ILLIT Wins Third “Inkigayo” Trophy for “It’s Me,” and Previews a New MBC Reality Special

ILLIT has claimed its third music-show win with “It’s Me,” capturing first place on SBS’s “Inkigayo” in the show’s June 14 episode. The win, which came in a competitive lineup that included I.O.I’s “Suddenly” and aespa’s “LEMONADE,” further solidifies the group’s momentum as it prepares to expand its presence beyond music stages.

Third trophy for “It’s Me” on “Inkigayo”

According to Soompi’s coverage of the June 14 broadcast, the “Inkigayo” first-place candidates were I.O.I – “Suddenly,” aespa – “LEMONADE,” and ILLIT – “It’s Me.” ILLIT ultimately took the win with a final score of 5,168 points.

That total placed “It’s Me” above the other shortlisted tracks, underscoring that the group’s current era is resonating not only with fans but also with the scoring systems typically used by major Korean music programs—often influenced by a mix of digital performance and broadcast-week criteria.

A busy lineup: performances across generations and labels

“Inkigayo” on June 14 featured a broad range of artists, reflecting how music-show stages function as both promotion and a snapshot of the week’s industry attention. Performers included SHINee, BABYMONSTER, Treasure, izna, MEOVV, EPEX, and several others, offering audiences a lineup spanning established acts and newer debuts.

Among the featured stages, SHINee performed “Atmos,” BOYNEXTDOOR delivered “VIRAL,” and BABYMONSTER took the stage with “SUGAR HONEY ICE TEA.” The broadcast also included performances such as Treasure’s “IF I,” izna’s “R.I.P.” and “METRONOME,” and MEOVV’s “Hit ‘Em” and “DDI RO RI.”

Reality expansion: ILLIT shares its dorm on “The Manager”

While ILLIT’s stage results were a headline in their latest schedule, the group also signaled a parallel push into variety programming. MBC’s “The Manager” released a preview for an upcoming episode featuring ILLIT members Wonhee and Minju as guests.

As previewed by Soompi, the segment introduces ILLIT’s dorm space for the first time on the show. Viewers see panelists react to the interior, including Wonhee’s room decorated in a way that highlights her personality and interests—most notably her extensive collection of Sylvanian Families (also known as Calico Critters) figurines.

The preview also includes a more personal, conversation-driven moment: Wonhee is shown calling her father and asking whether he believes they can win first place next week. The father’s response points to the difficulty of the competition, after which Wonhee jokes, “Dad, do something about it.”

Why this matters: music performance plus personality programming

In K-pop promotion cycles, wins on major music shows can boost visibility quickly, but the most durable engagement often comes from follow-up content that deepens fan connection. ILLIT’s dual-track approach—securing a third “Inkigayo” trophy while also offering behind-the-scenes access through “The Manager”—fits that strategy.

It also reflects a broader pattern in the industry: groups commonly use stage achievements as a news hook, then pivot to reality and variety formats to sustain attention between releases. By framing the dorm reveal around humor and everyday dynamics—down to the family-call conversation—“The Manager” positions ILLIT’s popularity as more than just performances.

What to watch next

“The Manager” will air on June 20 at 11:10 p.m. KST, according to Soompi. The episode is expected to go beyond the preview’s initial dorm and phone-call moments, with additional appearances likely tied to the show’s typical “manager”-led itinerary.

Meanwhile, given that “Inkigayo” scoring and first-place races often unfold week to week, fans will likely track whether ILLIT’s “It’s Me” can maintain its streak—or whether a new challenger will emerge. For now, the group is riding a clear promotional high: a third trophy on one of Korea’s most widely watched music stages, paired with growing visibility on mainstream variety television.