I.O.I
| Company type | Girl group |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Predecessor | Produce 101 |
| Founded | 2016 |
| Defunct | 2017 |
| Headquarters | South Korea |
Key people | Jeon So-mi, Kim Se-jeong, Choi Yoo-jung, Kim Chung-ha, Kim So-hye, Zhou Jieqiong, Jung Chae-yeon, Kim Do-yeon, Kang Mi-na, Lim Na-young, Yoo Yeon-jung |
| Products | Music albums and singles |
| Owner | CJ E&M (through Produce 101) |
I.O.I (; alternatively referred to as IOI or Ideal of Idol) was a South Korean girl group established by CJ E&M through the 2016 competitive reality program Produce 101 broadcast on Mnet. The ensemble comprised eleven members chosen from a pool of 101 trainees representing various entertainment agencies: Jeon So-mi, Kim Se-jeong, Choi Yoo-jung, Kim Chung-ha, Kim So-hye, Zhou Jieqiong, Jung Chae-yeon, Kim Do-yeon, Kang Mi-na, Lim Na-young, and Yoo Yeon-jung. Their debut occurred on May 4, 2016, with the EP Chrysalis, and they promoted both as a full group and in sub-units for less than one year.
The group's final collective event was their concert Time Slip – I.O.I, which took place from January 20 to 22, 2017. Following this, they disbanded at the end of January 2017, with members returning to their respective agencies.
Pre-debut: Produce 101 and "Crush"
In November 2015, Mnet premiered Produce 101, a survival competition featuring 101 trainees from 46 different entertainment companies vying for eleven spots in the final lineup. The show was broadcast from January 21 until April 1, 2016.
Several participants had prior experience in the industry: Kim Se-jeong appeared on K-pop Star 2 in 2012; Jeon So-mi took part in the reality series Sixteen in 2015; and Choi Yoo-jung acted in the web drama To Be Continued. Additionally, Jung Chae-yeon had debuted with the girl group DIA in September 2015 but temporarily withdrew to participate in Produce 101.
Originally, I.O.I was scheduled to debut on April 1, 2016, with the track "Crush," which was performed during the show's finale. However, YMC Entertainment and Mnet decided to delay the debut to further develop the concept and choreography, introducing a new debut single described as "Trapical Dutch Funk" ().
On April 3, 2016, the plan shifted from releasing a digital single to launching an EP containing multiple songs. The group also secured their own reality program on Mnet. On that same day, members connected with fans through their official Naver V app channel.
Debut with Chrysalis
I.O.I's official debut took place on May 4, 2016, with their initial album, Chrysalis, accompanied by a music video for the lead single "Dream Girls". This trap pop dance number was co-written by Eru and Paul, while rap verses were penned by members Lim Na-young and Choi Yoo-jung. On May 5, they made their debut stage on Mnet's M Countdown, performing both "Dream Girls" and "Knock Knock Knock". The group also held a debut showcase and fan meeting at Seoul's Jangchung Gymnasium.
"Whatta Man" and "Hand in Hand"
On June 10, 2016, YMC Entertainment revealed the lineup for I.O.I's sub-unit formed to promote their second summer album. The unit included Lim Na-young, Chungha, Zhou Jieqiong, Kim So-hye, Choi Yoo-jung, Kim Do-yeon, and Jeon So-mi. Meanwhile, Jung Chae-yeon resumed activities with her agency MBK Entertainment's group DIA. Kim Se-jeong and Kang Mi-na prepared for their debut with Jellyfish Entertainment's girl group Gugudan, and Yoo Yeon-jung participated in Starship Entertainment's girl group WJSN's second comeback.
The sub-unit launched the single "Whatta Man (Good Man)" on August 9, 2016. This track drew inspiration from Linda Lyndell's classic "What a Man" and was produced by Ryan S. Jhun, who had previously worked on I.O.I’s "Crush". Chungha took charge of choreographing the dance routines for the song.
Following that, on August 15, I.O.I released "Hand in Hand", a digital single that served as a remake of the original theme song for the Seoul 1988 Summer Olympics, initially performed by the band Koreana.
