ILLIT have officially kicked off their first-ever tour in spectacular fashion, launching the PRESS START♥︎ tour with two sold-out shows in Seoul on 14 and 15 March. The milestone concerts not only marked the beginning of a new chapter for the group, but also came with a major surprise for fans, a brand new album announcement.
Built around a game-inspired concept, the show unfolded like levels being unlocked one by one, with the quintet stepping out of a virtual world and into reality to connect with their fans, GLITTs. Across a 120-minute set, ILLIT brought their musical universe to life, weaving together hits and fan-favourite B-sides from their debut album through to their first single album.
Opening with their Billboard Hot 100 hit 'Magnetic,' the group immediately set the tone for the night with a powerful singalong. From there, they powered through their signature bright and high-energy tracks including 'Cherish (My Love),' 'Tick-Tack,' and 'Billyeoon Goyangi (Do the Dance),' while also showcasing a softer, more refined side with performances of 'little monster' and 'NOT CUTE ANYMORE.'
The concerts also featured several songs performed live for the first time, adding to the excitement of their debut tour. Set against a classroom backdrop, 'Pimple' delivered an intimate moment as the members shared handwritten letters with fans. In contrast, 'NOT ME' shifted the energy with bold choreography, highlighting the group’s dynamic stage presence.
Fans were also treated to special unit stages revisiting songs from the survival show R U Next? that led to the group’s formation. YUNAH, MINJU, and IROHA performed 'Desperate,' while MOKA and WONHEE brought a lively charm to 'Scrum,' reflecting on their artistic growth since their early days.
The night closed with an extended encore of 'oops!,' as the members ran across the arena to interact closely with fans. Reflecting on the milestone, the group shared, “Thanks to GLITTs, we were able to press the ‘start button’ for the tour in the best way possible. As we’re nearing the second anniversary of our debut, PRESS START♥︎ has served as a meaningful chance for us to remind ourselves to keep working harder. We’ll continue to do our best to become artists you can be proud of.”
At the end of the final show, ILLIT revealed that they will be releasing a new album titled MAMIHLAPINATAPAI on 30 April, along with its lead single 'It’s Me.' The album title originates from the Yaghan language of South America and is recognised by the Guinness World Records as “the most succinct word,” referring to a shared glance between two people who both hope the other will act on a mutual desire.
Following their Seoul shows, PRESS START♥︎ will continue across seven cities with a total of 14 shows, with Japan set as the next stop from June to July.
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