Jaehwa Bernardo

(Top) I.O.I in the music video for 'Very Very Very'; (Bottom) Wanna One in the music video for 'Energetic.' Screenshots from Stone Music Entertainment on YouTube

Article (news)

I.O.I, Wanna One return: What to know about these K-pop reunions

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17756249904940.jpg" style="width:960px;display:block;height:auto" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">(Top) I.O.I in the music video for &#x27;Very Very Very&#x27;; (Bottom) Wanna One in the music video for &#x27;Energetic.&#x27; <em>Screenshots from Stone Music Entertainment on YouTube</em></span></span></span></div><p>I.O.I and Wanna One, the “project” groups formed through the once-iconic K-pop reality competition “Produce 101,” are reuniting this year, sparking excitement among fans who have eagerly anticipated their return since the acts disbanded.  </p><p>Here’s what to know, especially for newer K-pop fans, ahead of the comebacks of these two acts, who were among the defining groups of K-pop’s “third generation.”</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>POWERHOUSE ‘PROJECT’ GROUPS</strong></div><p>I.O.I and Wanna One were significant for ushering in a wave of “project” groups in the K-pop industry, demonstrating that such acts could achieve substantial popularity.</p><p>Unlike most K-pop groups at the time, whose members typically came from a single entertainment company, both teams were composed of trainees from various agencies — a result of their formation through “Produce 101.”</p><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1775625466152IOI.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">I.O.I in a photo taken December 2016. <em>Photo from I.O.I&#x27;s Instagram account</em></span></span></span></div><p>The all-female I.O.I, whose name stands for &quot;Ideal Of Idol,&quot; was formed during the program’s inaugural season in 2016, debuting in May of that year before disbanding in January 2017.</p><p>Wanna One, meanwhile, emerged from the second season in 2017, debuting in August and remaining active until their contracts expired in December 2018.</p><p>Apart from drawing members from various agencies, “project” groups are not intended to be permanent K-pop acts, typically operating under shorter contracts than the standard seven-year term.</p><p>Despite their brief periods of activity, I.O.I and Wanna One — who both have 11 members selected through audience votes — quickly rose to prominence. I.O.I secured numerous endorsements and TV appearances, and even won Best New Artist (Female Group) at the 2016 Mnet Asian Music Awards.</p><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1775625512033W1.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Wanna One in one of their final group activities in January 2019. <em>Photo from Wanna One&#x27;s X account</em></span></span></span></div><p>Wanna One, meanwhile, emerged as one of the most popular boy groups of their era, selling millions of albums and competing strongly alongside contemporaries such as BTS and EXO.</p><p>“Produce 101” went on to run for two more seasons before coming to an end due to a vote manipulation controversy, though similar survival programs have since followed in its wake.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>MUSIC CAREERS</strong></div><p>Following the groups’ disbandments, members of I.O.I and Wanna One either debuted in new groups, returned to their original acts prior to joining &quot;Produce,&quot; or launched solo careers.</p><p>In I.O.I’s case, most members went on to join girl groups such as Pristin, Gugudan, DIA, WJSN and Weki Meki. However, success within the “Produce” project group did not always translate to sustained momentum afterward, as most of these groups have since disbanded or become inactive.</p><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/5C5lcn1GYfM?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></div><p>Only Kim Chungha and Jeon Somi went on to establish full-fledged solo careers, while <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/showbiz/events/2026/2/26/review-tenth-letter-charts-kim-sejeong-s-voyage-through-her-10-year-career-1839"><strong>Kim Sejeong</strong></a> also debuted as a soloist while promoting with Gugudan before its disbandment.</p><p>In contrast, many members of Wanna One went on to establish solo careers following the group’s disbandment.</p><p>Hwang Minhyun returned to his original group, <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/09/01/19/concert-recap-nuest-shines-in-first-ever-ph-concert"><strong>NU&#x27;EST</strong></a>, which disbanded in 2022. He has since focused on acting and his solo music career.</p><p>Meanwhile, Park Woojin and Lee Daehwi debuted as members of AB6IX, which remains active. Bae Jinyoung, for his part, debuted in <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/showbiz/music/2025/10/18/cix-opens-new-chapter-embraces-more-mature-image-0800"><strong>CIX </strong></a>before departing the group in 2024.</p><p>Lai Kuanlin, Wanna One’s Taiwanese member, has retired from both singing and acting.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>JUMP TO ACTING</strong></div><p>Outside of music, members of both I.O.I and Wanna One have also flourished as actors.