2023–2024: Pre-debut activities and formation through R U Next? The
JTBC series
R U Next? aired for ten episodes from June 30, through September 1, 2023, in which 22 contestants competed to debut in a six-member girl group under
Belift Lab, their first girl group, and the third girl group to debut under Hybe, after
Le Sserafim and
NewJeans. The final episode saw the formation of the group's six-member lineup, with two members being selected by the public, and four being selected by the company's producers. The final lineup of Wonhee, Youngseo, Minju, Iroha, Moka, and Yunah, was unveiled at the end of the broadcast. On January 5, 2024, Belift Lab announced Youngseo was leaving the group, based on a mutual agreement to terminate her contract and leave the group before its debut.
2024: Debut with Super Real Me, ''I'll Like You'' On February 13, 2024, Belift Lab confirmed that Illit would be debuting in March. On February 21, it was confirmed again that Illit would debut on March 25 with their first extended play (EP), with Hybe's chairman
Bang Si-hyuk participating as producer of their album. On February 26, the agency announced the name of Illit's first EP
Super Real Me, with pre-orders opening on the same day as the announcement. On February 28, Illit made their first public appearance as a group at the
Acne Studios show during
Paris Fashion Week, making them the first K-pop artist to appear at the event prior to their official debut. The tracklist of
Super Real Me was revealed a week later on March 9, with "
Magnetic" serving as the lead single. A total of four tracks, including "Magnetic", would be released. The three other tracks on the album are "My World", "Midnight Fiction", and "Lucky Girl Syndrome". The teaser for the music video of their upcoming debut single "Magnetic", was officially released on March 22. "Magnetic" topped South Korea's
Circle Digital Chart, and eight days after its release it entered four
U.S. Billboard charts. Illit became the first K-pop group to enter the UK Official Singles with their debut single, which peaked at number 80. On April 16, Illit became the fastest K-pop act to appear on the
Billboard Hot 100, when "Magnetic" debuted at number 91. "Magnetic" also became the first debut song by a K-pop act to appear on the Hot 100. The music video for the track "Lucky Girl Syndrome" was released on April 17. In May 2024,
Super Real Me entered the
Billboard 200 chart at number 93. Additionally, Illit also peaked at number 41 on the
Billboard Artist 100 chart, and peaked at number two on the Emerging Artist chart. On June 28,
Billboard named Illit as their first ever "K-Pop Rookie of the Month". On September 23, Belift Lab confirmed that the group would release their second EP ''
I'll Like You'' on October 21. A comeback album showcase took place two days after the album's official release date. The album debuted on the
Billboard 200 chart and ranked 94th on the list. On November 22, Illit released the English version of "
Tick-Tack", titled "
Baby It's Both" featuring
Ava Max.
2025–present: Bomb, Not Cute Anymore and Mamihlapinatapai On February 14, 2025, Illit released their first original Japanese song "Almond Chocolate", which was included in the soundtrack of the Japanese live-action movie
It Takes More Than a Pretty Face to Fall in Love, based on the manga of the
same name. A Korean version of the song was later released on March 10. In May, Illit members Yunah and Minju were announced to be featured in the song "See U Tonight" by American singer
Kylie Cantrall from her first EP
B.O.Y. On May 19, Belift Lab confirmed that the group would release their third EP
Bomb on June 16. The group held a showcase on the EP's release date, performing the lead single "
Do the Dance" for the first time. A music video for "Jellyous" was released on July 6, which was followed by the release of a version of the song featuring Canadian singer Sophie Powers in August.
Bomb became Illit's third EP to sell 250,000 copies via Circle Chart, earning a Platinum certification from the KMCA. On July 14, Belift Lab announced that Illit would be releasing their first Japanese
maxi single on September 1. The single consists of four songs: two new songs, "Toki Yo Tomare" and "Topping", alongside a Japanese version of "Do the Dance", and "Almond Chocolate" which was previously released in February. "Topping" was pre-released on August 11. On November 4, Illit released "Secret Quest", serving as the ending theme song for the animated series
Pokémon Horizons – Rising Hope. Their first single album,
Not Cute Anymore, was released on November 24. On January 13, 2026, they released their second Japanese single "Sunday Morning", which also serves as the opening theme for the second season of the anime series ''
'Tis Time for "Torture," Princess. On March 15, during a concert in Seoul for their Press Start tour, Illit revealed that they would release their fourth EP Mamihlapinatapai'' on April 30, with the lead single "
It's Me". ==Artistry==