MINJU is two people—the regular, 20-year-old Park Minju and the magical girl group ILLIT member—and as she becomes better acquainted with both, the shining horizons of her world are slowly and surely widening.

You’ve been hosting “Music Bank” on KBS 2TV for over eight months now. [Note: This interview took place on June 5.]
MINJU: It took me three or four months to really settle in. I was nervous at first since I’m not naturally comfortable meeting new people or hosting things, so I was just doing what I was told like a robot. I also tend to talk pretty fast, and I felt like my enunciation wasn’t great, so I took lessons with an announcer to work on it. I even recorded myself and played it back with my tutor at first, and even now, whenever I get the script, I practice reading it over and over the day before.

You’re also hosting the YouTube variety show “Minju’s Pink Cabinet.” I’m guessing that show requires you to take the lead in conversation more than “Music Bank” does.
MINJU: The flow of that show’s decided in advance, but I still have to lead things on my own, so it’s harder than “Music Bank” in some ways. I used to panic, like, “How do people even react in a situation like this?” But overall I’ve gotten way better at interacting. If I hit upon something we have in common, it becomes easier to relate and react naturally to. It’s like I’ve developed a kind of instinct where I can go, “I know what question to ask right now.” I was so shy at first that I couldn’t even start conversations with people I didn’t know that well. For example, I’d want to tell them how well it went, but even that was a challenge. Now I feel like I’ve gotten better at saying things like that. (laughs)

You were really natural in the episode of the GgonDaehee series “Let’s Eat” you appeared in. Are you getting more comfortable with variety shows?
MINJU: That was such an unforgettable shoot. Kim Dae-hee was so nice to me before we got on camera. He made me feel at ease right up until we started, and then as soon as the camera started rolling, he instantly transformed into his GgonDaehee character. I was laughing for real. (laughs) There was gukbap, which I love to eat, and he treated me so kindly, I felt comfortable enough to just be myself entirely. I think I’m most at ease just being open and laid-back the way I am.

People have described you on both your YouTube videos and variety shows alternately as having “crazy eyes” or “no sparkle” in your eyes at all.
MINJU: Anytime I find something interesting or fun, my eyes light right up, but if I don’t, I usually take that time to just recharge my energy. Oh, but my eyes sparkle when I see GLLIT, obviously. (laughs) And I feel great anytime there’s good food. Also, when it’s a hobby I really enjoy, like “League of Legends,” or when we’re telling scary stories. (laughs)

We’ve seen how passionate you are about “League” in your YouTube videos, and you even shot a video with pro gamer ShowMaker.
MINJU: I’ve always loved “League,” but thanks to being in ILLIT, I’ve had chances to film videos, meet ShowMaker, and even watch matches in person, and I’m really grateful for that. When I actually play it myself, I get nervous and worry about losing. (laughs) But it’s less stressful watching others play, and it’s really fun to watch how good the pros are.

You started playing “League” thanks to your older brother, right?
MINJU: You know how when you’re a kid you want to do whatever your older siblings do? My brother was gaming in his room, and it just looked infinitely cool and fun to me. I asked him to teach me, and he was actually really nice about it. (laughs) That’s how it all started. At first, I wasn’t that good, but when I was a kid, I had this mindset where I had to finish anything I started. Back in the day, when I was super into the game, I’d be like, “I have to win,” and I’d keep playing nonstop, but now, whether I win or lose, I usually stop after one or two matches.

I saw in one of your vlogs that your brother was sweet enough to share some of his ramyeon with you. He seems like a sweet older brother. (laughs)
MINJU: My brother’s almost weirdly sweet. He tries to do everything for me. That bit with the ramyeon in the vlog was just for fun because it was on camera, but honestly, if I asked him to make me some, he’d do it without question. Even now, when I go home to my family, he jokes around, like, “You’re here again?” but he actually worries about me a lot and nags me to take care of my health sometimes. He doesn’t really mention me to other people, so most of his friends don’t even know I’m in ILLIT. His best friend does, though, and I heard one time that friend told him, “MINJU’s so pretty—what happened to you?” And one day, when the friend saw me on TV, he said he saw my brother’s face in mine and got so annoyed about it. He was like, “I guess you really are related.” (laughs)

Even though your brother doesn’t spread it around, there must be moments where people recognize you, like when you’re performing at university festivals or just out and about.
MINJU: I’ve never seen myself as someone who’s well known, so it still feels surreal when people recognize me. It’s like the person onstage and the everyday me are two completely different people. Even I get confused sometimes. (laughs) When I step out with hair and makeup done, I think, “Okay, I’m MINJU from ILLIT.” But when people recognize me even when I’m dressed casually with a mask on, it still feels a little strange. Our new album is about transforming from an ordinary girl into a magical girl, so I really relate to the concept. It’s like I’m transforming into part of ILLIT instead.

