Just a few weeks ago, some critics wondered whether the long-awaited IOI meeting had come too late. Today, the legendary girl group is proving those doubts wrong with one of the most impressive comeback stories of the year.
IOI’s 10th anniversary reunion has become one of the hottest topics in K-pop. When the group first released their anniversary single, “Suddenly,” the song struggled to gain traction on the digital charts, leading many to fear that public interest in the former national girl group had waned after years of inactivity.
However, everything changed after the group’s first round of promotional performances. Strong live stages, undeniable chemistry between the members, and a powerful wave of nostalgia from longtime fans helped propel the song up the charts at an astonishing rate.
At 8:00 KST on May 29, “Suddenly” achieved its first Real-time All Kill by reaching No. 1 on all major real-time music charts in South Korea. The song topped Bugs, FLO, VIBE, Genie and MelOn TOP100, placing IOI in direct competition with trending younger artists like ILLIT and CORTIS.
The momentum continued the next day. By May 30, “Suddenly” had accumulated 26 real-time All Kills. Even more notable, IOI became the first act of 2026 to reach a “ceiling” on MelOn, a milestone awarded when a song reaches the platform’s maximum real-time listener threshold. Fans are now hoping that the group can maintain their momentum long enough to secure a Perfect All Kill.
Physical album sales also showed encouraging signs. Early sales figures for anniversary album IOI:Loop initially sparked concerns, with one day reportedly recording just 195 copies sold. The disappointing start led some online critics to label the group as “past its prime.”
Since then, album sales have surpassed 10,000 copies, helping to silence many of those critics. Encouraged by the positive response, the members decided to extend their promotional activities an additional week beyond the original schedule.
IOI also held the first night of its anniversary concert series on May 29 at Jamsil Indoor Stadium. The group performed beloved hits that defined a generation of K-pop fans, including “Very Very Very,” “Downpour,” “In The Same Place” and “Whatta Man.”
Fan-recorded videos of the concert spread quickly on social media, with many concertgoers expressing emotional reactions to seeing all the members share the stage together again nearly a decade after their breakup.
Behind the success story is an equally inspiring story of sacrifice and determination.
During a recent television appearance, members Chungha and Yeonjung spoke openly about the financial realities of organizing the planned reunion.
According to Chungha, the anniversary return was never supposed to generate significant profits. He explained that focusing on individual programs would be much more financially beneficial to members. However, everyone agreed that the emotional value of the reunion outweighed any monetary considerations.
Yeonjung echoed this sentiment, revealing that the members understood from the beginning that the project would likely operate at a loss. Even so, they chose to put aside financial worries to take the stage together once again.
Chungha also revealed that he personally contacted each member to gauge interest in a reunion before approaching the group’s former management team for assistance in organizing the project.
Each member reportedly faced the additional challenge of gaining approval from their current agencies. As previous reunion discussions had repeatedly failed over the years, Chungha and the members approached this return with a heightened sense of commitment and determination.
After hearing these behind-the-scenes stories, many fans expressed admiration for the members’ loyalty to each other and their dedication to preserving IOI’s legacy.
The group will hold two more anniversary concerts at Jamsil Indoor Stadium on May 30 and 31. Following the Seoul performances, IOI is expected to take its 10th anniversary tour overseas with stops planned in Thailand and Hong Kong, giving international fans the opportunity to celebrate the reunion milestone together with the members.
Sources: K14
