I.O.I: Where Are They Now?

I.O.I (아이오아이) is a project girl group formed through Mnet's survival reality show Produce 101. Originally an eleven-member girl group, they debuted on May 4, 2016 with the mini album Chrysalis. They promoted for a year before disbanding in January 29, 2017.

The group was planning to have a reunion in December 2019 with nine members under Studio Blu but due to four members being unable to participate, the reunion was virtually cancelled.

In November 2015, Mnet announced their new survival show that would bring together 101 trainees from 46 entertainment companies to form a unit girl group with 11 members chosen by the viewers, which was called Produce 101. The show premiered on January 21, 2016, and the live finale was broadcast on April 1, 2016, with the 11 winners becoming a girl group. The group's debut line included Zhou Jie Qiong and Lim Na Young from Pledis Entertainment, Kim Chung Ha from MNH Entertainment, Kim Se Jeong and Kang Mi Na from Jellyfish Entertainment, Choi Yoo Jung and Kim Do Yeon from Fantagio Music, Yoo Yeon Jung from Starship Entertainment, Kim So Hye from Redline Entertainment, Jung Chae Yeon from MBK Entertainment and Jeon So Mi from JYP Entertainment.

Supposedly, the day of the show's finale was when I.O.I was supposed to debut with "Crush" and begin activities, but Mnet and YMC Entertainment decided to postpone their debut so they can prepare the group with their concept and a new song with new choreography. On April 5, 2016, the song was released as a digital single, followed by its music video.

Current state:

disbanded 

Studio Blu:

July 1, 2019 - October 29, 2019

YMC Entertainment:

May 4, 2016 - January 29, 2017

CJ E&M Music:

May 4, 2016 - January 29, 2017

Debut:

May 4, 2016

Debut to 1st win:

104 days

Active years:

2016-2017

Country:

 South Korea

Most popular member:

Stage Name: Sohye (소혜)

Birth Name: Kim So Hye (김소혜)

Position: Vocalist, Rapper

Birthday: July 19, 1999

Zodiac Sign: Cancer

Nationality: Korean

Height: 163 cm (5’4″)

Weight: 48 kg (106 lbs)

Blood Type: A

Instagram: @s_sohye

Sohye facts:

– She has a younger brother.

– Her nickname is “Penguin”. (SNL Korea 7 – May 7, 2016)

– Hobby: pickup trash as she walks, penguin collector.

– Education: Kyunggi Girls’ High School

– Specialty: Ocarina, Volleyball

– Trainee Period: 1 year

– Specialty: Beatbox, Acting.

– Weakness: too emotional; she has changed, although while in I.O.I, she had low self-confidence.

– Sohye is easily scared when having to go to abandoned/haunted places.

– Role Model: Chun Woo Hee (actress)

– Sohye has her own cafe in Korea.

– Coming from an acting company, So-hye was training to become an actress and had no experience in singing and dancing before joining Produce 101.

– She also opened a coffee shop, Penguin’s Café, in Seocho District to provide a space where she and her agency could connect with fans

– Kim So-hye was a volleyball player in junior high, and won the National Junior High Title as a libero

– In June 2016, So-hye created her own management label, S&P (Shark & Penguin) Entertainment

– Sohye was a host of Star Show 360 and currently hosts SBS Game Show and EBS2 English Lecture Program which teaches students English to prepare for the TOEIC exam.

– She acted in a short drama called “Poetic Story”.

– Sohye also appeared in several music videos: The Ark – “The Light”, Jinlin Wang – “Goodbye School”, Ra.D – “Look Into Your Eyes”

– Company: Shark & Penguin Entertainment

Kim So Hye Drama Series

Best Chicken | Choigoui Chikin MBN-Dramax \ 2019 – Seo Bo-A

Queen of the Ring | MBC\ 2017 – cameo

Poetry Story| Mobidic\ 2017 – Ah Chim

Drama Special : Kang Deok-soon’s Love | KBS2 \ 2017 – Kang Deok-soon

Unexpected Heroes |Naver Tv Cast\ 2017 – Lee Yoon-ji

Stage Name: Mina (미나)

Birth Name: Kang Mina (강미나)

Position: Lead Dancer, Vocalist, Rapper

Birthday: December 4, 1999

Zodiac Sign: Sagittarius

Nationality: Korean

Height: 164 cm (5 ft 5 in)

Weight: 48 kg (105 lbs)

Blood Type: O

Instagram: @_happiness_o

Mina Facts:

-She ranked 9th on Produce 101 to become a member of I.O.I.

-She is from Jeju Island, South Korea.

-Her hobbies are watching dramas, playing games, and traveling.

-Mina is the MC of Music Core.

-Her motto is “in any situation, eating comes first”.

-She appeared on JTBC’s 2016 reality “Girls who Eat Well”.

-She likes the Harry Potter series.