That magical girl theme comes across in so many different, vibrant ways on your new album, “bomb.”
MINJU: I know getting too excited can lead to disappointment, but I can’t help but feel thrilled. I mean, our new songs are amazing, and I feel confident because of that. I’m really hoping GLLIT will like them, too, since I do. The first time I listened to the lead single, “Billyeoon Goyangi (Do the Dance),” when the intro ended and the song fully kicked in, I got chills—like when I first heard the part in “Magnetic” that goes “wait a minute.” But recording it wasn’t easy at all. I remember working so hard on it because of the emotions and all the little details, like how to end certain notes, being so tricky. (laughs)

The choreography for “Billyeoon Goyangi (Do the Dance)” looks pretty challenging, with a mix of hand gestures, facial expressions, and complicated moves.
MINJU: I ended up being the one who kicks off the song, and I kept thinking, “I hope anyone watching this doesn’t switch the channel.” So I knew I really had to nail the moves and expressions. There’s so many cute lines in the song, like “but why am I awkward” and “c’mon heart, cut it out,” so I tried to throw in some quirky, curious facial expressions to match ILLIT’s vibe. The choreography also has so many details to focus on—so many things to keep straight—so it took me a long time to really nail down. But because it’s so tricky, the choreography ends up looking beautiful, and when I really nail it, I feel like it must look really cool.

How do you typically approach practicing for something like that? Are you more of a calculating problem-solver, or do you dive straight in and let your body feel it out?
MINJU: I don’t think I’m a naturally amazing dancer, honestly. For example, since I started doing a lot of dance challenges because of “Music Bank,” I have to practice over and over until I feel completely comfortable, even for short things like that. Once I can finally get all the way through it without any mistakes, I go through it at least 10 more times until I feel completely confident. On the other hand, when it comes to singing, I just go for it, whether it’s during practice or to blow off some stress. But if there’s a song I really want to master or post somewhere, I’ll make sure to practice it thoroughly.

Your vocals have always had a unique color to them, but it feels like your individual character is becoming even more distinct.
MINJU: I think taking my natural tone and just giving it a little bit more of a “pretty” sound makes it fit in well with ILLIT’s style. I feel like I’m slowly finding my own sound as I experiment, like, “Oh, this works well with ILLIT’s music,” or, “Wow, this style really suits me, too.” My singing isn’t really about hitting super high notes, though. I’ve been working extra hard on those higher registers, though. I want to work on widening my horizons and show GLLIT even more variety. (laughs)

Personally, I found the intro to “little monster” really striking. It felt like your vocal color really came through.
MINJU: I loved “little monster” from the moment I first heard the demo. When I first read the lyrics, I was like, “What’s this song even about?” But once I understood it, I realized it was such a sad song. The lyrics talk metaphorically about dealing with stress or hardship by eating it all up. It’s kind of like how everybody craves something really tasty when they’re having a hard time. Once I really got that, the repeated “I don’t wanna know” line felt so layered and heartbreaking.

What about when you’re faced with those kinds of situations? How do you usually handle them? Some people choose to swallow the stress, and some people just pretend not to notice it at all.
MINJU: I’m really good at pretending not to notice when things are tough for me. (laughs) Everyone deals with stress, but for me, sometimes it’s just better to act like it’s not there. But if it’s something like practicing, I can’t pretend like it’s not there. (laughs) My job is all about showing people what I’ve got, and I can’t let anyone down. For that, I just keep pushing until I get it right. That’s one situation where I can’t simply avoid it.

