When I first heard of HITGS (short for Hip, Innocent, Teenager, Girls, and Story), I didn’t know what to expect, but the name speaks for itself. This rising K-pop group, made up of five talented young girls, debuted in late April 2025. Yet, by August, they had already released three songs and added more chapters to their “HITG-Story.”
We sat down with the members, VV, Seojin, Seohee, Hyerin, and Iyoo, after their first American performance and showcase. Each girl brought her own charm and charisma to the table, and despite being rookies, they were brimming with excitement to talk about KCON 2025.
There, they not only performed at the pre-show and on multiple convention stages, but were also featured prominently throughout the venue as the faces of KCON’s K-Collection, which spotlighted K-beauty, fashion, and more.
This was a huge introduction to American audiences, and the scale of their first U.S. showcase matched the impact they bring to the stage: smaller in numbers compared to the rest, but ever so powerful in their stage presence.
So far, their release, each already reaching millions of views on YouTube, ‘SOURPATCH,’ ‘Gross,’ and ‘CHARIZZMA,’ have embraced bright, feel-good sounds paired with catchy choreography, perfectly complementing their undeniable stage presence. Seeing them perform live made their talent impossible to ignore!
After their KCON pre-show performance, with showcases happening all around the convention, HITGS had already proven their “CHARIZZMA.”
The Knockturnal was thrilled to sit down with them and hear more about their experiences, from stepping onto U.S. stages for the first time, to soaking in the Los Angeles atmosphere to reflecting on fan reactions and their own growth.
What we found was a group full of dancing powerhouses, bubbly personalities, and the kind of potential that makes you excited to follow their journey from the very start.
The Knockturnal: Hello, it’s so nice to meet you girls! Congratulations on your very first KCON. I saw you at the pre-show yesterday and you killed it! How did it feel performing in the U.S. for the very first time as a group? What was that experience like, and what were you most looking forward to?
HITGS: We were so excited to be here, meeting our fans for the first time. We were really looking forward to this concert, and being on that big stage was overwhelming but also really exciting. We had so much fun performing!
The Knockturnal: Not only were you on the concert stage, but I’ve also been seeing your faces all over the convention, for K-Collection and many other things! From your X Stage performance to the partnerships with KCON, you’re everywhere. How does it feel seeing yourselves all around the convention center?
HITGS: We’re very appreciative of the big stage at KCON, but also seeing our photos everywhere was so fun and big for us. It was exciting to think that everyone walking around could see our faces too; it felt special.
The Knockturnal: Your story has been impactful and exciting so far! Since your debut in late April, you’ve already had two comebacks, with three songs out, “Gross” and “CHARIZZMA.” That’s a lot in such a short time. How has it felt promoting back-to-back like that?
HITGS: We actually have three songs so far, “SOURPATCH,” “Gross,” and “CHARIZZMA.” Each one has a different concept, so we’ve been really excited to see how fans react to every release. Even though it’s been such a short time since our debut, we’ve kept our energy high, and we’re always eager to see how we’re growing with each comeback.
The Knockturnal: Let’s talk about “CHARIZZMA.” That’s such a fun name, and you all look like you’re having a blast performing it. Can you tell me more about the song, its meaning, and what the performance represents?
Seojin: “CHARIZZMA” is about showing confidence in ourselves. Inside the word “charisma,” we wanted to focus on “risk,” which represents each member’s unique appeal. Through this song, we wanted to show both our confidence and our individual charms in different ways.
The Knockturnal: Speaking of charisma, how does each of you show your own charisma?
Seohee: I want to show my bright confidence and also my cuteness.
Iyoo: I’m the youngest, and even though I have a cute voice and image, I want to show powerful dancing and a strong aura.
VV: I want to show off my Barbie-like figure and a bright, cheerful side.
Seojin: I want to show two sides of myself, on stage, I want to capture everyone’s attention with powerful performances.
Hyerin: My charisma is about always leveling up and becoming a better performer each time.
The Knockturnal: I love that. Now, while you’re in Los Angeles, do you have any fun plans outside of KCON?
Seohee: As soon as we arrived, we went to Universal Studios, which was amazing! The vibe felt very LA, the weather was great and it was so fun. After today’s performance, we’re planning to go to The Grove, and we’re really excited to walk around and enjoy the vibe there.
The Knockturnal: The Grove is really nice, lots of good food! Maybe you’ll even try the farmers’ market or the famous Hailey Bieber smoothie at Erewhon.
HITGS: Yes, we’d love to! That sounds so fun.
The Knockturnal: My last question: what’s next in the HITGStory? We’re so excited to watch you continue to grow, but don’t forget to rest too!
Hyerin: In the future, we want to keep showing our own colors on stage and appealing to fans in new ways each time. We want to continue growing and we’re excited for our fans to join us on this journey.
This is only the beginning of the HITG-Story. With back-to-back releases and globally impactful performances on the horizon, these talented, eager, and kindhearted girls have an exciting journey ahead, one we can’t wait to keep following.
MORE OF HITGS:
INSTAGRAM | X | YOUTUBE | TIKTOK