</p><p>Among I.O.I members, some of the most recognizable actresses are Kim Sejeong, Jung Chaeyeon, and Kang Mina.</p><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/jg-LQRaq-m8?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></div><p>Sejeong has taken lead roles in dramas such as “School 2017,” “The Uncanny Counter” and “Business Proposal,” while Chaeyeon starred in series including “My First First Love,” “The Golden Spoon” and “Family by Choice.”</p><p>Mina is known for her performances in “Hotel del Luna,” “Welcome to Samdal-ri” and “Twelve.” Meanwhile, Zhou Jieqiong, the group’s Chinese member, has primarily focused on acting in China.</p><p>Among the Wanna One members, the most prominent actors are Minhyun, Park Jihoon and Ong Seungwu.</p><p>Minhyun is known for his roles in dramas like “Alchemy of Souls,” “My Lovely Liar” and “Study Group,” while Jihoon has starred in “At a Distance, Spring Is Green” and “<a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/showbiz/movies-series/2025/4/28/for-park-ji-hoon-bromance-character-growth-drive-appeal-of-weak-hero-1440"><strong>Weak Hero</strong></a>.”</p><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/sPPQnK_GPsM?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></div><p>Seongwu has appeared in “At Eighteen” and “Strong Girl Nam-soon,” and most recently <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/showbiz/movies-series/2026/2/25/meet-the-heartthrobs-falling-for-jisoo-in-boyfriend-on-demand-1422"><strong>made a cameo</strong></a> in the Netflix series “Boyfriend on Demand.”</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>NEW MUSIC, TOUR</strong></div><p>For their 2026 reunion marking their 10th anniversary, I.O.I will release new music. According to K-pop news outlet Soompi, Swing Entertainment confirmed the group is preparing a new album.</p><p>The group has also launched new social media pages, where they announced stops for a short Asia tour. The tour will kick off with a three-day concert in Seoul in May, followed by shows in Bangkok, Thailand, and Hong Kong in June.</p><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1775626618529IOI.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Several I.O.I members gather for a Christmas dinner, as seen in a vlog posted by Jeon Somi. <em>Screenshot from Jeon Somi on YouTube</em></span></span></span></div><p>This isn’t the first time the group has reunited, however, as the members have maintained a close friendship over the years, often sharing photos and videos of their get-togethers on their personal social media channels. In 2021, the group — excluding Zhou Jieqiong and Kang Mina — also came together for a livestream celebrating their fifth anniversary.</p><p>Similar to that previous reunion, Jieqiong and Mina will participate in the 2026 comeback.</p><p>Fans have been given glimpses of the group’s preparations, including photos and videos of them rehearsing in a practice room and enjoying the cherry blossoms around Seoul as spring arrives.</p><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-1" src="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DWv1yXSgTwz/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=540&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A1%2C%22os%22%3A29717909.599999998%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="881" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-1" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe></div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><br/></div><div><strong>VARIETY SHOW</strong></div><p>Wanna One will reunite through a reality TV show, “Wanna One Go: Back to Base,” set to premiere on April 28.</p><p>Based on the show’s trailer, all members are expected to appear, including the group’s center, Kang Daniel, who is currently fulfilling his mandatory military service, and Kuanlin, who is shown via what appears to be a video call.</p><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1775625846333SnapInsta.to_659682729_17855978055633091_7969965942148702536_n.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Wanna One members pose with standees of Kang Daniel and Lai Kuanlin during a public meet-and-greet ahead of the premiere of their reunion variety show &#x27;Wanna One Go: Back to Base.&#x27; <em>Photo from Mnet Plus Original on Instagram</em></span></span></span></div><p>The group recently held an outdoor meet-and-greet with fans in Seoul to kick off their reunion. Although Daniel and Kuanlin were absent, the other members humorously brought standees of the two missing members to the event.</p><p>Like I.O.I, this is not the first time Wanna One has reunited. In 2021, the group, except for Kuanlin, came together for the MAMA Awards, where they performed their singles “Energetic” and “Burn It Up.”</p><p>In 2022, the group also released the single “Beautiful (Part. 3).”</p>

<p>I.O.I and Wanna One, the 'project' groups formed through the once-iconic K-pop reality competition Produce 101, are reuniting this year, sparking excitement among fans who have eagerly anticipated their return since the acts disbanded.</p>

I.O.I and Wanna One, the 'project' groups formed through the once-iconic K-pop reality competition Produce 101, are reuniting this year, sparking excitement among fans who have eagerly anticipated their return since the acts disbanded.