I was so surprised during your Weverse LIVE when you said you kind of miss the feeling of monthly evaluations. (laughs) How did you deal with a life full of constant practice back then?
MINJU: I still practice a lot, even now, and when I get onstage feeling confident, it makes me so happy. I get nervous if there’s any part I’m unsure about, but as long as I’ve practiced enough, I can properly enjoy it. It’s not quite the same thing, but with monthly evaluations, there was always this fire inside me, like, “Look how good I am at this.” (laughs) Of course, there were times where I got feedback saying I didn’t do so well, but when I nailed something, the thrill was amazing. Since I was so used to that training schedule back when I was a trainee, it actually helps me now in my career. I’ve gotten better at figuring out, “Okay, this is what I need to work on more.”

Have you gotten used to working with the other ILLIT members to solidify your performances? I was curious if being the only type T in the group leads to any differences in communication.
MINJU: Our performance director once said, “If you want to do better, you need to be honest when things don’t click.” And because we all want to do a good job and show our best work, we speak openly without a second thought. Actually, all my friends are either ISTJ or ISTP like me. (laughs) Being around those kinds of people and then being with the other ILLIT members taught me I need to put more thought into how I say things. What feels like a totally normal thing to say to me might come off as cold to someone else. I think I’ve learned how to say things in a softer way, and I really like that. Everyone in the group is so sweet and pure, I just want to take care of them and be good to them. YUNAH and MOKA are so much fun, and the “babies”—the younger members—are so cute even though we’re not that far apart in age. So now I’m way more used to expressing myself that way. Funnily enough, when I meet my old friends, they ask me why I talk the way I do now. They’re like, “Just talk like you used to.” (laughs)

It sounds like ILLIT is changing you a little bit here and there. (laughs)
MINJU: Oh! There’s another way I’ve changed since joining ILLIT. (laughs) My tastes have gotten cuter. I used to go for a hip vibe with lots of black, but suddenly I find myself drawn to lacy tops. My mom called me a little while back when I happened to have been wearing a pink tank top on Weverse LIVE. She sounded so serious: “MINJU, your taste has really changed, hasn’t it?” It’s the same for YUNAH. She recently bought a pouch with wings on it. We were saying, “Did we go overboard?” (laughs)

Your changes in taste and aesthetic are especially noticeable because you’ve been doing a lot of Weverse LIVEs lately.
MINJU: I’m still a little awkward with it sometimes, but since GLLIT enjoys it, I try to go live as often as I can. I used to want to look flawless at all times, but now I want to show off my natural side, too. It’s fun because it feels like I’m hanging out with GLLIT or having a video call with them. Talking to strangers is really hard for me, but talking with GLLIT is something I absolutely love.

You seem more than happy to indulge GLLIT with all the funny random comments they write. (laughs)
MINJU: I’m always reading the comments GLLIT leaves, and when I think back to the things that got a great reaction, it makes me go, “Oh, so that’s what they like. I’ll have to do that again next time.” When they have a really positive reaction, it makes me so happy. Honestly, I just want to play games like sugeon dolligi with GLLIT and get closer with them. (laughs) I try to do everything I can to the best of my ability. And whatever I do for GLLIT, it’s always straight from the heart. Honestly, I love everything about them. Seriously.

You also have no hesitation showing how much you care about them.
MINJU: It’s hard to put into words, but there’s this indescribable feeling I get from their unconditional love. Because love isn’t something you should take for granted. It’s amazing, and I’m so grateful for it. Even though I don’t know everything about each fan, it’s a mix of all those emotions, including being amazed at the sheer scale of my own love for them. I read everything—their posts, their Weverse DMs to me, their fan letters. Hearing things like, “I’ll always support you, no matter what,” is truly a big help. It just feels reassuring, you know? Like, “I have these people in my corner. No matter what happens, I can do anything—because I have them.”

It must also fill you with the strength to keep moving ahead every single day.
MINJU: Back when I was a trainee, I thought, if I ever got to debut, being an idol wouldn’t be very easy. But thanks to GLLIT, even when things are tough, I’ve come to realize how happy doing all this makes me and that it lets me spread the joy around. Every single moment of every single day feels so precious—like not one second is wasted. I’ll never get to experience this again, so I’m trying to take it all in so I can remember it forever. I’m incredibly grateful that I get to do what I do. For “2025 ILLIT GLITTER DAY IN SEOUL,” we don’t care if it’s hard on us—we just want GLLIT to be the happiest they’ve ever been. Because no matter what, I know I’ll be happy. (laughs)