Debut Successes Prompt Comparison and Evaluation Within the K-pop Landscape

Courtesy of ILLIT's instagram

The K-pop scene recently witnessed a surge of excitement as new girl groups ILLIT and Babymonster achieved remarkable sales milestones with their debut albums.

ILLIT's debut album, "Super Real Me," garnered attention by selling 380,000 copies in its first week of release last month. However, this record was swiftly surpassed by Babymonster, whose self-titled debut album sold 401,000 copies within the same timeframe, eclipsing the previous record set by NewJeans. 

▲ Courtesy of ILLIT's instagram

The rivalry extends beyond sales figures, as it reflects a direct competition between two major entertainment companies in South Korea: HYBE, supporting ILLIT, and YG Entertainment, backing Babymonster.

Notably, both groups are personally produced by the respective heads of their companies, Bang Si-hyuk of HYBE and Yang Hyun-suk of YG, amplifying the significance of this competition within the K-pop industry.

While Babymonster has dominated in album sales and YouTube views, ILLIT has made notable strides on domestic music charts in South Korea. Their debut track, "Magnetic," secured the top spot on SBS MTV's 'The Show' and Melon's daily chart, indicating strong domestic popularity.

▲ Babymonster / Courtesy of YG EntertainmentDespite their chart success, both ILLIT and Babymonster have faced mixed reviews from music critics. Critic Lim Hee-yoon remarked that both groups' debut albums were somewhat disappointing, citing an abundance of filler tracks.

Comparison to their label predecessors has also been a topic of discussion. ILLIT has drawn comparisons to NewJeans, with critics noting similarities in target demographics and musical styles. Conversely, Babymonster's continuation of YG's identity has been described as overly conservative by some critics.

Experts predict that Babymonster may find success internationally, while ILLIT has received higher scores domestically, with some attributing this to HYBE's understanding of contemporary trends and the desires of younger audiences.

Despite varying opinions within the industry, interest remains high for both groups, with industry insiders closely monitoring their progress and potential impact on the K-pop landscape.

Sayart 

Kang In sig, insig6622@naver.com