weeks so far. The group’s international appeal was further cemented as “Magnetic” secured spots in the top 10 of the Global 200 and Global 200 Excl US charts, and still remains on both tallies as of the chart dated June 29.

Moving from reality show contestants to chart-topping artists has been a whirlwind. While ILLIT’s road to debut wasn’t without some minor challenges (a last-minute lineup change saw the departure of Youngseo, originally slated to be the sixth member), the quintet dove into dance rehearsals, vocal training, language lessons and fitness routines, with Yunah mentioning that a pre-debut appearance at Paris Fashion Week in February for Acne Studios also required practice to ensure their chicest walks and poses. Initially announced to the world with the name I’ll-It, changing to ILLIT was not only more visually pleasing and accessible, but was designed to better “emphasize the meaning behind the name of ‘I Will ( ) It,’ to represent the potential for infinite possibilities,” its management home HYBE shared. Get to know the rookies more with exclusive photos, selfifes and quiz questions below. Then read the group’s full Billboard spotlight here.

  • Meet ILLIT, Billboard’s K-Pop Rookie of the Month

    ILLIT: See Exclusive Photos & Selfies of the June 2024 K-Pop Rookie of the Month (2)

    After scoring the fastest Hot 100 entry for a Korean act ever with debut single “Magnetic,” ILLIT deservingly earn the title for Billboard‘s first K-Pop Rookie of the Month. Get to know YUNAH, MINJU, MOKA, WONHEE and IROHA better with these exclusive photos and fun quiz questions.

  • A Truly ‘Magnetic’ Girl Group

    ILLIT: See Exclusive Photos & Selfies of the June 2024 K-Pop Rookie of the Month (3)

    “It was mind blowing how so many people loved ‘Magnetic,'” ILLIT’s MOKA says of the track, which peaked at No. 91 on the Hot 100 and No. 6 on the Billboard Global 200. It was the girl group’s debut single after being formed on the girl-group competition show R U Next?

  • Hello everyone, it’s YUNAH

    ILLIT: See Exclusive Photos & Selfies of the June 2024 K-Pop Rookie of the Month (4)

    I love when fans call me: Ablack cat!
    My MBTI: ENFP
    My position is: I’m versatile, yet the life of the party in ILLIT
    My favorite color: I adore pink and yellow!
    My favorite song ever: I have to say it’s “Magnetic!”
    But my favorite song at the moment is:“Sand” by Dove Cameron
    The movie that brings me comfort: Fall in Love at First Kiss
    Something R U Next? viewers didn’t see about me: When we were filming the training for the last episode, we had a competition to see who could make the goofiest face in front of the camera.

  • I’m MINJU of ILLIT

    ILLIT: See Exclusive Photos & Selfies of the June 2024 K-Pop Rookie of the Month (5)

    I love when fans call me: Min-ori, which is a combination of MINJU and ori [duck in Korea], Mandu [dumpling in Korean], and Mindaeng!
    My MBTI: ISTP
    My position is: The positivity queen of ILLIT
    My favorite color: Sky blue
    My favorite song ever: That’s easy! It’s “Magnetic!”
    But my favorite song at the moment is:“IOU” by Sabrina Claudio
    The movie that brings me comfort: Whenever I watch My Neighbor Totoro I feel better.
    Something R U Next? viewers didn’t see about me: I instantly fell asleep the moment my head touched the pillow! [Laughs.]

  • Hi Billboard! I’m MOKA of ILLIT

    ILLIT: See Exclusive Photos & Selfies of the June 2024 K-Pop Rookie of the Month (6)

    I love when fans call me: Kim MokHwa — it’s my name MOKA in Korean style
    My MBTI: ISFP
    My position is: I’m like a chameleon in ILLIT
    My favorite color: There are so many, but I just love the color purple!
    My favorite song ever: BIGBANG’s “Flower Road”
    But my favorite song at the moment is: thủy’s “playing tricks”
    The movie that brings me comfort: I find comfort in my heart when I watch The Notebook
    Something R U Next? viewers didn’t see about me: This is a secret, but I snaked a lot behind the camera. [Laughs.]

  • Hi my name is WONHEE

    ILLIT: See Exclusive Photos & Selfies of the June 2024 K-Pop Rookie of the Month (7)

    I love when fans call me: I love all the sweet nicknames from fans!
    My MBTI: ISFP
    My position is: I have to say I’m the smiler in the group. I’m not so good at making people laugh, but I sure can laugh and smile!
    My favorite color: I actually have two! Ivory and brown
    My favorite song ever: “double take” by dhruv
    But my favorite song at the moment is: Ariana Grande’s “we can’t be friends (wait for your love)”
    The movie that brings me comfort: Howl’s Moving Castle brings me peace of mind
    Something R U Next? viewers didn’t see about me: I was surely the most curious participant from the show

  • My name is IROHA!

    ILLIT: See Exclusive Photos & Selfies of the June 2024 K-Pop Rookie of the Month (8)

    I love when fans call me: I like when they call me a turtlecat!
    My MBTI: INFJ
    My position is: I’m the one with unexpected and surprising charms.
    My favorite color: Mint
    My favorite song ever: “Stay” by Zedd and Alessia Cara
    But my favorite song at the moment is: “Ghost” by Justin Bieber
    The movie that brings me comfort: When I need some comfort, I go watch Frozen
    Something R U Next? viewers didn’t see about me: I would plan the day in detail, so I could use my practice time better!

  • ‘Super’ Hit Album

    ILLIT: See Exclusive Photos & Selfies of the June 2024 K-Pop Rookie of the Month (9)

    Major international names contributed to ILLIT’s debut EP, Super Real Me, which peaked at No. 93 on the Billboard 200, including HYBE chairman Bang Si-Hyuk, Slow Rabbit, Salem Ilese and Vincenzo. “They all offered great advice which I found valuable when I was recording for the album,” WONHEE says.

  • Coming Next

    ILLIT: See Exclusive Photos & Selfies of the June 2024 K-Pop Rookie of the Month (10)

    Despite ILLIT’s late-March debut, the group already says they’re preparing their next step together. “We are all working hard for what’s to come,” YUNAH says. “Which I want to spoil so badly, but I shouldn’t!”

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ILLIT: See Exclusive Photos & Selfies of the June 2024 K-Pop Rookie of the Month (2024)
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