ITZY, composed of Yeji, Lia, Ryujin, Chaeryeong, and Yuna, held a showcase tour in Singapore at The Star Theatre back in 2019. After the lunar new year, the quintet are slated to stage another full-scale concert tour at the same venue.
Ahead of their sold-out show, here are five things to know about K-pop girl group ITZY.
1. ITZY did not debut as fresh rookies
When some K-pop acts meet the world for the first time, they are fresh rookies who have not hit the stage. But it’s not the case for ITZY. The quintet got some experience in the industry under their belt prior to their debut.
Photo: JYP Entertainment
Rappers Ryujin and Yuna starred in the BTS’ Love Yourself highlight reel. Ryujin also finished first in survival reality programme Mixnine (2017), while Yeji made an appearance in another programme Stray Kids (2017).
Now an open secret, main dancer Chaeryeong has an older sister in the same industry. She’s none other than Chaeyeon, who was a member of the now-defunct group IZ*ONE.
2. ITZY’s first English song dropped last year
The quintet released their first English track last October. Titled Boys Like You (2022), the track’s concept and message runs parallel to the group’s consistent portrayal of charismatic feminism.
The girls prove themselves independent individuals who, honestly, can survive well enough without the company of a partner.
Their first ever English track was intended to appeal to the stateside fans. It came in time ahead of their first world tour Checkmate, which toured New York, Chicago and other US cities before arriving in Asia.
3. First female group to achieve rookie grand slam
Less than a year into their career, ITZY achieved stellar results as rookies then. They managed to achieve a rookie grand slam, a term coined in 2008 after K-pop group SHINee achieved the feat.
This meant that the group bagged the Rookie of the Year awards at all five major awards shows – Melon Music Awards (MMA), Mnet Asian Music Awards (MAMA), Golden Disk Awards (GDA), Gaon Chart Music Awards and Seoul Music.
To date, there are only six K-pop acts who have achieved this feat. Alongside ITZY, they are TXT, Wanna One, iKON, SHINee and aespa.
4. Checkmate is ITZY’s first headline tour
Following the release of their fifth EP Checkmate last July, the group announced their eponymous world tour. While they held a showcase tour in 2019, this coming tour will be the quintet’s first large-scale concert show.
Photo: JYP Entertainment
5. ITZY is the face of Singaporean brand Charles & Keith
ITZY joined homegrown fashion label Charles & Keith as their newest global brand ambassador last August. They fronted the brand’s Fall 2022 campaign then.
Photo: Charles & Keith
The girls are “a beacon of pop culture – music artists, social media sensations and arbiters of fashion,” the brand says in a press release.
They are not afraid to be themselves, as conveyed through their hit single Dalla Dalla (2019). And that’s why they were the perfect fit for the brand.
