Girl group ILLIT has reached an amazing milestone by surpassing 1 million album sales just seven months after their debut!

According to their agency, Belift Lab, ILLIT, made up of members Yoona, Minju, Mocha, Wonhee, and Iroha, has achieved a total of over 1 million copies sold from their two albums this year, as reported by Hanteo Chart.

Their debut album, SUPER REAL ME, released on March 25, has sold more than 630,000 copies so far. Their new mini-album, I'LL LIKE YOU, which came out recently, recorded impressive initial sales of 382,621 copies, surpassing their debut album's sales.

ILLIT is also performing well in the digital music scene. Their title track "Cherish (My Love)" debuted at 77th on Melon's 'Top 100' on its release day (as of 7 PM on the 21st) and has since climbed to 36th place (as of 9 AM on the 29th). Their daily chart rankings are rising, and they've received positive feedback from performances on weekend music shows and radio programs, boosting their popularity.

The group is making waves globally too! "Cherish (My Love)" ranked 68th on the Apple Music Global Top 100 on the 28th and held its spot for two consecutive days. On Spotify, the song appeared in the 'Daily Top Songs' in eight countries and regions, including Hong Kong, Japan, and Singapore, as of October 28.

Their debut track "Magnetic" continues to shine, climbing nine spots to 85th on the Billboard Global (excluding the U.S.) chart and 152nd on the Global 200 chart (as of November 2). It has charted for 31 weeks on both charts and was the first debut song by a K-pop group to enter the Billboard Hot 100.

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Lee Kyung Gyu's star-making influence goes beyond Kang Ho Dong, as Hong Jin Kyung shares how he helped her kickstart her career.

On the April 24 episode of KBS 2TV’s Problem Child in House, legendary comedian Lee Kyung Gyu appeared as a guest—and a touching story from the past was revealed.

Hong Jin Kyung surprised everyone when she said, “He’s the teacher for all of us. Personally, he’s the one who helped me debut.” She even pinned a carnation flower on his chest to show her gratitude.

Lee Kyung Gyu smiled and said, “I still remember when Hong Jin Kyung walked up the stairs onto the stage for the first time.”

Hong Jin Kyung then shared her journey to becoming a star. “I joined a supermodel contest, but only the top 3 winners were noticed in broadcasting. I got a special prize, so I had no chance to be on TV."

She continued, "At first, I was just a backup for a show. But somehow, I became a regular the next week. I never knew why."

She added, "I thought the PD gave me a shot. But then one day, I randomly met Kyung Gyu sunbae, and he told me it was actually him who recommended me.”

Kim Sook asked with a smile, “So Kyung Gyu sunbae said nice things about you to the PD?”

Lee Kyung Gyu playfully replied, “Don’t say it in such a childish way,” making everyone laugh.

He then explained more seriously, “The show was Scoop TV Entertainment, and I was pretty much the main MC. When Jin Kyung showed up, I saw her determination and passion."

He added, "While others didn’t seem serious, she really stood out. I told the PD, ‘She seems unique. Why not keep her on the show?’”

Kim Jong Kook chimed in, “So if the main MC said that, doesn’t that mean you basically got her in?”

That made Lee Kyung Gyu happy. He grinned and replied, “Exactly! You speak well. Be like him!”

He added, “After that, Jin Kyung’s career took off. She started doing shows with Lee Young Ja and just kept going.”

Fans are now calling Lee Kyung Gyu not only a top MC, but also a quiet star-maker behind the scenes!

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