ITZY, QWER, KISS OF LIFE, and IZNA Make Simultaneous Comebacks on June 9, Igniting a Summer Girl Group Battle

June, as the season transitions into summer, sees a surge in girl group comebacks. On June 9 in particular, four groups—ITZY, QWER, KISS OF LIFE, and IZNA—have confirmed simultaneous returns, set to heat up the music industry from the early stages of summer. A music industry insider noted, “Due to adjustments made to comeback schedules considering the early presidential election on the 3rd, June’s comeback calendar has become increasingly packed,” adding that “the competition will intensify as more girl groups choose to debut in summer.”

ITZY is returning with its new mini-album *Girls Will Be Girls*. This marks their first release in about 8 months since their mini-album *Gold* launched in October last year. It follows Yeji’s solo debut, marking her return to the group. The title track, “Girls Will Be Girls,” is a dance song featuring dynamic beats and powerful vocal harmonies, drawing attention to the dazzling performances that ITZY, known as K-pop’s premier performance queens, are set to deliver. The album includes the title track along with five other songs: “Kiss & Tell,” “Locked N Loaded,” “Promise,” and “Walk.”

QWER is returning with its third mini-album *I’m on Your Side, Even If the Whole World Is Against Us*. This is their first release in about 9 months since their second mini-album *Algorithm’s Blossom* came out in September last year. Debuting in October 2023, QWER gained popularity with its fresh and energetic band sounds, with “Gominjungdok” topping YouTube’s list of the most popular Korean songs of 2024. This album features the title track “Nunmulchamgi” along with six additional tracks: “Happiness,” “Search Term is QWER,” “OVERDRIVE,” “D-Day,” and “Yours Sincerely.” All members are credited on every song.

KISS OF LIFE is returning with its fourth mini-album *224*. This is their first release in about 8 months since their third mini-album *Lose Yourself* was issued in October. Debuting in July 2023, KISS OF LIFE captured hearts with its trendy and stylish music. However, this album does not feature Lee Hae-in, the creative director who has handled the group’s album concepts and visual direction since their debut, as he left their agency S2 after working on their third album. Through this new release, KISS OF LIFE aims for a more sentimental mood, experimenting with various genres such as R&B hip-hop, Afro beats, pop, lo-fi jazz, disco, and ballads. The album includes seven tracks: “Lips Hips Kiss” as the title track, along with “Tell Me,” “k bye,” “Painting,” “Slide,” “Heart of Gold,” and “Think Twice.” Natty contributed to the lyrics for “Tell Me” and “Painting,” while Julie wrote the lyrics for “Heart of Gold.”

IZNA is releasing its new single “BEEP” on June 9. This comeback comes just 2 months after their first digital single “SIGN” was released in April, with both a Korean version of “BEEP” and IZNA’s first Japanese version, “BEEP (Japan Edition),” being issued simultaneously. After achieving first place on a music show 142 days after releasing “SIGN,” IZNA established itself through its unique teenage charm and fulfilled expectations as Teddy’s girl group under his overall production.

Despite both QWER and KISS OF LIFE belonging to smaller agencies, they have built strong fanbases thanks to their distinct concepts. By confirming returns on the same day, a fierce competition between these two groups has become inevitable. QWER is a band formed through the “Favorite Idol” project, featuring members Chodan, Magenta, and Hina, who were former internet streamers, along with Siyeon, who had idol experience in Japan—making it an “unexpected combination.” In contrast, KISS OF LIFE has maintained a consistent Y2K concept and has grown into a “world star” through concert tours in 10 Asian cities, including Manila, Bangkok, and Osaka.