"National girl group" I.O.I is finally returning. The news of their reunion after nine years has been heating up online and offline day after day, and I.O.I raised expectations for their comeback by revealing their first group visuals.
I.O.I's third mini album I.O.I : LOOP will be released at 6 p.m. on May 19 on various online music sites.
Before that, at 12 a.m. on the 22nd, I.O.I (Lim Nayoung, Chung Ha, Kim Se-jeong, Jung Chaeyeon, Kim So-Hye, Yoo Yeon-jung, Choi Yoo-jung, Kim Doyeon, Jeon Somi) unveiled the mood film for their third mini album I.O.I : LOOP on their official SNS.
In the released video, the members wear vintage yet colorful outfits and exude a singular aura. Even in the short clip, each of the nine members' distinct personalities and more mature visuals were enough to command attention. In particular, at the end of the video, the release date and time, 6 p.m. on May 19, and the members' English names appeared sequentially, raising fans' heart rates.
I.O.I, formed through Mnet's Produce 101 in 2016, were the protagonists who caused a seismic shift in the music industry upon their debut. This reunion, held as they mark their 10th anniversary this year, is especially meaningful. After releasing a promotion scheduler on the 21st and beginning full preparations, they will release a pre-release track on May 4 and drop the new mini album on May 19.
In addition, I.O.I will hold the title concert tour of the same name as the album, 2026 I.O.I Concert Tour: LOOP, and visit major cities across Asia. The tour will open with three days of shows in Seoul starting May 29, followed by Bangkok on June 6 and Hong Kong on June 20 and 21.
As artists who reached the top quickly as Korean singers, attention is focused on what new musical growth they will show after skipping nine years.
[Photo] Provided by Swing Entertainment
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