rise SHINE

In the middle of an on-going world tour, South Korean girl group ITZY give us a glimpse into their journey and evolution as one of today's hottest K-pop acts.

- JASMINE ALIMIN

Yeji, Yuna, Ryujin, Chaeryeong. Individually, they are gifted performers. Together, they make up ITZY, one of the most successful fourth-generation South Korean girl groups today. Fifth member Lia is currently on sabbatical due to health reasons. At a time when the K-pop machine churns out girl group after girl group, one cannot help but wonder: What makes one stand out from the rest? It is no small feat considering the amount of global adoration ITZY enjoys today, in spite of the tough competition.

ITZY's success lies in a combination of factors: Charisma, tenacity, strong vocals and dance skills, a little bit of luck, and a lot of hard work. It is a formula that catapulted them straight into stardom―their single, "Dalla Dalla", became the first debut song by a K-pop group to earn a platinum certification from the Korea Music Content Association. Their third and latest album, Born To Be, topped the iTunes' album chart across 23 regions when it was released in January 2024, while the music video for the title track "Untouchable" reached number one on YouTube's worldwide list of Top Trending Music Videos. Their official Instagram account boasts over 20 million followers, the third highest for a K-pop girl group.

Despite this, the members, whose ages range from 20 to 24, come across as down-to-earth, genuine and respectful. When they walked into the studio at their specified call time, each ITZY member made it a point to greet and acknowledge crew members with "annyeonghaseyo" and a bow. It was a chilly spring afternoon in Seoul's Gangnam district. There was a lot to get done, yet the members were absolute troopers, moving seamlessly from hair and makeup, to the fitting room, and finally onto the set with photographer Heejune Kim, who's well known for his work with many Korean idols and actors.