Audition girl band riles fans
Jung Chae-yeon
By Ko Dong-hwan
In less than a week since its debut, K-pop girl band I.O.I has already upset fans, with news of a member leaving and claims the band was late for a gig.
Jung Chae-yeon, one of the band’s 11 members, will return to girl band DIA next month. DIA’s agency, MBK Entertainment, said Wednesday Jung, from TV network Mnet’s audition program “Produce 101,” will rejoin DIA, according to media reports. “Produce 101,” which aired from January to April, selected 11 girls out of 101 trainees from various entertainment agencies to form a new girl band.
“MBK and YMC Entertainment (I.O.I’s agency) had agreed to Jung’s move in advance,” MBK said. “Jung, while her activity is bound by I.O.I until the end of this month, still has the right to pursue her own goals in show business, as long as it does not clash with I.O.I’s schedules.”
But Jung has disappointed fans. Some even dubbed her move controversial, saying she was used as a marketing tool for DIA. Others felt sorry for the 90 girls who missed out on “Produce 101” because one could have filled Jung’s shoes.
On Thursday, Jung apologized on Instagram for her move. She said she will “by no means neglect I.O.I while she is with the band.”
The band also caught flak after netizens alleged it was almost 90 minutes late for a gig.
Epik High(top) and I.O.I perform at Sejong University on Thursday.
Multiple bloggers said the incident happened at a campus festival at Sejong University in Gwangjin-gu, Seoul. Hip-hop trio Epik High performed in front of a huge crowd ― most of whom were there to see I.O.I ― until the girls arrived, one blogger said.
“The school couldn’t handle the angry mob as they waited for the band,” the blogger said. “It was lucky there was no human casualty in such a fiasco. Epik High apologized to the crowd on behalf of the girls.”
But YMC Entertainment said Friday the band was there on time and Epik High took to the stage in agreement with the band.
“I.O.I arrived at the school even before 10 p.m., their planned time for the gig,” YMC said. “During Epik High’s performance, the girls were taking photos together with the school’s students and staff from the gig’s promoter.”
The school denied the claim, saying the band kept its schedule, according to mydaily, an online news outlet.