Its finally been confirmed, I.O.I are coming back!

On July 1^st KST, Studio Blu revealed on its official social media accounts that I.O.I will be getting back together. (This will be the agency that manages them)

In their official statement, they reveal the happy news. Unfortunately, Jeon Somi and Yeonjung won’t be able to join. This means I.O.I members Kim Sejeong, Choi Yoojung, Chungha, Kim Sohye, Zhou Jieqiong (Kyulkyung), Jung Chaeyeon, Kim Doyeon, Kang Mina, and Im Nayoung are reuniting.

In their official statement which reads like a message from the members themselves, they explain the girls wanted to meet fans ASAP. They state they’ll be communicating more on the preparations and promotions of the group comeback in the future.

Fans have been demanding I.O.I return together after they disbanded. Their contracts as a temporary group were the least in the period in comparison to Wanna One or IZ*ONE.

 

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안녕하세요. 스튜디오 블루입니다. ⠀⠀⠀ 지난 2017년 1월 공식 활동을 종료한 아이오아이(I.O.I)의 재결합 소식 알려드립니다. – 안녕하세요? 아이오아이(I.O.I)입니다. ⠀⠀⠀ 마지막 콘서트에서 우리는 “다시 만나자”를 약속 했습니다. 팬 분들이 염원하는 만큼이나 저희도 마음 한 켠에는 늘 재결합을 꿈꾸며 각자의 자리에서 열심히 달려왔습니다. ⠀⠀⠀ 그리고 2019년 10월, 김세정, 최유정, 청하, 김소혜, 주결경, 정채연, 김도연, 강미나, 임나영은 아이오아이라는 이름으로 좀 더 일찍 다시 여러분들 앞에 서기로 하였습니다. ⠀⠀⠀ 한결 같은 마음으로 기다려 주신 팬 분들을 위해 하루 빨리 만나고 싶은 마음이 가장 컸던 것 같습니다. 이번 순간은 함께 하지 못하였지만 전소미, 유연정도 가장 가까이에서 응원의 힘을 전해줄 것입니다. ⠀⠀⠀ 이제 아이오아이라는 이름으로 앞으로의 준비 과정 및 활동 스케줄도 수시로 소통하도록 할 것입니다. 다시 한 번 기다려 주신 팬 여러분께 소식을 전할 수 있게 되어 기쁘며 감사 드립니다.

A post shared by Studio Blu Official (@studiobluofficial) on Jun 30, 2019 at 8:00am PDT

Are you happy about the news?

My Personal Thoughts

I am shocked that Jeon Somi is not joining…It could be that she is planning a comeback or something special around that time. I personally think that the two remaining girls will join if the comeback does extremely well.

I.O.I had great potential and the concept of a temp group is good for business but horrifying for fans. I understand the business side of it but I also understand why fans won’t like that.

Yet, you can’t deny you support these groups that come out of these shows extra hard because you know they won’t always be there and it’s for a short period.

I hope the comeback does well. I know they have a good fanbase internationally and locally, I don’t know if they’ll be able to shine as brightly as they have in the past because Kpop is such a competitive field, you snooze, you lose.

I also feel that if this succeeds, we’ll see a Wanna One reunion eventually as well.

So far, all the solo debuts and group debuts of past Wanna One members have done ok but not nearly half as good as Wanna One numbers were.