Idols Created by 'National Producers' Reunite After 10 Years

Wanna One and IOI Return for Their 10th Anniversary
Reuniting Fandoms Through Variety Shows and Concerts
A New Milestone for K-pop: Leveraging Proven IP

Wanna One. Provided by CJ ENM

"Vote for your girl (or boy)."

Project groups that debuted a decade ago are returning to the stage. I.O.I and Wanna One, both formed through CJ ENM's Mnet audition program 'Produce 101' in 2016, are set to make comebacks around the 10th anniversary of their debuts.

According to industry sources on May 7, Wanna One and I.O.I are resuming full-scale activities through reality shows, album releases, and concerts. As members who have pursued individual careers since disbandment reunite, anticipation among their fanbases is rapidly growing.

The first signal of reunion came from Wanna One. On April 28, Wanna One officially resumed activities by pre-releasing the Mnet Plus reality show 'Wanna One Go: Back to Base.' This marks their first official event in about seven years since their performance at Gocheok Sky Dome in January 2019. The production team, building on the 2017 'Wanna One Go' series, recreated the school uniforms, dormitory, and staff from that era, evoking nostalgia among fans. Related videos have surpassed 35 million cumulative views on the official channels.

Since their formation in 2017, Wanna One released five albums over 18 months, recording over 3.5 million in total sales. Their revenue at the time is estimated at around KRW 100 billion. Even after activities ended, members continued to grow in their respective careers. Hwang Minhyun, Kim Jaehwan, and Ha Sungwoon established themselves as solo artists, while Ong Seongwu expanded into acting. Yoon Jisung became active in musical theater. Park Jihoon recently starred in the film 'The Man Who Lives With the King,' attracting 16.73 million viewers and achieving box office success.

I.O.I is also launching a large-scale project for their 10th anniversary. Although their debut activities in 2016 were brief, they led the heyday of third-generation girl groups by releasing consecutive hits such as 'Pick Me' and 'Very Very Very.'

IOI. Provided by Swing Entertainment

I.O.I will release their third mini album 'I.O.I: LOOP' on May 19. The title track 'Suddenly' is a synth-pop song capturing the emotions of rekindled relationships. Out of the 11 members, 9—including Jeon Somi, Kim Sejeong, and Chungha—will participate in this comeback. The members demonstrated their commitment to reuniting by adjusting individual schedules and drafting contracts themselves. From May 29 to 31, they will hold a three-day concert at Jamsil Indoor Stadium in Songpa-gu, Seoul, and then embark on an Asia tour that includes stops in Bangkok, Thailand, and Hong Kong.

This wave of reunions is not limited to project groups. SeeYa, a ballad group popular in the mid-to-late 2000s, is also returning as a complete group to celebrate their 20th anniversary. Nam Gyuri, Kim Yeonji, and Lee Boram released their first new song in 15 years, 'Nevertheless, We,' on March 30, followed by the full album 'First, Again' on May 14 and a fan meeting on May 21.

The changing environment of the K-pop industry is also supporting this trend of reunions. Whereas idol activities in the past focused on TV appearances and album sales, today the revenue model has diversified to include reality content, online videos, fan platforms, and global tours. For management agencies, leveraging intellectual property (IP) with an established fanbase and storyline is considered a less risky strategy than launching a new group. The disappointment felt at the time of disbandment has, over time, turned into renewed demand.

Kim Heonsik, a pop culture critic, said, "The experience of fans directly voting to create these groups has led to strong bonds. Expanding proven IP into a mix of reality shows and concerts has become a key strategy in the K-pop industry."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.