I.O.I girls return in different bands

Former project group "I.O.I" member Jung Chae-yeon, second from left, performs her new group "DIA's" new song "You're Different" at YES24 LiveHall in Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, last Tuesday. / Yonhap

By Kim Jae-heun

Former popular project group “I.O.I,” formed from the TV show “Produce 101,” disbanded in January after their one-year contract ended, but the members are back in different girl groups, now competing against each other.

Singer Jung Chae-yeon kicked off the competition in her new band “DIA” with a mini-album titled “Love Generation,” last Tuesday.

The band performed the song “You’re Different,” which was entertaining to watch and listen to.

“The track ‘Can’t Stop’ has an addictive verse that you cannot forget after you’ve listened to it and it is a powerful dance-pop genre song,” said member Jueun during their press conference at YES24 LiveHall in Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, last week. “We performed our choreography with energy and drama on the stage to show how our style has changed from our previous songs.”

Jung mentioned that she misses her time performing with I.O.I.

“I talk to my fellow I.O.I members on the phone from time to time and we all agree that it was a very precious time. Everything we did as I.O.I was so valuable,” said Jung.

Former I.O.I members Zhou Jieqiong, sixth from left, and Lim Na-young, seventh from left, pose during their new group "PRISTIN's" second mini-album press conference at White Hall in Seocho-gu, Seoul, last Wednesday. / Yonhap

Other former I.O.I members Lim Na-young and Zhou Jieqiong released the mini-album “SCHXXL OUT” in their new band “PRISTIN,” the day after “DIA’s” comeback.

PRISTIN’s new album consists of five tracks including the song “We Like.”

Lim said time flew by when she was picked to perform in I.O.I last year and had to endure packed schedules. Now that she is in a new girl group “PRISTIN,” she has more time to prepare but feels more pressure to make PRISTIN successful.

“Chaeyeon of DIA also released a new album yesterday and we will perform our new songs in the same period. But I never think that we are competing against each other. We still keep in touch and support each other,” said Lim during their press conference at White Hall in Seocho-gu, Seoul, Wednesday.

Former Wonder Girls member Sun-mi returns solo

Sun-mi, a former member of JYP Entertainment’s disbanded girl group “Wonder Girls,” returned as a soloist after signing a contract with new management MakeUs Entertainment, three month ago.

Sun-mi, center, performs her new song 'Gashina" at Daeyou Media studio in Gangnam, Seoul, last Tuesday. / Yonhap

Her new digital single “Gashina” is a collaboration with “The Black Label,” a sub-label of YG Entertainment led by producer Teddy Park.

“It is a new start for me and a challenge. This is a turning point for me and I don’t want to stop here. I want to do various styles of music that people keep coming back to listen to,” said Sun-mi during the showcase at Daeyou Media studio in Gangnam, Seoul, last Tuesday.

Gashina is a dancehall-style synthpop number that has an Eastern-style atmosphere and a distinct rhythmic bass.