ILLIT’s Memorable Appearance on Minju’s Pink Cabinet
On March 27, the dynamic K-pop ensemble ILLIT graced episode 13 of the YouTube show Minju’s Pink Cabinet, aptly titled A Birthday Party That Started Off Sweet and Ended Spicy. This entertaining series is hosted by the group’s own member, Minju, and features discussions and storytelling with various guests.
Sharing Struggles and Triumphs
During the episode, the ILLIT members were asked to reflect on their most challenging moments from the previous year. This question elicited chuckles and knowing glances among the members, suggesting a shared understanding of their past difficulties.
Their lighthearted reaction soon gained traction on social media, as fans speculated that they might have been referencing the controversy involving NewJeans from the previous year.
“We as fans already went through a lot so I can’t imagine how ILLIT feels. They truly deserved better,”an X user commented.
A Moment of Reflection
In a poignant moment, member Wonhee shared,
“I think it was that moment for me, when practice didn’t go as planned. We’ve all been there with Magnetic—twelve-hour days.”
Fans have been applauding ILLIT for maintaining their humility, especially in light of past controversies. It was noted that, despite facing significant backlash, the group refrained from publicly blaming anyone or addressing the situation head-on.
“They have gone through the worst and they can easily explain the whole situation and name drop someone but they will not because these girls know what humanity is and being humble. Illit you girls will go higher in life,”a user mentioned.
This theme of resilience resonated with many fans:
“The fact that they suffered in silence while being bombarded with absolute nonsense for a year, oh my babies time will heal all ur wounds,”a person noted.
“Yall see how they’ll never go on a coke rant and blindly accuse a certain group even though they’ve suffered the worst hate train just 2 months into their career because of them? Classy girls,”a fan remarked.
Finding Humor in Hardship
Fans also observed that the group’s laughter in light of their experiences signifies a stage of acceptance regarding their past challenges.
“You know someone is already at the last stage of grief, which is acceptance, when laughter is the only response to their misery,”a viewer shared.
“I’m happy they’re able to laugh about it a little bit! This will soon be a distant memory, brighter days ahead,”a netizen said.
“When you’ve gone through so much in a year that you have no choice but to just laugh and move on,”another fan added.
Understanding the NewJeans Controversy
The backstory of the ILLIT and NewJeans controversy dates back to April 2024, when HYBE’s multi-label practices came under scrutiny. The CEO of ADOR, Min Hee-jin, accused Belift Lab of mimicking NewJeans’ identity with ILLIT, sparking widespread debate regarding creative ownership and competition within HYBE’s system.
“HYBE operates a multi-label system in which multiple labels independently create their own music and pursue cultural diversity through this. ADOR is one of those labels. Yet, ironically, the cultural achievements achieved by ADORE and its artist NewJeans are being gravely violated by HYBE,”the former ADOR CEO stated.
ILLIT debuted in March 2024 following the survival show R U Next? and promptly became embroiled in this controversy. Their agency, Belift Lab, firmly denied the allegations of plagiarism and even pursued legal action against Min Hee-jin for defamation, demanding 2 billion KRW in damages.
By October 2024, Belift Lab’s CEO, Kim Tae-ho, responded to inquiries in the National Assembly, emphasizing the distinctive identity of ILLIT, which he argued did not infringe upon NewJeans.
As of March 2025, the controversy remains unresolved, but ILLIT continues to flourish, having released their second EP, I’ll Like You, in October 2024, maintaining their dedication to their craft and their fans.