The I.O.I who returned after the cherry blossoms fell: the 10-year experience didn’t ‘suddenly’ ignite [EX’s Issue]

(Xports News reporter Myung Hee-sook) The group I.O.I returned after the cherry blossoms had fallen. These were the same girls who once shed tears while singing 'Downpour,' but now they were with their fans, wearing bright smiles instead of tears.

I.O.I (Im Na-young, Chungha, Kim Se-jeong, Jung Chae-yeon, Kim So-hye, Yoo Yeon-jung, Choi Yoo-jung, Kim Do-yeon, Jeon So-mi) held their solo concert '2026 I.O.I Concert Tour: LOOP' on the 29th at Jamsil Indoor Gymnasium in Seoul. The Seoul shows will run for three days through the 31st, followed by an Asia tour.

I.O.I is a project group born through Mnet's 'Produce 101,' which aired in 2016, and disbanded after completing its one-year activity period. After a long wait from fans, they released a new album to mark their 10th debut anniversary and began their comeback activities.

In particular, the title track 'Suddenly' from their third mini album 'I.O.I : LOOP,' released on the 19th, also proved I.O.I's enduring power by reaching No. 1 on the music charts.

At their last concert nine years ago, the girls burst into tears while singing 'Downpour' and 'When the Cherry Blossoms Fall,' but this time they chose 'Pick Me' as the opening song, showing their unchanged freshness and charm. In addition, they also displayed their precise, synchronized choreography in 'Whatta Man,' 'Crush,' 'Finger Tips,' and 'IOI,' showing a more mature side.

The I.O.I members repeatedly expressed their gratitude for the No. 1 chart ranking of their new song 'Suddenly.' Jeon So-mi said, "Thank you for making 'Suddenly' No. 1 on the day of the concert. We cried all day yesterday. I was worried about my voice, but I was able to have so much fun on stage," expressing her feelings to the fans.

Im Na-young also shared her overwhelming emotion, saying, "Thank you so much for making the song No. 1 on the first concert day. It's truly an amazing gift."

The members were moved to tears at times during the show, but they led the performance with bright smiles and a cheerful atmosphere rather than tears.

Kim Do-yeon said, "We will part for a while now, but we will meet again someday. Let's not cry thinking about that. Don't be sad, and let's say goodbye with a smile," adding, "Even if we're far apart, let's live happily while thinking that we're all connected," promising fans who were sad to see the concert end that they would meet again.

Yoo Yeon-jung said, "We started planning this 10th anniversary project a year ago, but it wasn't easy. Even during the preparation process, I worried a lot about whether this would work and whether we could do it," and added, "We received even more love than we expected, and even now it still doesn't feel real that we're ranking No. 1 on the music charts and performing in such a large venue," thanking fans for their unwavering support.

At the concert that day, in addition to the members who are actively working as singers, there were also Jung Chae-yeon, Kim So-hye, Kim Do-yeon, and Im Na-young, who have turned to acting, but they showed skills unchanged by the hiatus. Jung Chae-yeon even sweetly expressed her longing for the stage, saying, "I guess I wanted to be a singer."

Im Na-young also said, "I missed the stage so much, and I wanted to dance a lot. I'm so happy to have achieved my dream thanks to you all. It was hard, but once I stood on stage, it didn't feel hard anymore. It was so fun and happy. I'm truly grateful," sharing her thoughts on returning to the stage after nine years.

The I.O.I members reunited with the audience, showcasing their growth and diverse charms, making it hard to believe nine years had passed. The hot popularity of 'Suddenly' was also the result of the members and fans coming together again after a long wait. I.O.I returned after the cherry blossoms had fallen, still radiant, and ten years of time had only made their value even stronger.

Photo = Swing Entertainment

Reporter Myung Hee-sook [email protected]