I.O.I LOOP 2026: Seoul 10th Anniversary Fan Guide

Nine years of solo careers, chart-topping comebacks, and packed stadiums — and now all those separate roads are looping back to I.O.I's 10th anniversary reunion in Seoul.

Quick Overview

What this guide covers: Everything a visiting fan needs for I.O.I's 10th anniversary comeback — group history, the LOOP album, Seoul concert logistics, and how to build a trip around it.

• Album I.O.I : LOOP drops May 19; Seoul concerts run May 29–31 at Jamsil Indoor Gymnasium
• 9 of 11 original members reuniting, including Jeon Somi, Chungha, and Kim Se Jeong
• Tickets: 154,000–165,000 KRW (~$112–$120 USD), official sales via NOL only
• Practical transport, ticket, and fan itinerary guide for international visitors

Read time: 7 minutes

Who Was I.O.I? The Produce 101 Story

In early 2016, Mnet launched Produce 101 — a survival show where 101 trainees from competing agencies competed entirely through public votes. Fans eliminated contestants week by week until 11 remained.

Those 11 debuted as I.O.I (Ideal of Idol) on May 4, 2016. Their debut single "Dream Girls" set the template: tight synchronized choreography, bright energy, and a group chemistry forged under genuine competition pressure. Songs like "너무너무너무" (Very Very Very) and "소나기" (Downpour) became anthems that still get played in Seoul dance studios and fan cover videos today.

The group was always designed to be temporary. Members were borrowed from their home agencies under one-year contracts, with a built-in expiration date from day one. When they disbanded in January 2017, it was expected — but the gap left behind was real and widely felt.

What followed was remarkable. Chungha built one of Korea's most respected solo careers. Jeon Somi became a chart presence across Asia. Kim Se Jeong transitioned into acclaimed K-drama acting. The other seven stayed active across groups, acting, and music. For a project group that lasted less than eight months, their individual footprints are extraordinary.

Produce 101 went on to spawn IZ*ONE, X1, and a wave of similar formats globally. I.O.I didn't just leave music behind — they launched a format. This 2026 reunion is a chance to revisit how much started in that one year.

What Is "LOOP"? The 2026 I.O.I Comeback Explained

The title LOOP makes a statement: a story that was supposed to end is cycling back.

The rollout began on May 4, 2026 — the exact 10th anniversary of their debut — with the pre-release single "Goodbye with a Smile (Recorded in 2016)." This isn't a new song written to sound nostalgic. It's an actual archival recording produced by Jinyoung in 2016 that was never released before disbandment. It preserves the members' original voices singing farewell lyrics they recorded a decade ago. Hearing it now, knowing how everything played out since, lands differently from any standard comeback single.

The full third mini-album I.O.I : LOOP drops May 19 via Swing Entertainment. The six-track lineup:

• IOI (Where My Girls At)
• Suddenly (갑자기) — title track
• SPF 100+ (Summer Pop Fantasy)
• IF I
• Back Then Us Now
• Say Goodbye with a Smile (2016 recording)

"Suddenly" is a synth-pop track about the disorienting rush of missing someone you thought you'd moved on from. Jeon Somi co-wrote the lyrics, with Chungha and Yoonjung also contributing to composition and writing across the album. This is not a nostalgia package assembled by management — the members shaped the music themselves.

One note on the lineup: Kang Mina and Zhou Jie Qiong (Pinky) couldn't participate due to pre-existing scheduling commitments. The nine who are returning — Lim Nayoung, Chungha, Kim Se Jeong, Jung Chaeyeon, Kim So Hye, Yoonjung, Choi Yoojung, Kim Doyeon, and Jeon Somi — perform as a full and complete unit.

The Seoul Concert: Venue, Tickets, and Fan Culture

2026 I.O.I Concert Tour: LOOP opens in Seoul before moving on to Bangkok and Hong Kong. Three nights. One venue.

Jamsil Indoor Gymnasium (잠실실내체육관) is one of Seoul's flagship concert venues, located inside the Seoul Sports Complex in Songpa-gu. It holds around 12,000 people, has hosted landmark K-pop shows for decades, and delivers solid sightlines across most seating sections. Expect the surrounding plaza to fill with official merch booths and fan pop-up spaces starting the day before the first show.

