With 'Girls Will Be Girls,' ITZY marks 6 years with strength, sisterhood
K-pop girl group ITZY pose at a press conference upon the release of new mini-album "Girls Will Be Girls" at Sofitel Seoul Hotel in Gangnam District, Monday. Courtesy of JYP Entertainment
K-pop powerhouse ITZY stormed back onto the scene Monday with its new mini-album “Girls Will Be Girls,” in celebration of the group’s sixth anniversary.
“This comeback is significant to us,” said group leader Yeji during a press conference at Sofitel Ambassador Seoul in Gangnam District. “We put much thought into what ITZY represents today — our unity, strength and the message we want to deliver as artists who’ve grown together for six years."
Since their debut in 2019 with “Dalla Dalla,” the five-member act — Yeji, Lia, Ryujin, Chaeryeong and Yuna — has carved a niche in the K-pop landscape with their unapologetically bold attitude.
The five-track album includes the title song “Girls Will Be Girls,” along with “Kiss & Tell,” “Locked N Loaded,” “Promise” and “Walk.” Each track tells a story of camaraderie and sisterhood as well as each member’s personal growth and ITZY’s connection as a team.
K-pop girl group ITZY pose at a press conference held at Sofitel Seoul Hotel in Gangnam District, Monday. Courtesy of JYP Entertainment
The title track captures the group’s signature confidence with a driving rhythm and soaring harmonies. It also reaffirms ITZY’s position as a voice of empowerment for Gen Z fans worldwide. With lyrics that assert confidence and solidarity while embracing vulnerability, it marks a natural evolution in the group’s sound — one that feels both empowered and deeply personal to themselves as pioneering female figures.
To match the track’s intensity, the quintet also filmed a cinematic music video in the rugged landscapes of Georgia in Eastern Europe, trading glitter for grit. Dressed in military-inspired outfits, the members charge through collapsing worlds in this action-laced spectacle that feels more like a short film than a typical K-pop release.
“We wanted to show that the world still has meaning if we’re together,” Yeji said. “It’s about unbreakable bonds — a friendship that gets stronger with time.”
Ryujin added, “We poured our energy into capturing our identity as a group ... The message is simple but powerful — when we’re together, nothing else matters. We’ll take your hand and move forward together.”
ITZY's Lia poses during a press conference at Sofitel Seoul Hotel in Gangnam District, Monday. Courtesy of JYP Entertainment
And in true ITZY style, even their practice sessions were all-in. “While practicing choreography yesterday, I accidentally hit Lia’s rib. That’s how much of ourselves — down to the ribs — we’ve poured into this album," Yuna said.
Behind the sharp choreography, high fashion and confident stage personas lies a group of young women who have spent their formative years growing up together — not just as colleagues, but as sisters.
“From the beginning, we’ve championed the idea of loving ourselves,” said Lia. “Rather than targeting a specific prejudice to fight against, we wanted to show how we endure the storms of life by staying true to who we are in the music video.”
A big part of their strong bond comes from embracing who they are when the cameras stop rolling.
“Most of us are different when we’re not performing,” Yuna explained. “On stage, we show this strong and charismatic image, but off stage, we’re just a group of girls who laugh, joke around and talk about everything. Those small moments are what make us stronger.”
K-pop girl group ITZY pose at a press conference held at Sofitel Seoul Hotel in Gangnam District, Monday. Courtesy of JYP Entertainment
The members say reuniting after solo projects helped them rediscover the strength of their bond.
"As we prepared for this comeback, we were reminded of how precious our team is ... After pursuing solo projects, coming back together felt even more meaningful. We wanted to give off the feeling of one unshakable team," Yeji said.
"We didn’t set a specific direction — it’s more like our current selves are reflected naturally ... Looking back, I think we were lovable and youthful. Now, we’ve grown into our own.”
Lia called ITZY “a driving force” that allows each member to face hardships and pursue shared goals.
“We move as one,” she said. “We wanted to express that in the music, too.”
Kim Min-ji is a Korea Times intern.