Rookie girl group Lapillus held its debut showcase at Shinhan Play Square in western Seoul’s Hapjeong on Monday.

“The word ’Lapillus’ means a gemstone that changes colors depending on the direction of the light,” said member Seowon. “Our catchphrase ‘Shine your Lapillus’ conveys the message that we should all find our own unique dreams.”

“Show it off,” another catchphrase that the members shout in unison before introducing themselves, shows “our determination to show off all our charms on the stage,” said the group’s leader Shana.

The latest K-pop act from MLD Entertainment, the agency behind girl group Momoland and boy band T1419, Lapillus consists of six members: Shana, Haeun, Seowon, Yue, Bessie and Chanty.

Shana, a Japanese member whose real name is Nonaka Shana, is familiar to K-pop fans as a contestant on Mnet’s audition show “Girls Planet 999” (2021).” Chanty, whose real name is Chantal Videla, is a Filipina-Argentinian singer and actor. Yue, whose real name is Nancy Yang, is Chinese-American, and the other members are Korean.

“I’m so nervous right now, but I’m also happy because I dreamed of my first stage for so long,” said Shana, the group’s leader.

The group performed its debut song “Hit Ya!” The vigorous dance number has a catchy guitar hook and is filled with powerful percussion throughout the track. The members, who received vocal training from veteran singer Lee Seung-chul, showed off their rap and vocal skills.

Haeun, just 13 years old, became the youngest singer in the current K-pop idol scene. Chanty, born to a Filipino mother and an Argentinian father, is the first-ever K-pop idol of Argentinian descent and one of very few Filipina K-pop stars.

“K-pop is popular in Argentina and I am so thankful that I am receiving a lot of support from Argentinian fans,” said Chanty.

“Since we are a very multi-national group, we hope we can one day perform in each member’s home country,” said Bessie.

Lapillus’s first digital single “Hit Ya!” and its music video will drop on Monday at 6 p.m.

BY HALEY YANG [yang.hyunjoo@joongang.co.kr]