Former I.O.I member and actress Kang Mina, who did not join the group’s reunion, addressed the alleged discord and dismissed the controversy.
Recently on the fan communication platform Bubble, Kang Mina spoke about her relationship with the members: "Even today we said we miss each other and sent our congrats. We’re in touch almost every day." She added, "I don’t know why ‘feud’ talk keeps coming up. Instead of that, please spend that time congratulating I.O.I on their No. 1," expressing her frustration.
Marking their 10th debut anniversary, I.O.I reunited for the first time in about nine years. They released their third mini album, 'I.O.I : LOOP,' and are appearing on music shows and more, drawing huge fan attention. However, during the reunion process, Kang Mina and Kyulkyung (Zhou Jieqiong) were unable to participate, which led to some online communities fueling feud rumors.
Kang Mina had already clarified her stance in an earlier interview: "I didn’t know the exact preparation timeline for the project, and it overlapped with my drama filming and promotion schedule, so it was difficult to join. The best I could do was explain the situation to the members and ask for their understanding." Following the Netflix series If Wishes Could Kill, she is gearing up for the tvN drama See You at Work Tomorrow!, slated to air in June.
Meanwhile, I.O.I plans to kick off their tour with a concert at Jamsil Indoor Gymnasium in Seoul, before heading to Bangkok and Hong Kong. With a long-awaited near-full reunion and active promotions underway, attention is on whether misunderstandings about the members’ relationships will gradually be resolved.