Minju ILLIT Stuns at the 2025 LCK Finals

Minju of ILLIT amazed fans at the 2025 LCK Finals.
Her Katarina-themed stage linked K-pop and gaming.
“Bite Marks” and “Here, Tomorrow” stole the spotlight.

The 2025 League of Legends Champions Korea (LCK) Finals in Incheon became a grand celebration for millions of League of Legends fans worldwide. Broadcast live from Inspire Arena, the event not only crowned a new champion but also delivered a major surprise to the esports community. Park Minju, the young singer from girl group ILLIT, opened the show with a dramatic transformation into Katarina, one of the game’s most iconic champions.

As a longtime LoL fan, Minju shared that performing at an event she loves felt like a dream come true. She prepared wholeheartedly and hoped her energy could inspire the competing players. Her presence went beyond simple entertainment, symbolizing the deep connection between music, pop culture, and competitive gaming.

A Hypnotic Performance & Fans’ Reactions

Under dazzling lights and the cheers of 10,000 fans, Minju entered the arena fully dressed as Katarina. She performed two 2025 League of Legends theme songs: “Bite Marks” and “Here, Tomorrow.”

The first track comes from the record-breaking 2025 Noxus cinematic, which hit 168 million views in just five days and featured characters like Mel Medarda, Katarina, and Elise. Produced by the renowned animation studio Fortiche, the cinematic serves as an epilogue to the Arcane series and sparked major discussion among fans for introducing new characters.

The second track, “Here, Tomorrow,” is part of the Spirit Blossom: Beyond event. Anime composer Kevin Penkin created its melancholic arrangement, with vocals by Lilas Ikuta of the J-pop duo YOASOBI. Together with THE LINE studio, they built a cinematic telling a story about the bond between humans and spirits, blending hope and sorrow through music and stunning visuals.

This collaboration turned the 2025 LCK opening into one of the most breathtaking performances yet. The arena erupted when Minju swung her blade to the heavy bass of “Bite Marks.” As the music transitioned to “Here, Tomorrow,” her delicate vocals combined with neon lighting and LED fans to create a mystical atmosphere. Many attendees praised the use of AR and LED projections, which made it feel like the stage had transformed into Summoner’s Rift.

Minju herself expressed how thrilled she was to sing songs from a game she has played for years, hoping her performance would boost the morale of the finalists.

Fan reactions exploded across social media. Here are some of the standout comments on X (Twitter):

“PARK MINJU PERFORMED BITE MARKS FOR THE LCK OPENING, SHE’S INSANE, YOUR WOMAN IS PARK MINJU 😭”

“For the League community to agree, this performance must be a 10/10.”

“OMG, I didn’t hear them say her name, but I’m sure that was her.”

“Why pick a rookie? HYBE needs to stop.”

“Because she’s a real LoL player; Katarina is her main.”

The original X thread can be linked for readers who want to follow the debate firsthand.

Minju also caught the attention of esports figures. League of Legends streamer and analyst Marc “Caedrel” Lamont praised ILLIT’s hit song “Magnetic” and called Minju a “Katarina one trick, respect!” during a live broadcast, proving how her performance bridged the gap between gamers and K-pop fans.

From Gamer to Stage Star

Minju’s rise did not happen overnight. Born in 2004, she trained for years before debuting with ILLIT in 2024. Their debut song “Magnetic” shattered streaming records, but Minju has stayed true to her gaming passion.

In interviews, she revealed she started playing League of Legends in elementary school and has been loyal to Katarina ever since. Despite her busy idol schedule, she has earned about 700,000 mastery points with the assassin and reached Platinum rank, an impressive feat on the highly competitive Korean server. She originally picked Katarina simply because she was “pretty,” but she has since become known as a skilled one-trick player. Community sites like HUPU have even listed her among the game’s notable players.

Her dedication showed when she invited her fellow ILLIT members to play LoL on a web reality show. She selected champions for her teammates and led a chaotic yet fun match while showing off her Katarina skills. Her strategic mindset also earned her an invite to the 2025 LCK Spring opening match between Hanwha Life and Gen.G, where her presence went viral on social media. Afterward, Minju shared that attending an LCK match in person had been her dream, and the emotional experience made her want to return.

Beyond gaming, ILLIT continues to strengthen their music career. After “Magnetic,” the group released their Japanese single “Toki Yo Tomare (Time Stop),” which topped the Oricon Daily Singles Chart for two consecutive days.

Belift Lab announced the 2025 ILLIT Glitter Day Encore concert for November 8–9, 2025, at Olympic Hall in Seoul to thank fans. Pre-sale tickets sold out quickly, including limited-view seats in Japan. ILLIT is also set to perform at the Mynavi Tokyo Girls Collection in Saitama on September 6. Minju’s LCK appearance has opened new opportunities to promote the concert, with many fans requesting gaming-themed elements be added to the show.

Minju’s journey from gamer to stage star proves how thin the line between pop music and esports has become. The success of “Bite Marks” and “Here, Tomorrow” shows that League of Legends cinematics are more than just game teasers; they are cultural works inspiring cross-industry collaboration.

Meanwhile, Minju continues building her identity as both an idol and a gamer. Her devotion to Katarina inspires fans to embrace their passions while pursuing professional dreams. With the “Glitter Day Encore” concert and potential future collaborations, Minju and ILLIT seem ready to lead a new wave where concert stages, esports arenas, and social media seamlessly merge.

Sources: Inspire Arena Incheon (LCK 2025 Opening Ceremony), Marc “Caedrel” Lamont live broadcast, Belift Lab press release, Oricon Daily Singles Chart, Allkpop, Esports.gg