[Exclusive Interview] ILY:1 makes a comeback with a fun summer song. They share their unique way of taking photos and express their feelings about ONLY:1 in five letters!

The six-member multinational girl group "ILY:1" from Japan, Korea and Taiwan released their third mini album "illang:Firework" last month. They have been busy with their release event in Japan since the 13th of this month.
During the interview with wowKorea, he talked about the appeal of the title song "illang (Firework)" and even some episodes from before his debut. Q.
ILY:1 has returned with a very fun summer song! Congratulations on your comeback! Please tell us about the title song "illang".
Nayu: Our title song "illang" is a very fun song that reminds you of a night of fireworks, just like the lyrics say, "♪ Illang of a midsummer night." It's a perfect summer song.
Q. Are there any stages you want to try, shows you want to appear on, or content you want to appear on during this promotion?
Ara: More than anything, I want to appear on variety shows with all the members. Especially the Korean ones like "Knowing Bros" and "Running Man".
Hana: I would also like to try activities in Japan. If we could appear on a Japanese music show,
That's great. Ririka: Yes. I'd be happy if we could all appear on Japanese radio and variety shows. Q.
"Illang" is so refreshing that it makes you feel like you need to go to the sea or the valley right away.
Yes. Speaking of fireworks, summer festivals come to mind, but have any of you from ILY:1 ever been to a summer festival in Japan?
Also, is there anything you would like to do or eat at the summer festival?
Elba: When I was a child, I went to a summer festival in Japan. All the Japanese people were wearing traditional yukatas, but I was just wearing my everyday clothes.
The fireworks were very beautiful and I think it would have been even more wonderful if I could have worn a yukata to watch the fireworks. Ara: I have never been to a Japanese festival, but if I could,
There is a food I would like to try. It is cucumber skewers that are sold at fireworks festivals. I heard that you eat cucumbers by taking them out of cold water, so I wanted to try it once.
It seems like it. It doesn't exist in Korea, so I'm very interested. Every time I see a video of a Japanese summer festival, I want to eat those cucumbers.
Ririka: Of course Hana and I have been to summer festivals. Especially in Korea.
It seems like there is no culture of summer festivals. The thing that made the biggest impression on me at summer festivals was yo-yo fishing. I think everyone in Japan knows about it, but that kind of game is fun, and there are food stalls like takoyaki.
Eating the food there is one of the things I'm looking forward to. I'd like members who haven't been there yet to experience it at least once. Q. It's been about five months since your last activity in Japan.
In "MY ME MINE" you showed a very mature side of yourself, but this time you've returned with a refreshing image that has earned you the nickname "Summer Fairy."
Nayu: This time, we all took surfboards and filmed, and it felt like we were at the pool, so it was a lot of fun. We stayed in the practice room the whole time preparing.
It was a precious time when I could feel "Oh, it's summer!" Rona: When we were shooting the music video, we also shot a group dance in the pool. I'm glad that it turned out beautifully overall.
It was also nice because there was shallow water under our feet, so it felt like we were splashing around in the water. Ririka: We had never gone swimming together before, so this was the first time we had all gone swimming together.
I felt like I was playing in the water. I'm glad that I was able to create a special memory just for "ILY:1". Q.
Recently, more and more young people are looking up to K-POP artists and dreaming of the same thing.
It's been three years since your debut, but was there an episode where your parents opposed your debut or you were prevented from debuting?
Tell us how you overcame such conflicts.
Rona: My father is in the industry, so he was strongly against me becoming an idol. From a young age, I was hurt by being told that I was bad at dancing and singing, and that my voice was not good.
I sometimes fell behind, but each time I vowed to prove myself. My mother told me to balance my studies and practice, so I worked hard and finally came in third place.
I practiced hard to prove my determination. I think the only way to pursue your dreams is to keep proving yourself. Ara: I'm similar to Rona. My father is also in this industry.
I was often told not to become an idol from a young age. However, I decided to start idol activities, and my father told me, "I might have talent," and "You should do idol work."
I reassured him by saying, "You're welcome." My father knows the industry well, so he was worried at first, but he eventually came to support me after seeing how hard I was working. Now, my father also recognizes me.
Q. What are the unique poses and photo taking methods of the MZ generation (Millennials and Z generation, born between the 1980s and 2000s)? What is your latest fad that is MZ-like?