-Her nickname in I.O.I. was “Juice Girl”.

-Mina and Doyeon share a birthday.

-She went to Jeju Girls’ Middle School and then SOPA.

-Her specialties are falling asleep quickly and waacking dance.

-She trained for one year and one month.

-She is an only child.

-Mina was high school classmates with Mark Lee from NCT.

-Mina appeared in Honeyst’s “Someone to Love” MV.

-In 2019 Mina was part of the cast for Law of the Jungle in Thailand.

-She acts in “Hotel Del Luna” tvn 2019.

-Mina is in Gugudan’s subunits OGUOGU and SeMiNa.

– Mina’s ideal type: someone who smiles refreshingly. She likes Nam Joo Hyuk.

Kang Mina Drama Series:

Hotel Del Luna (tvN / 2019) – Yoo-Na

Mama Fairy and the Woodcutter | Gyeryongsunnyeojeon (tvN / 2018) – Jeom-Soon

Children of the 20th Century | MBC / 2017 – as young Sa Jin Jin

Dokgo Rewind | Kakao, Oksusu / 2018 – as Kim Hyun Sun

Tale of the Gyeryeong Fairy | tvN / 2018 – as Jum Soon Yi

Stage Name/Birth Name: Kim Do Yeon (김도연)

Birthday: December 4, 1999

Zodiac Sign: Sagittarius

Chinese Zodiac Sign: Rabbit

Height: 173 cm (5’8″)

Weight: 50 kg (110 lbs)

Blood Type: O

Representative Emoji: ❄️

Instagram: @lafilledhiver_

Kim Doyeon Facts:

– She ranked 8th in Produce 101 to become a member of I.O.I.

– She is from Wonju, Gangwon, South Korea.

– Her specialty is dance.

– She lists being a “reaction queen” as both her strength and her weakness.

– Doyeon shares her birthday with Kang Mina.

– She trained for one year and five months.

– Her nickname is “Little Jun Jihyun”, after the actress.

– She is a model for Maybelline New York.

– Her hobbies are watching movies and listening to music.

– She has two older siblings.

– She can play basketball and was also the captain of her cheerleading team.

– She went to Sangji Girls High School but later transferred to SOPA.

– Doyeon has a solo song with Long:D called All Night.

– She is extremely close with her bandmate Yoojung.

– Doyeon appeared in Fantagio’s web dramas To Be Continued and Idol Fever.

– She is brave when going into haunted houses.

– She is in a subunit with Yoojung and with WJSN members called WJMK as well as I.O.I.’s subunit.

– Doyeon’s ideal type: Park Seo-joon. She said she really loved his character in “She Was Pretty”.

Stage Name: Yeonjung (연정)

Birth Name: Yu Yeon Jung (유연정)

Position: Main Vocalist

Birthday: August 3, 1999

Nationality: Korean

Zodiac Sign: Leo

Height: 168 cm (5’6″)

Weight: 42 kg (92 lbs)

Blood Type: A

Instagram: @uyj_s

Yeonjung facts:

– Her nickname is “Cider Vocal”. (SNL Korea 7 – May 7, 2016)

– Hobby: Playing alone

– Birthplace: Seoul, South Korea

– Siblings: one older brother

– Education: Hanlim Multi Art School

– Trainee Period: 1 year 3 months

– Company: Starship Entertainment

– Current Group: Cosmic Girls

Stage Name: Jieqiong (洁琼) / Kyulkyung (결경)

Birth Name: Zhou Jieqiong (周洁琼)

Korean Name: Joo Kyul Kyung (주결경)

Birthday: December 16, 1998

Zodiac Sign: Sagittarius

Nicknames: China’s Miracle, Chinese Dancing Machine.

Birthplace: Taizhou, Zhejiang, Shanghai, China

Height: 167 cm (5’6″)

Weight: 47 kg (103 lbs)

Blood Type: O

Instagram: @zhou_jieqiong1216

Hobbies: Shopping and searching beauty sites.

Tom

Jieqiong/Kyulkyung Facts:

– She has a younger brother and a younger sister.

– Education: Shanghai Conservatory of Music; Seoul School of Performing Arts

– She trained for 5 years and 5 months (2009) before going on Produce 101 Season 1.

– She finished 6th on Produce 101 Season 1 and became a member of I.O.I.

– Her previous stage names were Pinky and Zhou.

– The other members call her Juju. (According to their vlives)

– After a test in the 6th grade in Shanghai’s practical music school, Jieqiong got casted and came to Korea in the summer of 2010.

– She was only 11 when she would travel back and forth from China to Korea every summer just to train.

– She travels back and forth between China and Korea during the holidays.

– Her mom runs a boutique in Shanghai and puts up huge posters of her in it and posts her pictures on SNS.

– She can speak Chinese and Korean.

– She can play the pipa (a four-stringed Chinese musical instrument).

