Group ILLIT member Iroha left a strong impression with a charm that contrasts sharply with her lovely visual appeal.
On the 1st at 8 p.m., ILLIT released the ‘BURNING’ version concept film featuring Iroha for their 5th mini-album ‘BREAK EVEN’ through the official HYBE Labels YouTube channel. The video captures the moment she decides to no longer hold onto a relationship that offers no return despite her efforts, perfectly highlighting Iroha’s unexpected charm.
In the video, Iroha appears in a fantastic space scattered with falling flower petals, resembling a magical girl. While she walks with elegance in a mystical atmosphere, an unexpected large hammer rests in her hand instead of a magic wand, immediately catching viewers’ attention.
Iroha then says, “Today’s color is red for revenge,” and applies red lipstick. Looking around the room carefully, she swings the hammer with all her might and begins smashing objects without hesitation. Her bold actions, contrasting with her lovely facial expression, deliver a strange sense of catharsis and instantly flip the mood of the video.
After finishing all the work, Iroha throws her body onto the bed. Her relaxed expression after the commotion conveys a sense of relief, as if she has shaken off her suffocating emotions. Shortly after, she bids a short farewell saying, “The end, closure, bye-bye,” putting a definitive end to the relationship without regret. The liberation that follows venting her anger toward the partner in her own way is impressively portrayed.
Although the vibe differs from ILLIT’s previous lively and lovely image, the sensitivity and aesthetics unique to ‘ILLIT Core’ remain intact throughout. In particular, the hammer held in Iroha’s hand is gorgeously decorated with cubic stones and lace, ensuring that the group’s cute and delicate sensibility is not lost even amidst the rough actions.
Previously released Minju’s teaser also drew attention with glitter tears, a cute pink arm cast, and frill-decorated guns. In this way, ILLIT expresses the complex emotions and anger felt when ending a relationship with a loved one not heavily, but through lovely objects and unique directing in their own style.
The 5th mini-album ‘BREAK EVEN’ centers around this exact message. The album title signifies the break-even point of a relationship where there is neither loss nor gain, telling the story of making a resolute decision to protect oneself after pondering what is gained and lost in relationships.
The title track ‘Arrest Me’ contains a bold warning directed at a partner who made her misunderstand through habitual kindness. ILLIT’s independent attitude of cutting off relationships to avoid losing herself rather than getting swept away by complex and confusing emotions permeates the entire album.
ILLIT is steadily raising comeback anticipation by sequentially releasing diverse contents. Starting with a teasing video previewing the new song’s mood on the 5th, they will release concept photos on the 6th, 12th, and 15th.
Particularly, expectations are high for a special stage related to the new song at the encore tour ‘ILLIT LIVE ‘PRESS STARTβ₯’ ENCORE in KOREA’ held at the Incheon Inspire Arena on the 17th and 18th. Afterward, they will successively unveil the first and second official teasers for the title track’s music video on the 23rd and 25th, followed by the official release of their 5th mini-album ‘BREAK EVEN’ at 6 p.m. on the 26th to kick off full-scale comeback promotions.
