잔상 (jansang) literally translates to "afterimage" or "residual image". It's a fascinating word that perfectly captures the song's theme of fleeting visions and lingering memories.
In the lyrics, I.N sings, "눈앞에 펼쳐졌던 그 환상은 잔상으로 남아 날 괴롭히나 봐" (The hallucination that unfolded before my eyes remains as an afterimage, tormenting me). This word beautifully conveys the idea of something seen briefly but continuing to affect you, making it a powerful and memorable choice for this song about hallucinations and illusions.
Step into a dream you cannot quite touch. In "HALLUCINATION," Stray Kids’ I.N whisks us into a private, neon-lit room where reality blurs the moment his crush appears. One second she is whispering in his ear, flooding him with euphoria and turning the world into a personal utopia; the next, she vanishes like smoke. The singer is left chasing after glowing after-images, heart pounding “like drums,” half-dazed and wondering if any of it was ever real.
That dizzy push-and-pull is the core of the song. I.N paints love as an addictive mirage that excites, confuses, and hurts all at once. He begs the phantom girl to “come in” and prove their moment was “not a lie,” even while acknowledging that she might only exist in his imagination. The track captures the thrill of infatuation—how someone can feel like your own fantastical wonderland—alongside the frustration of watching that magic dissolve before your eyes. It is a hypnotic mix of longing and adrenaline, perfect for anyone who has ever chased a feeling that felt too vivid to be a dream.