Two years after their debut, ILLIT has stepped onto a bigger stage.
The group that once captured the global short-form ecosystem with a single debut track returned with a full-scale concert narrative, performing a 20-song setlist that traced their musical journey and growth. What began as bright, fairy-like charm has now evolved into a broader performance identity combining emotional vocals, confident stage presence and unexpected hip-hop energy.
On March 14, ILLIT (Yunah, Minju, Moka, Wonhee, Iroha) opened the first night of their debut tour “PRESS START♥ in SEOUL” at Ticketlink Live Arena in Olympic Park, Songpa-gu.
“PRESS START♥” marks the group’s first official tour since debuting with their first mini-album “SUPER REAL ME” in March 2024.
The tour will travel across seven cities including Seoul, Tokyo and Hong Kong. Building on the lively fan interaction and stage confidence demonstrated during their fan concert “ILLIT GLITTER DAY,” the show brings together the group’s discography and growth story while sharing their dreams with global fans.
The concert unfolded under a game-inspired concept reflecting the title “PRESS START♥,” presenting ILLIT’s musical world like the beginning of a new level.
The opening section highlighted the group’s signature fairy-tale charm.
Wearing bright dress-style outfits, the members launched the show with a remix version of “Magnetic,” setting the tone for the playful game concept. The stage then shifted with the chic mood of “IYKYK,” followed by dreamy and sweet performances of “Night Picnic” and the yodel-inspired “little monster,” framed by confetti and claw-machine themed visuals.
After the opening stage, the members shared their excitement with the audience.
Minju said, “We’ll make this really fun for you, so please enjoy it.”
Moka greeted fans warmly, saying, “It’s been a while. Let’s have fun together.”
Yunah admitted she was too nervous to sleep the night before, saying, “This is a moment I’ve dreamed about for a long time.”
Wonhee joked that her heart was beating so fast she could hear it herself, drawing laughter from the crowd.
Iroha added, “There are new stages we prepared today. Please look forward to them.”
The following sections showcased the group’s expanding musical range.
In high-teen school-uniform styling, the members performed “Cherish” and “I’ll Like You,” drawing enthusiastic sing-alongs from the audience. “Pimple,” staged across a semi-circular platform, and the first Korean-language performance of “Almond Chocolate,” accompanied by a piano arrangement, highlighted their soft vocal harmony.
The performance of “jellyous” further reinforced the group’s confident stage presence.
Midway through the concert, the show revisited the group’s origins while presenting new stylistic contrasts.
Yunah, Minju and Iroha delivered a sleek girl-crush unit stage with “Desperate,” performing in black styling. Meanwhile, Moka and Wonhee formed a bright duet in “Scrum,” balancing playful charm with handheld microphone chemistry.
The momentum continued with the cheer-inspired “My World,” the retro guitar-driven “oops!,” and fan favorites including “Midnight Fiction,” “Secret Search,” “Tick-Tack,” and “Borrowed Cat,” each triggering massive crowd sing-alongs.
The later section of the concert revealed one of the evening’s most striking transformations.
Appearing in casual styling, the members shed their familiar cute image during “NOT CUTE ANYMORE” and “NOT ME,” presenting a sharper, hipper side of the group. The stage design, featuring a pink classic car and revolver-inspired props, enhanced the dramatic shift in atmosphere.
The emotional peak arrived during the encore.
As “Tick-Tack” played once more, the members moved closer to the audience, interacting with fans in near hi-touch proximity and raising the energy inside the venue.
The members soon shared emotional messages.
Yunah said, “It was our first solo concert, so I was nervous and excited. Performing in such a big venue made me very happy.”
Wonhee added, “After the fan concert, we were able to prepare a bigger tour. We worked hard thinking about how GLITTs could enjoy it more.”
Minju reflected, “Before debut I wondered what it would feel like to have fans. Now we’re artists filling big arenas. On stage I realized again why I wanted to become an idol.”
Iroha also became emotional, saying, “Thank you to GLITTs who came to our first concert. I had many worries, but thanks to you I feel happy.”
Moka expressed gratitude as well, saying she was glad fans seemed to enjoy the performance even more than expected.
The first night in Seoul concluded with the finale track “oops!”
Following the second Seoul show, ILLIT will continue the tour across seven cities including Tokyo and Hong Kong, expanding their journey with global fans.
More than simply the start of a tour, the concert marked the beginning of a new chapter as the group continues to build its own narrative within the global K-pop scene.
Reported by News Culture M.J._mj94070777@nc.press
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