– She can play the piano. (HICAM 170912)

– After the promotions with I.O.I, She gave all of her money to her mom since she’s gone through a lot. She saved only a little for herself.

– She was a backup dancer in Orange Caramel’s “My Copycat” MV.

– She appeared in SEVENTEEN‘s “Mansae” MV.

– Kyulkyung is close to SEVENTEEN’s Jun & The8, Ailee, Gugudan’s Sally, TWICE’s Dahyun, and GFriend’s SinB.

-She debuted with Pristin on March 21, 2017.

– Kyulkyung ranked #99 in the “100 Most Beautiful Faces of 2017”

– She is one of the dance mentors of Idol Producer.

– Kyulkyung has yet again been nominated for Most Beautiful Faces of 2018.

– She ranked 1st in ‘Top 11 visuals’ during Produce 101 Season 1 (Episode 5).

– Her favourite girl groups are Girls’ Generation, f(x), and After School

– Her role model is Nana from After School.

– She debuted in China on September 9, 2018 with the title “Why”.

– As of May 24, 2019 Pristin has disbanded but she decided cu continue her contract with Pledis.

– She acted in several Chinese dramas: “Miss Truth” (2020), “Legend of Fei” (2020), “To Be With You” (2021) and “Be My Princess” (2021).

– On March 25, 2020 Pledis Ent. released a statement that Kyulkyung cut off her contact with the agency, after requesting to nullify her contract in Sep. 2019, therefore they opened a legal dispute against Kyulkyung for breaching her contract with them.

Chaeyeon facts:

– She has an older sister.

– Her nickname is “Daeng (Clueless)”. (SNL Korea 7 – May 7, 2016)

– Hobby: Mobile Games, Movies

– Specialty: Dance, Aegyo, Skating

– She was born in Jorye-dong, Suncheon-si, Jeollanam-do, South Korea

– Education: School of Performing Arts Seoul

– She debuted on 2015 as a member of the girl group DIA. She temporarily withdrew from the group to join in the program Produce 101 as a trainee and returned after the I.O.I’s disbandment.

– In December 2016, she was cast in the science fiction web drama “109 Strange Things”.

– She was featured in SBS’s romantic fantasy drama “Reunited Worlds”.

– Chaeyeon acted as main cast on a web drama called “I am” (2017).

– She was revealed as the new face of jewelry brand Lamucha.

– Trainee Period: 8 months

– Company: MBK Entertainment

– Current Group: DIA

Stage Name: Somi (소미)

Birth Name: Ennik Somi Douma {Jeon So Mi (전소미)}

Position: Lead Dancer, Lead Vocalist, Rapper, Face of the Group, Center, Maknae

Birthday: March 9, 2001

Zodiac Sign: Pisces

Nationality: Dutch-Korean-Canadian

Height: 172 cm (5’8’’)

Weight: 48 kg (105 lbs)

Blood Type: O

Instagram: @somsomi0309

Sub-Unit: I.O.I Sub Unit

Somi facts:

– She has a little sister.

– Her nickname is “Vitamin”. (SNL Korea 7 – May 7, 2016)

– Hobby: Collecting Socks, Shopping, Walking Alone, Search for Good Music, Search for good restaurants

– Education: Seoyun Middle School, Hanlim Multi Arts High School

– Specialty: Taekwondo, Caricatures, cooking

– Trainee Period: 2 years

– Somi can do an impersonation of an eating giraffe.

– Somi is easily scared when having to go to abandoned/haunted places.

– She holds 3rd degree black belt in Taekwondo.

– One of her childhood dreams was to be a stewardess.

– Somi appeared in GOT7’s “Stop stop It” MV.

– Somi also appeared in Up10tion’s “White Night” MV.

– Somi is huge fan of 2NE1, and her role model is Minzy (Unnies Slam Dunk season 2 ep 1)

– Somi was a co-host for “Idol Likes Battle” ep. 3 (guests GOT7).

– Former Contestant of SIXTEEN

– Jeon Somi and her younger sister Evelyn both played daughters of the character Mak Soon, the youngest sister of the main lead (Hwang Jung Min).

– Somi was meant to be a part of Twice and is close friends with Chaeyoung and the other members of Twice.

– Somi is close friends with GFRIEND’s Umji, Wanna One’s Daehwi and also friends with Park Woojin and Kim Donghyun who were former JYP trainees.

– Company: when she was in I.O.I she was under JYP Entertainment, but meanwhile she left JYPE

– After I.O.I’s disbandment she joined different variety shows, such as Sister’s Slam Dunk Season 2.

– Somi was,  alongside other 6 female idols, in “Idol Drama Operation Team” tv program. They created a 7 members girl group, called Girls Next Door , which debuted on July 14, 2017.

– On August 20, 2018, Somi left JYPE.