Show schedule:

• Friday, May 29: 8:00 PM KST
• Saturday, May 30: 6:00 PM KST
• Sunday, May 31: 5:00 PM KST

Doors open one hour before each show. There's no re-entry after you've entered, and the minimum age is 7+. Tickets are sold exclusively through NOL, the official ticketing platform — purchasing through unofficial resellers is prohibited under Korean law, though secondary fan-to-fan transfers via official channels do exist. The primary sale opened March 26, with a cap of 2 tickets per person per show.

If this is your first large K-pop concert in Seoul, fan culture and venue rules operate differently from Western shows — our guide to attending K-pop music shows in Seoul covers light stick etiquette, fanchants, and what to expect from Korean concert audiences.

Building Your Seoul Trip Around the LOOP Concerts

Three consecutive nights of concerts is a legitimate anchor for a full Seoul week. Here's how to fill the surrounding days.

Explore Hongdae for K-pop roots. Much of the Produce 101 trainee ecosystem ran through the Hongdae area, and it remains Seoul's densest hub for K-pop stores, fan cafes, and street performance culture. Take Line 2 to Hongik University Station and spend a half-day — it puts the origins of I.O.I in physical context.

Arrive at Jamsil early. Official merchandise tents and fan-organized pop-up events appear around the venue well before doors open. Plan to arrive at least 90 minutes early on concert days. The atmosphere outside — fan banners, group photos, international visitors who flew in from across Asia — is genuinely part of the experience.

Learn the choreography. "Very Very Very" has been one of the most covered K-pop dances since 2016, and knowing the moves before you see it performed live is a completely different feeling. AZIT Dance Studio near Gyeongbokgung Palace offers private K-pop dance classes where you can request specific songs — classic I.O.I choreography is on the menu.

Stack 2026 Seoul shows. This has been an unusually active year for major K-pop reunions and comebacks in Seoul. If you're planning multiple shows in one trip, the aespa LEMONADE 2026 fan guide covers another concert happening this year with a similar audience of international visitors flying in for the event.

Practical Info

	Details
Venue	Jamsil Indoor Gymnasium (잠실실내체육관)
Address	25 Olympic-daero, Songpa-gu, Seoul
Subway	Line 2 / Line 9 — Sports Complex Station (종합운동장역), Exit 8, ~11 min walk
Concert Dates	May 29 (Fri), May 30 (Sat), May 31 (Sun), 2026
Show Times	Fri 8:00 PM / Sat 6:00 PM / Sun 5:00 PM KST
R Seats	165,000 KRW (~$120 USD)
S Seats	154,000 KRW (~$112 USD)
Ticketing	NOL (official only) — max 2 tickets per person per show
Entry	Opens 1 hour before show. No re-entry. Ages 7+
Album Release	I.O.I : LOOP — May 19, 2026

Last verified: 2026-05-07

Common Questions

Can I still get tickets for the Seoul shows? The primary sale opened March 26, so remaining availability may be limited this close to the dates. Check NOL's official platform first for any remaining inventory or fan-to-fan official transfer options. The official U.I fan community on X (formerly Twitter) is also a common place to find legitimate transfers — but exercise the usual caution and avoid paying far above face value through unofficial channels.

Do I need to speak Korean to manage at the concert? Not at all. Jamsil Indoor Gymnasium regularly hosts international K-pop events, and staff near entrances can typically assist in basic English. Bring a printed or digital copy of your ticket showing the exact name on the reservation — on-site pickup requires a photo ID that matches the booking name precisely. Most venue signage also uses English alongside Korean.

How do I get from central Seoul to Jamsil by transit? Take subway Line 2 or Line 9 to Sports Complex Station (종합운동장역) and use Exit 8 for an 11-minute walk to the venue. Expect trains to be crowded 60–90 minutes before each show. For the Friday 8:00 PM show, taxis via Kakao T or K-RIDE are a practical option if you're returning after the subway slows down late at night. Our Seoul transportation guide covers T-money cards, transit apps, and late-night options in full.