HITGS debuts amid scrutiny over members being all under 18

Girl group HITGS pose during their debut showcase held in Seoul, Monday. (H Music Entertainment)

Rookie girl group HITGS made its official debut Monday, drawing mixed reactions over its lineup consisting of five members who are minors: from the eldest, VV, 18, to the youngest, Iyoo, 15.

From the outset of its debut promotions, H Music Entertainment, the group’s agency, emphasized the youthfulness of the group, highlighting the members’ “fresh and lively visuals” and “pure, radiant girl-like charm” that it said “instantly captured attention.”

The group’s name, HITGS, is an acronym for “Hip, Innocent, Teenager, Girls, Story,” which the agency explained reflects the members’ desire to share stories about all the things they love.

During the group’s debut showcase in Seoul, member Iyoo said their differentiating factor lies in “hipness within pure energy.” Another member Seohee added, “We want to be a warmhearted group that resonates with teenagers and reminds older generations of their own teenage years.”

While it is common for girl groups to debut as minors in K-pop, the controversy surrounding the recent survival program “Under15,” which featured contestants as young as eight, has reignited public concern over the commercialization of youth.

Despite the scrutiny, the members of HITGS also underscored their group’s visual appeal as a core strength.

“Our team’s greatest strength lies in our diverse visuals,” said Hyerin. “We want to be No. 1 in visuals, too, and show those charms to the public.”

Girl group HITGS performs during their debut showcase held in Seoul, Monday. (H Music Entertainment)

The group’s debut EP, “Things We Love: H,” released Monday, features two tracks: title track “Sour Patch” and B-side “Never Be Me.” The album boasts contributions from renowned songwriters such as Gil Lewis and David Wilson, who have previously worked with major K-pop acts including Wendy, aespa, Zerobaseone and Riize.

“Sour Patch” is a dreamy, emotionally driven track with groovy 808 bass, bouncy drum beats and a catchy melody.

“I focused on the themes of ‘excitement’ and ‘emotional stir’ when writing this track,” said lyricist-producer Ryan Jhun, who participated in the song’s composition. “I hope people listen not just with their ears but with their hearts.”

Before their official debut, HITGS performed under the name “Project H” during the pre-show segment of the “2024 SBS Gayo Daejeon,” offering a medley of hit K-pop songs reinterpreted in their own style, including 2NE1’s “I Am the Best,” TXT’s “Deja Vu,” aespa’s “We Fresh” and Ive’s “I Am.”

“Learning that we would perform at the Gayo Daejeon pre-show came with a huge sense of responsibility and pressure,” said member Seojin. “But as time passed and we practiced more, all I could think about was wanting to get on stage as soon as possible.”