Everyone: Maybe because Elva is the youngest, he seems the most like MZ. Elva: First of all, in dark places, you should always use the flash and hold your smartphone up to take a picture, otherwise it will come out better.
I also think you can take better photos if you are natural rather than being camera-conscious. I think it's best to take photos in a natural state rather than trying to make a pose or facial expression.
Nayu: Recently, I've been hooked on the way I use the ILY:1. First, I set it to 0.5x wide-angle mode and decide the angle so that my whole body is captured from top to bottom.
You might be able to take a photo that is typical of MZ. The face will be large and the body will be small, giving it a cute, alien-like feel.
Ara: I've always liked that angle, but I had someone else take it for me.
I can't take good photos without it. But recently, my manager has been taking good photos from those angles, so I've been uploading a lot of MZ-like photos. Q.
What would you like your fans to call you? Please tell us your nicknames or pet names. (All)
Elba: I'm happy to be called whatever you want, but I prefer to be called by my real name or "Yong Nyang-yi," which is a combination of my real name, Yong Hwa, and the sound a cat makes when it meows.
Hana: I like being called anything, but lately I feel good when people call me "Konju (princess)" or "Princess" (laughs).
Ririka: I like it best when people call me "Riri-chan" or the shorter "Ri-chan."
Rona: Actually, I don't care what you call me. I just want you to call me by that name a lot when I'm doing something good. I don't like being called by that name for bad things, so I want you to call me by that name a lot when I'm doing something good.
(laughs) Ara: I like it when people call me "Arakonju (Princess Ara)" or "Uriegi (My child)". Because I'm the Pink Rabbit Princess.
Nayu: I also prefer to be called by my real name, "Yewon." Or I also like it when people call me "Ye-chan" in Japanese. When they post on Instagram or Twitter,
Especially when people write me letters, there are some who call me "Myungchan Kang-aji (the dog who sings well)" and I like the way they call me because I find it very touching.
Q. In addition to the release event at FCLIVE, there will also be an external release event. I'm sure there will be many people who are not yet familiar with "ILY:1" and not just fans.
I think there are many people who are not familiar with ILY:1. How would you like to appeal to the general public who are not familiar with ILY:1 yet? Lyrica: While I am active as a pure idol,
They have a lot of funny sides to them. Also, all the members are good at Japanese and understand Japanese humor well. Therefore, we want people to know us as friendly idols.
I hope to be able to show that side of myself. In addition, there is a gap between my appearance and my performance, where I can turn into a professional, and I would love for everyone to see that for themselves.
Rona: The reason I want everyone to come and see our show at least once is because we are even cuter in person.
She is much cuter than the original and has a beauty and lively charm that the camera cannot capture, so please come and see her perform in person at least once.
Ara: All of the members have a lively and energetic charm like beagles.
We all have very energetic and charming personalities, but videos and photos cannot fully convey their charm. Please come and see us in person so that you can feel our lively energy.
I want that. Even though we are girl idols, our charm is that we are friendly and approachable like friends. Q.
What kind of image do you want fans to remember about ILY:1?
Please tell us the reason why. Lyrica: I want "ILY:1" to be remembered as a group with "a gap charm". "ILY:1" is friendly and lively off stage,
ILY:1 performs coolly on stage. I want to be remembered as a group that strongly appeals to the contrasting charm of their appearance.
Elba: I want to be a group like "Best Friends." I want to be friends with all ONLY:1 (fan name for "ILY:1").
I want to spend time with my friends and build a relationship where we can rely on each other. Rona: I want to be remembered for my image of "summer." I've returned as a pure summer idol, so I want to be bright and warm.
Ara: Rather than being remembered for some reason, I want to be remembered as the "first ILY:1."
I want to cherish my own individuality and maintain my own image as "ILY:1". Q. What does "ONLY:1" mean to "ILY:1"? 5 letters
Please express it in Korean or Japanese. Nayu: For me, ONLY:1 is "U rin bae pu ya (We are best friends)." Elva: "Ichi ban su
"Ki (my favorite)"! Since it has six letters in Japanese, I expressed it in Korean. With the help of Batchim (lol). Ririka: It's "Takaramono"!
Rona: "In saeng ae jeon bu (my whole life)"! The whole life of "ILY:1" is ONLY:1. Ara: (counting on her fingers) "Na ae hil
Lindul (My healings)" Hana: "I love you."