Where is Former IOI, PRISTIN Kyulkyung Now? Current Status of 'Wee Woo' Singer
Kyulkyung's journey with I.O.I and PRISTIN has been memorable for fans, but when the two groups disbanded, they've been left wondering about the former idol's status.
Read more to know about Kyulkyung's current activities!
Discovering Kyulkyung: Her Journey from Trainee to IOI, PRSITIN Sensation
Zhou Ji Qiong, or famously known as Kyulkyung, was born on December 16, 1998. The idol-actress became exposed in the music industry in 2016, when she joined Mnet's survival program "Produce 101."
She was accompanied by five trainees from PLEDIS Entertainment, the agency she trained under on. Kyulkyung also made it on the show's final lineup of I.O.I, together with former bandmate Nayoung, placing at the sixth and tenth places, respectively.
I.O.I quickly gained traction in domestic areas, with them being loved for releasing hits such as "Very Very Very," "Downpour," "Hand in Hand" and many more. Since I.O.I was a project girl group, they only had limited contracts, and eventually disbanded on January 29, 2017.
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Kyulkyung got included in PLEDIS Entertainment's ten-membered group PRISTIN, with fellow I.O.I member Nayoung. On September 6, 2018, Kyulkyung finally made her Chinese solo debut with "Why," which she promoted exclusively in China.
However, on May 24, 2019, PLEDIS officially announced that PRISTIN would be ending their group activities after almost two years of inactivity. This was trailed by Kyulkyung's legal battle with PLEDIS Entertainment regarding her exclusive contract.
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On February 19, PLEDIS filed a lawsuit against Kyulkyung for breaching her contract. According to the statement, the PRISTIN member sent a contract termination notice to PLEDIS and her agency XCSS Entertainment, both of which found her claims to be groundless.
Kyulkyung then confirmed this through an open letter, where she acknowledged the situation and clarified the matter. Later in 2020, Kyulkyung would debut as an actress.
On May 4, 2021, I.O.I surprised fans with a reunion to celebrate their fifth anniversary. Kyulkyung wasn't able to attend the offline event, but she made her appearance through video call.
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Furthermore, Kyulkyung has also established her own company called Zhou Jie Quong Studio. With Kyulkyung having moved on from the idol industry, she decided to take on the acting field.
Where is Kyulkyung Now? Here's What We Know So Far
After her ventures with I.O.I and PRISTIN, Kyulkyung has centered all her energy into acting.
Under her real name Zhou Ji Qiong, the idol-turned-actress has appeared on Chinese dramas such as "Miss Truth" (2020), "Legend of Fei" (2020), "To Be With You" (2021), and "Be My Princess" (2022).
Kyulkyung also has an upcoming Chinese drama titled "A Forbidden Marriage," which is currently in progress. With an established fanbase on both Korea and China, Kyulkyung's future appearances on the screen would surely make buzz online due to her passion for acting!
You can also follow Kyulkyung on her official Instagram account, where she posts updates!
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