I.O.I to Celebrate 10th Anniversary with Major Reunion and New Music

Fans of early modern K-pop have a major reason to celebrate. The legendary project group I.O.I has officially confirmed they will return to the stage this spring to mark a decade since their debut.

Quick Summary

• I.O.I is reuniting for their 10th anniversary this May with a brand-new album.
• Nine of the original eleven members will participate in the reunion project.
• The group plans to hold a concert in Seoul followed by a tour across Asia to meet international fans.

What Happened

On February 23, SWING Entertainment announced that I.O.I has confirmed a reunion scheduled for this coming May. The agency stated that they will take full charge of the group's management during this special 10th-anniversary project. The members are currently in the middle of preparing a new album, marking their first musical release together in years.

While the news has brought immense excitement, the group will not be at full strength. Out of the original eleven members, nine will be participating: Jeon Somi, Kim Se Jeong, Choi Yoojung, Chungha, Kim So Hye, Jung Chaeyeon, Kim Doyeon, Lim Nayoung, and Yeonjung. Members Kang Mina and Zhou Jie Qiong are unfortunately unable to join this specific project due to unavoidable scheduling conflicts that were arranged prior to the reunion talks.

Who Is Who: The Legacy of I.O.I

For those new to the scene, I.O.I (Ideal of Idols) was a temporary "project group" formed in 2016 through the highly popular reality competition show Produce 101. The members were chosen by public vote from various different entertainment companies to promote together for a limited time.

Despite only being active for about eight months before their official disbandment in January 2017, I.O.I became a cultural phenomenon in South Korea. After the group parted ways, the members went on to achieve massive success as solo artists, members of other groups, and acclaimed actresses.

Why This Matters in K-pop

In the K-pop industry, temporary project groups are very common, but official reunions after disbandment are rare and difficult to coordinate. Because the members belong to different management agencies, aligning their schedules for a group album and tour is a massive logistical challenge.

This reunion is significant because it proves the lasting impact of the "survival show" format. It also sets a hopeful precedent for other beloved temporary groups, showing that a disbandment doesn't necessarily mean the end of a group's story. For the industry, this is a high-profile example of how nostalgia can be used to bridge the gap between different generations of fans.