For K-pop fans, the return of I.O.I, Wanna One is more than nostalgia
I.O.I and Wanna One are returning, bringing two of K-pop’s most symbolic audition-born project groups back into the spotlight. Their comeback has stirred nostalgia among longtime fans, but the move appears to be more than a sentimental revival. In today’s K-pop content market, familiar names with proven fandoms have become powerful acts capable of competing with newly launched groups. The two groups represent the golden age of “project groups,” temporary idol acts formed through audition programs. In 2016, Mnet launched the first season of “Produce 101,” introducing K-pop to the idea of “national producers,” in which viewers voted to decide which contestants would make the final lineup. The show quickly became a sensation, as fans followed the contestants’ growth arcs, rivalries and emotional competition narratives with near-syndromic intensity. I.O.I., whose members were chosen through the program, built a powerful fandom almost immediately after its debut. Though the group was active for only about a year, I.O.I. left a deep mark in the K-pop industry with songs such