Miss Me?
I.O.I's extended play Miss Me? was released on October 17, 2016, featuring the lead single "Very Very Very". The track was written and produced by Park Jin-young, founder of Jeon So-mi's agency JYP Entertainment. Notably fast-paced at 206 beats per minute, it stands as one of Park’s most rapid compositions. The group hosted a special comeback broadcast titled I Miss You Very Very Very Much Show on Mnet a day earlier on October 16. The EP and its music video were unveiled at midnight.
With "Very Very Very," I.O.I secured their first music program win as a complete group on Show Champion dated October 26.
Final activities, farewell concert, and disbandment
YMC Entertainment announced on November 5, 2016, that I.O.I would officially disband on January 31, 2017. Until then, they continued promotions including appearances on variety programs such as Immortal Songs: Singing the Legend, Yang and Nam Show, and Knowing Bros. Their farewell concert titled Time Slip – I.O.I took place from January 20 to 22, 2017 at Jangchung Gymnasium.
It was disclosed on January 10, 2017, that several producers had submitted potential final tracks for I.O.I’s last release, including Jung Jin-young from B1A4. On January 17, YMC confirmed the final single would be "Downpour", a ballad written and co-produced by Woozi of Seventeen. The song featured all eleven members and was digitally released alongside a music video at midnight.
The group's final collective activity involved filming a commercial for the school uniform brand Elite with boy group Pentagon on January 25. I.O.I officially disbanded on January 29; their last television appearance was on MBC's Section TV, and their fan cafe closed on January 31. Despite no live broadcast during Lunar New Year celebrations, "Downpour" earned the final January 2017 trophy on Inkigayo.
Planned reunion
On July 1, 2019, Studio Blu announced plans for an October reunion featuring nine members—excluding Yoo Yeon-jung and Jeon So-mi. Although initially postponed to December, the comeback was ultimately canceled in late October due to scheduling conflicts amid the ongoing Mnet vote manipulation investigation. On May 4, 2021—the fifth anniversary of their debut—most members reunited via livestream except Mina and Jieqiong; Jieqiong participated through a video call.
Members
- Lim Na-young (임나영) – leader
- Kim Chung-ha (김청하)
- Kim Se-jeong (김세정)
- Jung Chae-yeon (정채연)
- Zhou Jieqiong (주결경)
- Kim So-hye (김소혜)
- Yoo Yeon-jung (유연정)
- Choi Yoo-jung (최유정)
- Kang Mi-na (강미나)
- Kim Do-yeon (김도연)
- Jeon So-mi (전소미)
Sub-unit
- I.O.I sub-unit – Nayoung, Chungha, Jieqiong, Sohye, Yoojung, Doyeon, Somi
Timeline
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Extended plays
| Title | Details | Peak chart positions | Sales | KOR | US World |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chrysalis |
|
4 | — |
| |
| Miss Me? |
|
2 | 11 |
|
Singles
| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Sales | Album | KOR Digital | KOR Physical | JPN Hot | US World |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| "Crush" | 2016 |12 | — | — | — |
|
Chrysalis | ||
| "Dream Girls" | 7 | — | — | — |
| |||
| "Whatta Man (Good Man)" | 2 | 2 | — | — |
|
Non-album singles | ||
| "Hand in Hand" | 139 | 6 | — | — |
| |||
| "Very Very Very" | 1 | — | 98 | 80 | 4 |
|
Miss Me? | |
| "Downpour" | 3 | — | 39 | — |
|
Non-album single |
Promotional singles
| Title | Year | Album |
|---|---|---|
| "Together as One" (with various artists) |
Hooxi, The Beginning |
Soundtrack appearances
| Title | Year | Peak chart position | Sales | Album | KOR Digital |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| "I Love You, I Remember You" | ( "사랑해 기억해" ) |2016 |30 |
|
Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo OST Part 3 |
Other charted songs
| Title | Year | Peak chart position | Sales | Album | KOR Digital |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| "When the Cherry Blossoms Fade" | rowspan=8 |2016 |16 |
|
Chrysalis |
Music videos
| Title | Year | Director(s) |
|---|---|---|
| "Crush" | 2016 | Unknown director | |
| "Dream Girls" | Zanybros#Hong Won-ki | |
| "Whatta Man (Good Man)" | ||
| "Very Very Very" | Digipedi | |
| "Together as One" | ||
| "Downpour" |
Concert
- Time Slip – I.O.I (held in 2017)
Reality shows
- Produce 101 (aired in 2016)
- Standby I.O.I (broadcasted in 2016)
- LAN Cable Friends I.O.I (aired in 2016)
- I Miss You Very Very Very Much Show (telecasted in 2016)
Endorsements
Prior to their official debut finale on Produce 101, I.O.I secured seven commercial endorsement contracts generating estimated earnings of ₩1.4 billion. On April 4th they became brand ambassadors for Etude House cosmetics; Mom's Touch Chicken and Burger; Woongjin Foods’ Haneul Bori Ice Sparkling Water; and HiteJinro’s Chamisul soju—with only three members participating in alcohol advertisements due to age restrictions.
