Following ILLIT’s meteoric rise with hits like “Magnetic”, “Cherish”, and “Tick-Tack”, fans have begun to notice a pattern. All three tracks lean heavily into repetition, using catchy phrases and repeated syllables to lock in listener attention. It’s a formula that works. Their songs have gone viral across TikTok and Instagram Reels, helping the group stand out in the fast-paced digital music landscape. Still, not everyone is on board.
literally all i’ve seen them do is just repeat the same couple words 50 times and then hope it’ll catch on https://t.co/4ycHzvmBwf
— km (@sanaluvxr) June 15, 2025
Some listeners admitted mixed feelings. While many praised the track’s previews, they felt let down by the final chorus, saying the repeated parts lacked staying power. Others were quick to defend the style.
And thats bad because..? Literally apt did that and I dont see you complaining
— Tsuru!? (@loona_un55897) June 15, 2025
This isn’t a new conversation in the kpop space. Repetitive hooks have been a staple of the genre for years. TWICE’s “Likey”, SHINee’s “Ring Ding Dong”, BTS’s “Blood, Sweat, & Tears”, and BLACKPINK’s “DDU-DU DDU-DU” all used this technique to great effect.
Fans call it “kpop doing kpop things,” a tongue-in-cheek way to describe the genre’s unique and often playful musical quirks. For many, the repetition is part of the charm. A fan described the trend more whimsically:
propaganda i am falling for: listening to a cute song with repeating words written for children and pretty girls, to which the artists perform in girly outfits🩷 i’m a pretty girl so i GET it. and if you do NOT then that’s your problem!
pic.twitter.com/QEdv7te2QM— magical girl naki ✷ (@sujungtory) June 16, 2025
Whether fans love it or loathe it, the repetitive hook trend isn’t going anywhere. In an era shaped by short-form video, easy-to-mimic choruses and bite-sized hooks give songs a better shot at virality. And for a rookie group like ILLIT, that might be exactly the point.
As Do the Dance gains traction online, so too does the debate over whether this musical strategy is clever, lazy, or simply part of the kpop DNA.
If you’re looking for more songs with catchy, repetitive hooks, Twitter user @momolandist has put together a great thread:
*repetitive* kpop songs for all the new gens: a thread pic.twitter.com/Df1x3HGYQe
— r ● (@momolandist) June 16, 2025
