Titled 갑자기 (Suddenly), I.O.I’s ten-year reunion project arrives not with the explosive, sugar-rushed energy of their 2016 debut, but with the quiet confidence of industry veterans. A decade ago, when the eleven members were chanting “Pick Me” as the experimental first wave of the temporary survival show format, no one could have predicted just how massive their legacy would become. Today, they are the blueprint.
In the years since their 2017 disbandment, the members have conquered the entertainment landscape—evolving into critically acclaimed actresses, chart-topping soloists, and high-fashion muses. Gathering them back into a single frame in 2026 feels less like a typical idol comeback and more like a high-profile cultural moment. As we prepare for their highly anticipated 9-member reunion tour, let’s dive into the ten thoughts that defined my first watch of the 갑자기 (Suddenly) music video.
1. Did Somi and Doyeon just kiss?
The internet went into a frenzy when the MV teaser showed an intimate moment between members Somi and Doyeon. In the actual music video, the frame serves as a cinematic, slightly subversive opening shot that immediately establishes the reunion’s older, more provocative tone. It is a brilliant play on expectations, proving that even after a decade apart, I.O.I knows exactly how to get our attention before the song even begins.
2. This feels like the Avengers assembling
There is an undeniable gravity to seeing these women share a screen again. In 2016, they were teenagers fighting for screen time on Produce 101. In 2026, they are now absolute industry powerhouses. Look at the roster: Somi and Chungha have solidified their spots as acclaimed solo pop royalty. The acting line has completely taken over prestige television and cinema, with members starring in global phenomena like Squid Game and Business Proposal. Then there’s Doyeon, who took home Best New Actress at the 2025 Blue Dragon Film Awards before walking the red carpet at Cannes 2026, and Chaeyeon, whose acting trajectory was set early on with a Best Rookie Award at the 2017 Asia Artist Awards. This music video acts as a victory lap for a group that didn’t just survive the industry—they reshaped it.
3. Yoojung’s solo set is painfully relatable
Watching Yoojung dance around a chaotic bedroom with clothes strewn across the floor feels intensely personal. Dressed in an adorable, pale yellow polka-dot skirt set, she perfectly embodies that universal, frantic energy of flipping your room upside down to find the perfect outfit for a night out.
4. I am officially staging an intervention for Chungha’s icy blue eyeshadow
The single most mesmerizing beauty shot of the video belongs to Chungha. Sitting alone in a dimly lit room, you can’t help but be drawn to her pristine, sparkly, icy blue eyeshadow. The ethereal, moody makeup look manages to feel both nostalgic and incredibly futuristic. It’s an instant obsession, and I will be attempting to recreate it immediately.
5. This is a different sound for I.O.I
For a group known for the high-octane brass of Whatta Man and the addictive bubblegum pop of Very Very Very, 갑자기 (Suddenly) is a massive pivot. Instead of forcing trendy, repetitive dance choreography down our throats, the track is a slow, soulful, retro synth-pop ballad. It explores the heavy waves of longing and memories flooding back with age, reflecting both the group’s growth and the audience’s maturity.
6. Short-haired Doyeon is the ultimate girl-crush
While the rest of the group leans into soft, romantic, longer hair, Doyeon completely steals the visual narrative with a sharp, cropped haircut. Stepping out in denim capris, a black pleather halter top, and a smudged smoky eye with dark black under-eyeliner, she looks like an off-duty Nineties supermodel.
7. Sejeong remains the undisputed life of the party
Every ensemble needs a catalyst, and Sejeong remains the beating heart of I.O.I. She is the first member in the music video to break through the melancholic tension, initiating a collective, uninhibited dance sequence that pulls the rest of the girls into her perfect madness. Her warmth onscreen is palpable, reminding us that despite their massive individual success, I.O.I’s chemistry as a unit cannot be manufactured.
8. Don’t leave us again!
In one of the MV’s final, most poignant frames, the girls are stripped of their designer garments, dressed simply in classic white t-shirts and jeans while being showered by water hoses. Across the screen, the words read: We meet, we leave, we meet again. It’s a bittersweet reminder of the heartbreak that comes with a temporary group. Now, fans can only desperately hope to soak up every second of this music before the group inevitably drifts into their solo orbits once more.
9. The live concert is non-negotiable
The music video doubles as a glittering invitation for their upcoming 9-member reunion tour. Crisscrossing Asia for three highly exclusive stops, the tour is set to culminate in a massive, emotional finale in Hong Kong on June 20–21, 2026. Seeing these tracks performed live after a decade of waiting will no doubt be a historical pop event. You can guarantee I’ll be in the crowd, chanting for the girls who started the modern survival show revolution.
10. The schoolgirl pleats are gone for good
갑자기 (Suddenly) shows the members looking as though they’ve stepped directly off a high-fashion magazine cover, swathed in rich, vintage retro tones of deep greens, cobalt blues, and rich purples. By opting for sharply tailored suits and monochromatic palettes over the pleated schoolgirl skirts of their youth, I.O.I sends a clear message: they are no longer playing at being idols. They are running the show.
