I.O.I releases final album

Members of the K-pop girl group I.O.I, stage a song from their second mini-album “Miss Me?” at Yes24 Live Hall in Gwangjin-gu, eastern Seoul, Monday. / Yonhap

By Kim Jae-heun

CJ E&M’s project girl group I.O.I released its second mini-album “Miss Me?” on Monday, staging a showcase performance for their last official activity before their disbanding in January.

The 11-member girl group was formed through the Mnet reality survival show “Produce 101,” which starred 101 trainees from various entertainment companies. They were contracted for only one year.

The final 11, picked by the audience, released their first mini-album “Chrysalis” on May 4. Three months later, seven members of the group released the digital single “Whatta Man” that topped online music charts.

Jung Chae-yeon of MBK Entertainment and Kim Se-jeong and Kang Mi-na of Jellyfish Entertaiment returned to their original agencies to pursue their own music careers _ Jung rejoining her original band DIA in June and Kim and Kang debuting in another girl band Gugudan the same month.

For their final mini album, I.O.I has returned as a full group with the energetic new song “Very Very Very” written by Park Jin-young, founder of talent agency JYP Entertainment. He revealed that I.O.I’s new title is one of the fastest songs he has ever made and its rhythm is clocked at 206 beats per minute.

Park has produced many girl group hit songs including Wonder Girls’ “Tell Me” and “Nobody” as well as Miss A’s “Bad Girl Good Girl.”

Group member Jeon So-mi, who belongs to JYP Entertainment, said she is glad to work with Park despite being nervous at the same time.

“As Park is the representative of my company and the record producer here, I was nervous to sing in front of him,” said Jeon during the press conference at Yes24 Live Hall in Gwangjin-gu, eastern Seoul. “It was my first time recording a song with him and I was happy.”

Se-jeong also recalled her memories with Park when she participated in an audition show five years ago and the producer said her singing style was too old-fashioned then. But this time, he complimented her that she has improved and Kim felt she was glad she didn’t give up.

Asked how they felt about topping the online music charts again, Lim Na-young said they did not expect such an achievement as this is their last activity and they wanted to enjoy it. However she expressed her gratitude for the love and attention of their fans.

The last mini-album includes four more tracks such as “Hold On,” “More More,” “Ping Pong” and “M-Maybe.” Other musicians _ including Jinyoung of K-pop boy band B1A4, rapper Rhymer and songwriter BOYTOY _ have participated in producing the songs.

All members said their individual plans after the breakup of I.O.I have not been settled as they all wanted to focus on the band’s final album. However they hinted about a possible reunion in five years.

“We talked about this a lot too,” said Chae-yeon. “For a long time, the members told each other that this is not the end and we should enjoy it as we’ve just released a new album. We gained so much love and we will do our best to express our gratitude for the support.”