ILLIT Criticized by Japanese Ahead of Kōhaku Uta Gassen: 'I Don't Know Who They Are'

2 weeks ago 24

For this year's Kōhaku Uta Gassen, K-pop girl groups including ILLIT are set to attend the popular Japanese year-end show. But why is the group earning sour reactions?

On Dec. 1st, the term "ILLIT Kōhaku" became a popular search on Japanese X and Yahoo Japan. This is following the announcement that six K-pop and K-pop-inspired idol groups, such as TWICE, LE SSERAFIM, ILLIT, TXT, ME:I, and JO1, will be joining NHK's Kōhaku Uta Gassen set to be held on Dec. 31st.

However, Japanese spectators weren't happy with how the girl group ILLIT is included, given that they only debuted in March 2024.

The reason was due to their "unknown identity" in the country. While the team went viral for their hit debut track, "Magnetic," this wasn't enough for them to be recognized, especially by those who weren't K-pop fans.

Kōhaku Uta Gassen, which became one of Japan's representative TV programs with a viewership rating of over 80 % in the 1960s, is interpreted as a recognition of a top singer in the Japanese music market by appearing on it.

As a result, they were displeased that many K-pop acts would be joining — even adding a rookie who had not yet made an official debut in Japan. For them, ILLIT is stealing a spot from an artist who is more deserving to be among the 41 teams.

Some of the reactions are:

"I don't know who it is..."
"Why are there so many K-pop singers at Japanese festivals?"
"It's K-pop heaven again this year."
"Is it right for a singer whose identity is unknown to appear on the Kōhaku Uta Gassen?"

They also insisted that it was a Japanese music festival, not a Korean one. On the flip side, those locals who enjoy K-pop defended the group and wrote: