Ailite‘s ’Press Start' Concert: Why Fans Can't Get Enough of This Game-Inspired Show

[TV Daily reporter Kim Jin-seok] ILLIT leaned into nostalgia for JTBC's Are You Next with its \"Press Start\" concert.

On the 14th, ILLIT kicked off its debut tour, ILLIT LIVE 'PRESS START♥︎' in SEOUL (hereafter Press Start), at Ticketlink Live Arena in Songpa-gu, Seoul. All dates sold out quickly during the initial presale, underscoring ILLIT's strong ticket power.

The concert carried extra weight as the group's first full solo show — a milestone GLITs, the group's global fandom, had long awaited. The group confirmed its international appeal last year by selling out the fan concert 2025 ILLIT GLITTER DAY in both South Korea and Japan.

The production was built around a video-game concept. Framed like a narrative quest, the five members emerge from a virtual world to meet fans in the real world. The show progressed like game levels, with staging that vividly brought ILLIT's musical world to life.

That night the group also staged two unit performances that evoked memories of JTBC's audition series Are You Next. Fans, known as GLITs, responded with loud support as the stages were unveiled.

Unit 1 — Yuna, Minju and Iroha — opened with \"Desperate,\" a rendition that sparked nostalgia among longtime viewers. That track was previously performed by Minju, Jiwoo, Jimin, Yeongseo and Iroha during the Are You Next finale.

Unit 2 — Moka and Wonhee — followed with \"Scrum,\" drawing enthusiastic cheers. The track had circulated widely among fans and carried high expectations; Wonhee and Moka filled the stage with bright energy.

After the performance, Iroha said, \"I saw comments asking for 'Desperate.' I was so excited while preparing it.\" Moka added, \"Watching the time we spent chasing our dream was really moving. It's thanks to that time and to the GLITs,\" giving credit to the fans.

The Press Start tour spans 14 shows across seven cities, domestic and international. After Seoul, the tour visits Aichi on June 13–14, Osaka on June 20–21, Fukuoka on June 29–30, Hyogo on July 18–19, Tokyo on July 23 and July 25–26, and concludes in Hong Kong on August 22.

[TV Daily reporter Kim Jin-seok news@tvdaily.co.kr/Photos provided by Belif Lab (HYBE)]