They also represented mobile games developed by Netmarble—specifically 100 Shots 100 Hits and StoneAge—and served as promotional models for SK Telecom. Additional endorsements included CJ CheilJedang’s Petitzel Eclairs confectionery and fashion label Pancoat.
During May and June of 2016, I.O.I was appointed as promotional models for KB Kookmin Bank and became exclusive endorsers for the online marketplace Auction. In August they collaborated with school uniform brand Elite alongside boy group Pentagon.
Awards and nominations
| Ceremony | Year | Category | Nominee / Work | Outcome | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Asia Artist Awards | 2016 | Most Popular Artists (Singer) – Top 50 | I.O.I | Template:Included | |
| Asia Model Awards | New Star Award | Template:Won | |||
| Gaon Chart Music Awards | 2017 | Song of the Year (October) | "Very Very Very" | Template:Nom | |
| 2018 | Song of the Year (January) | "Downpour" | Template:Nom | ||
| Golden Disc Awards | 2017 | Rookie Artist Award | I.O.I | Template:Won | |
| Popularity Award | Template:Nom | ||||
| Asian Choice Popularity Award | Template:Nom | ||||
| Digital Bonsang | "Very Very Very" | Template:Nom | |||
| Disc Bonsang | Chrysalis | Template:Nom | |||
| Korean Culture Entertainment Awards | 2016 | K-pop Singer Award | I.O.I | Template:Won | |
| Melon Music Awards | 2016 | Top 10 Artists | Template:Nom | ||
| Best New Artist | Template:Nom | ||||
| Netizen Popularity Award | Template:Nom | ||||
| Kakao Hot Star Award | Template:Nom | ||||
| 2017 | Top 10 Artists | Template:Nom | |||
| Hot Trend Award | "Downpour" | Template:Nom | |||
| Mnet Asian Music Awards | 2016 | Best New Artist – Female Group | I.O.I | Template:Won | |
| Artist of the Year | Template:Longlisted | ||||
| Worldwide Favorite Artist | Template:Nom | ||||
| Seoul Music Awards | 2017 | Bonsang Award | Template:Nom | ||
| New Artist Award | Template:Won | ||||
| Popularity Award | Template:Nom | ||||
| Hallyu Special Award | Template:Nom | ||||
| V Live Awards | Global Rookie Top 5 | Template:Won |
Listicles
| Publisher | Year | Listicle Title | Ranking |
|---|
|- ! scope="row" | Forbes | 2017 |"Forbes Korea Power Celebrity 40" |"11th" |}
External links
- Articles with short description
- Articles containing Korean-language text
- I.O.I
- Produce 101 contestants
- K-pop music groups
- Musical groups established in 2016
- Swing Entertainment artists
- South Korean girl groups
- South Korean dance music groups
- South Korean pop music groups
- Musical groups from Seoul
- Singing talent show winners
- 2016 establishments in South Korea
- MAMA Award winners
- Musical groups disestablished in 2017
- 2017 disestablishments in South Korea