I.O.I: Where Are They Now?
It’s been two years since K-Pop girl group I.O.I disbanded. Formed from survival show Produce 101, they are predecessors to groups like Wanna One and IZ*ONE. So, what have our beloved I.O.I members been up to since then?
Nayoung
Birth Name: Lim Na-young / Im Na-young (임 나영)
Stage Name: Nayoung
Instagram: @nayoung_lim95
– The former leader of I.O.I later became a member of girl group PRISTIN, which debuted in March 2017 with their first mini-album “Hi! Pristin”.
– In May 2018, she debuted in PRISTIN-V, a sub-unit of her group, with their single album “Like a V”.
– Unfortunately, PRISTIN disbanded on May 24, 2019. Nayoung has terminated her contract with Pledis Entertainment.
– Her solo activities began with her being named the PR Ambassador for Insadong Traditional Culture. On August 22, 2019, it was announced that Nayoung had joined Sublime Artist Agency.
Chungha
Birth Name: Kim Chan-mi (김찬미), but she legally changed it to Kim Chung-ha (김 청하)
Stage Name: CHUNGHA
Instagram: @chungha_official
– After the disbandment, CHUNGHA made her debut as a soloist in June 2017, with her first mini album “Hands on Me“.
Sejeong
Birth Name: Kim Se-jeong (김세정)
Stage Name: Sejeong
– Sejeong debuted with girl group Gugudan in June 2016 with their first mini album “Act 1. The Little Mermaid”. She debuted with Gugudan while she was also active with I.O.I.
– She is currently still a member of Gugudan, and she later debuted with their subunit, Gugudan SEMINA, in July 2018, with their first single “Semina“.
Chaeyeon
Birth Name: Jung Chae-yeon (정채연)
Stage Name: Chaeyeon
– Chaeyeon debuted with girl group DIA in September 2015 with their debut album “Do It Amazing”. She withdrew from group activities to participate in Produce 101, and later to become a member of I.O.I.
– In 2019 she starred in Netflix drama “My First First Love”.
– She is currently still a member of DIA, though she didn’t participate in 2020 group’s comeback.
Kyulkyung
Birth Name: Zhou Jieqiong (周洁琼)
Stage Name: Kyulkyung / Jieqiong
Instagram: @zhou_jieqiong1216
– Kyulkyung became a member of girl group PRISTIN along with fellow member Nayoung, which debuted in March 2017 with their first mini-album “Hi! Pristin”.
– In May 2018, she debuted in PRISTIN-V, a sub-unit of her group, with their single album “Like a V”.
– In September 2018, she made her solo debut in China with her first single “Why“.
– Unfortunately, PRISTIN disbanded on May 24, 2019. Kyulkyung has maintained her contract with Pledis.
– She stared in in several Chinese dramas: “Miss Truth” (2020), “Legend of Fei” (2020), “To Be With You” (2021) and “Be My Princess” (2021).
– Currently she is in legal dispute with Pledis in order to cancel her contract.
Sohye
Birth Name: Kim So-hye (김소혜)
Stage Name: Sohye
Instagram: @s_sohye
– In April 2017, Sohye made her acting debut in the web drama “Poetry Story”.
– In October 2017, she played the female lead of television drama “Kang Duk-soon’s Love History“.
– In January 2019, she played the female lead of youth drama “Best Chicken“.
– In December 2019, she made her big screen debut in melodrama film “Moonlit Winter“.
– In April 2020 she starred in KBS drama “How to Buy a Friend“.
Yeonjung
Birth Name: Yoo Yeon-jung (유연정)
Stage Name: Yeonjung
– In July 2016, Yeonjung became the added thirteenth member of girl group WJSN, aka Cosmic Girls. – In August 2016, she released her debut mini-album with her group, called “The Secret”.
Yoojung
Birth Name: Choi Yoo-jung (최유정)
Stage Name: Yoojung
– A few months after the disbandment, Yoojung and fellow member Doyeon debuted in the girl group Weki Meki in August 2017, with the EP “Weme”.
– In June 2018, she debuted in Weki Meki’s joint subunit with girl group WJSN (Cosmic Girls), called WJMK, with the single “Strong”.
– In August 2018, she joined reality show Secret Unnie with EXID‘s Hani.
– She stared in the webdrama “Cast: The Golden Age of Insiders“ in June 2020.
Mina
Birth Name: Kang Mi-na
Stage Name: Mina (강미나)
– Despite being an I.O.I member, in June 2016, Mina’s company decided to have her not take part in the group’s promotions, and instead promote for the upcoming girl group Gugudan.
– In August 2017, she debuted in a Gugudan sub-unit with member Hyeyeon, called Gugudan 5959. They debuted with the single “Ice Chu”.
– In July 2018, she debuted in the sub-unit Gugudan SEMINA with members Sejeong and Nayoung. They debuted with the single album “Semina“.
Doyeon
Birth Name: Kim Do-yeon (김도연)
Stage Name: Doyeon
– After the disbandment, Doyeon and fellow member Yoojung debuted in the girl group Weki Meki in August 2017, with the EP “Weme”.
– In June 2018, she debuted in Weki Meki’s joint subunit with girl group WJSN (Cosmic Girls), called WJMK, with the single “Strong”.
– Doyeon stared in the webdrama “Boy and Girl Straight Out of a Cartoon“.
Somi
Birth Name: Jeon Somi (전소미) / Ennik Somi Douma
Stage Name: Somi
– After the disbandment, Somi stayed in JYPE, where she had her own fan interaction site.
– In March 2017, she collaborated with soloist Eric Nam on a single called “You, Who?”.
– From March 2017 to May 2017, she was on the reality/drama program “Idol Drama Operation Team“.
– In August 2018, it was announced that Somi had terminated her contract with JYPE and had signed with a sub-company of YG Entertainment, called The Black Label.
– She debuted as a soloist on June 13, 2019, with the digital single “Birthday“.
Post created by @expensiveyves
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Do you still follow the girls and their current activities? Feel free to comment down below! 🙂
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