– On September 23, Jeon Somi has signed a contract with The Black Label (a subsidiary label of YG Entertainment headed by Teddy).

– On June 13, 2019 she debuted as a soloist with the single “Birthday”.

Chungha Official Accounts:

Instagram: @chungha_official

Twitter: @CHUNGHA_MNHent

Twitter (Japan): @chungha_japan

Facebook: 청하 (CHUNG HA)

Fan Cafe: MNH-Chungha

V Live: CHUNG HA

Youtube: CHUNG HA_Official

TikTok: @official_chungha

Stage Name: Chungha (청하)

Birth Name: Kim Chan Mi (김찬미)

English Name: Annie Kim

Birthday: February 9th, 1996

Zodiac Sign: Aquarius

Nationality: Korean

Height: 161 cm (5’3”)

Weight: 44 kg (97 lbs)

Blood Type: A 

Stage Name: Sejeong (세정)

Birth Name: Kim Se Jeong (김세정)

Position: Main Vocalist

Birthday: August 28, 1996

Zodiac Sign: Virgo

Nationality: Korean

Height: 164 cm (5’5″)

Weight: 48 kg (105 lbs)

Blood Type: AB

Sejeong facts:

– She was born in Jeonju, South Korea.

– She has an older brother.

– Her nickname is “Uncle”. (SNL Korea 7 – May 7, 2016)

– Hobby: Painting, Re-watching movies

– Education: Indeogwon High School

– Specialty: Singing ballads

– She participated in Kpop Star Season (16 years old).

– Weakness: dancing (or rather, she is not good at memorizing choreo/things)

– Sejeong had a cameo appearance on KBS’s web drama ‘Sound of Heart’ (2016).

– Sejeong is acting as the lead actress in the drama called “School 2017”.

– She was as host of the show “Talents for Sale” in 2016 and was named a permanent MC for the show “Get it Beauty” in January 2017.

– She gained a lot of popularity in variety shows for her brilliant personality and friendliness. She had variety shows appearances in TV programs like The Law of the Jungle, Boat Horn Clenched, Mr. Baek The Homemade Food Master 2, (KBS) Immortal Songs 2 , Yoo Hee Yeol’s Sketchbook , (SBS) Flower Crew, (MBC) King of Masked Singer, (KBS) Singing Battle,(KBS) Boom Shakalaka and more.

– Her song “Flower Road” (produced by Zico) managed to reach # 1 on the Korean charts. She is the fastest soloist to win a musical show (Show Champion).

– On January 12, 2017, Sejeong released the song “If Only” for the OST of the Korean drama “The Legend of the Blue Sea”.

– Sejeong was in a Lotte Water Park CF with Astro’s Eunwoo.

– Trainee Period: 1 year 11 months

– Company: Jellyfish Entertainment

– Current Group: gugudan / gu9udan

Stage Name/Birth Name: Choi Yoo Jung (최유정)

Birthday: November 12, 1999

Zodiac Sign: Scorpio

Chinese Zodiac Sign: Rabbit

Height: 157 cm (5’2″)

Weight: 44 kg (97 lbs)

Blood Type: O

Representative Emoji: 🌻

nstagram: @dbeoddl__

TikTok: @wm_choiyoojung

Choi Yoojung Facts:

– She ranked 3rd on Produce 101 to become a member of I.O.I.

– She was the center for Produce 101’s theme song “Pick Me”.

– She is from Guri, Gyeonggi province, South Korea.

– Yoojung is an only child.

– Her nicknames are “Wink Fairy” and “Yoodaeng”.

– She went to Seoul Music High School and then SOPA.

– She trained for four years and seven months.

– Her hobbies are dancing, painting, and photography, and her specialties are writing lyrics and raps and covering boy group songs.

– Her favorite senior groups are BTS and 2NE1.

– She is close with Fromis_9‘s Jiwon and IZ*ONE‘s Chaeyeon and Jo Yuri.

-Her role model is Rihanna.

– She is one of Weki Meki’s mood makers.

– She appeared in ASTRO’s MV for Breathless.

– Her strengths are that she’s cheerful, sociable, and loves to smile; her weakness is that she sleeps everywhere and is slow to open up to strangers.

– She can impersonate an orangutan and do a “grandmother” voice.

– She appeared in Fantagio’s web dramas To Be Continued and Idol Fever.

– She and GFRIEND‘s Yerin are in a series called “The Future Diary”.

– Sh eand MCND‘s Castle J have been friends for 10 years now (source: Yoojung’s instagram)

– She is in a subunit with Doyeon and with WJSN members called WJMK as well as I.O.I.’s subunit.

– Yoojung’s ideal type: Yoojung said in 2021 she doesn’t care about genders in an ideal type, she cares more about feelings. Earlier she named actor Park Hae Jin and Highlight’s Yoon Dojoon as examples of her ideal type.