The South Korean pop group, ITZY, has given fans reason to expect a lively "Summer Queen" performance to brighten the hottest season of 2023.
ITZY made their comeback on July 31st at 6 PM (KST) with the release of their new mini-album "KILL MY DOUBT" and the title song "CAKE". Later that day, at 8 PM, they held a showcase at the Seoul Olympic Park SK Olympic Handball Stadium, meeting fans both in person and online.
The grandiose stage, reminiscent of a colossal boxing ring, stole the limelight. Members Yeji, Lia, Ryujin, Chaeryeong, and Yuna debuted performances of their four new songs including the title track "CAKE", and previewed the music videos for "BET ON ME" and "None of My Business", as well as the final track "Kill Shot", all ahead of the album's official release. Their energy on stage echoed that of a mini concert, showcasing their impressive vocal range and performances that ranged from powerful to tender, heating up the fans' anticipation for summer.
Welcoming their first comeback of 2023, ITZY stated, "We've worked harder than ever on this album and we're confident that we can show it off. We've prepared our largest-scale showcase to date to meet fans' expectations. We hope you all love it." The showcase, hosted by MC Koyoungbae of the band Soran, included three rounds to match the album's dynamic and cool visual concept.
The first round featured a talk corner about the new album "KILL MY DOUBT". Yuna, the youngest member, mentioned, "The starting point of the album was 'ITZY' itself. The title 'KILL MY DOUBT' first came up in an interview discussing our thoughts and feelings. We hope this album can resonate with many and bring comfort, as it expresses ITZY."
The second round offered fans a chance to listen to each song in the album and discuss them. The five members talked about working with renowned K-pop producer JYP for "BET ON ME", the behind-the-scenes moments of "None of My Business", and discussed the appeal of "Bratty", "Psychic Lover", and "Kill Shot". The fans were particularly satisfied with special anecdotes related to the title track "CAKE".
The third and final round was the 100-second album brag time introduced by ITZY themselves. The five members, from Yuna to leader Yeji, confidently stated, "ITZY has finally made a comeback. This album was created with the unity of our five members - charismatic leader Yeji, lovely Lia, cool Ryujin, irresistible Chaeryeong, and doll-like youngest Yuna. If you want to see charisma, loveliness, and energetic performances, 'KILL MY DOUBT' is for you!" This drew large cheers and applause from the fans in attendance.
ITZY, having prepared for their 2023 comeback with a series of music video releases, a pop-up store opening, and the largest showcase since their debut, shared their feelings before starting their official activities, "We're so happy to meet our fans, MIDZY, again, who are shining with light rings, just like when we started our debut tour 'CHECKMATE' here. Performing in front of you all after a long time makes us truly happy and reminds us once again that 'our energy indeed comes from MIDZY'. We'll work hard with the energy we gained today. We hope you have a cool summer with our album. We appreciate your support for this activity."
As of 10 PM on the release day, ITZY's new mini album "KILL MY DOUBT" has topped the real-time physical album charts on Hanteo Chart and Surcle Chart. It also debuted at number one on iTunes Top Albums Chart in 14 international regions, including Vietnam, Brazil, and Australia, showcasing their global popularity.
