I.O.I is reported to be having a reunion after four years since their disbandment in January 2017. According to reports, the project girl group will be celebrating their fifth anniversary of debut through a live broadcast.
I.O.I Reportedly Having a Reunion after Four Years of Disbandment to Celebrate 5th Debut Anniversary
According to an exclusive report from Sports Kyunghyang on April 13, all 11 members of I.O.I will be reuniting in celebration of their fifth anniversary of debut. The girl group is said to be holding a live broadcast through KT's Seezn to greet their fans as full group after a long time.
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An official from the music industry told Sports Kyunghyang, "I.O.I will be meeting as a full group to prepare the celebration of their fifth debut anniversary. On May 4, which is their debut date, they will greet the fans through a livestream."
The Korean media outlet added that the all members of I.O.I gathered at a certain location to talk about the broadcast. The upcoming event is said to be the fulfillment of the girl group's promise to the fans which they said while they were promoting their last album "Miss Me?" in October 2016.
At that time, I.O.I promised to reunite with all the members five years later through a broadcast.
In a second report from Newsen, the media outlet said that not all I.O.I members will participate in the celebration of their fifth debut anniversary. An insider told Newsen that Kyulkyung is currently carrying out activities in China, and Mina already has a planned schedule for that day, hence, they will most likely be absent in the live broadcast.
Back in 2019, reports stated that I.O.I will reunite, which Studio Blu later confirmed to be true. The company stated that the girl group would return in October of the same year with only nine members, as Yeonjung and Somi already had scheduled activities.
READ MORE: I.O.I's Representatives Respond to Comments Regarding Comeback Delay
In September, I.O.I's comeback was delayed to December. Then, in the following month, the group's return was officially canceled due to the conflicts in schedules between the members, plus the ongoing investigation on Mnet vote manipulation.
I.O.I's Debut and Disbandment
I.O.I is a project girl group formed through Mnet's survival show called "Produce 101" (Season 1). Out of the 101 trainees, only 11 contestants were given the chance to debut in the K-pop industry. These participants are Lim Nayoung, Jeon Somi, Kim Sejeong, Kim Sohye, Choi Yoojung, Kim Chungha, Jung Chaeyeon, Yoo Yeonjung, Kang Mina, Kim Doyeon, and Zhou Jieqiong or Kyulkyung.
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I.O.I made their debut on May 4, 2016 with an extended play titled "Chrysalis," which features the title track "Dream Girls." Since then, the girl group promoted as a full group and as a sub-unit for less than a year.
The first I.O.I subunit is composed of Chungha, Nayoung, Sohye, Yoojung, Kyulkyung, Somi, and Doyeon. They released the song "Whatta Man" in August 2016. The choreography for the track was created by Chungha.
Throughout their career, I.O.I was well-loved by fans. The project girl even gained more popularity after they released the song "Very Very Very," which serves as the title track of the EP "Miss Me?" I.O.I earned their first music show win with this single.
I.O.I disbanded on Jan. 31, 2017 following the members' contract expiration. Prior to that, they released their final track on Jan. 17, titled "Downpour," written and co-produced by SEVENTEEN Woozi. They held their last concert, "Time Slip - I.O.I" from Jan. 20 to 22.
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Written by Mhaliya Scott
