I.O.I member Choi Yoojung laid it all bare — from the harsh reality of her earnings 10 years after debut to the true meaning behind the group’s reunion — delivering candid, headline-making honesty.
On the 23rd, a new video featuring Choi Yoojung as a guest was uploaded to Kian84’s YouTube channel. In the clip, Kian84, a former webtoon artist turned TV personality, visited Choi’s home ahead of her solo album release for a laid-back, tell-all chat.
When Kian84 asked, "So how’s life these days?", Choi laughed, "Are we starting like this right away?" She then shared an update: "We’re doing I.O.I’s 10th-anniversary activities."
Recently reunited after a decade, I.O.I dropped the new track 'Suddenly' and shot to No. 1 on the charts, sparking major buzz. When Kian84 congratulated her — "I saw you hit first place" — Choi joked, "We’re a survival show group, so there are always rankings." She added, "Back then, No. 1 was Jeon Somi, No. 2 was Kim Sejeong, and No. 3 was Choi Yoojung. So when a song hits No. 1, we say, 'Jeon Somi did it'," drawing laughs.
The talk then turned to money — the real numbers 10 years into her career. Asked if she gives her mother an allowance, Choi said, "Not as often as I’d like, but I do when I can. I should be able to soon — once the settlement comes in." She added with a grin, "I told my mom yesterday, 'I think this album’s going to go well,' and she said, 'Hey, let’s stay close,'" making everyone laugh.
When Kian84 asked, "Ten years in — isn’t your income pretty good now?", Choi replied frankly, "It’s not easy to turn a profit — unless you do insanely well."
"But you did well," Kian84 said. "You placed third on Produce 101, released a solo album, and even did musicals." Choi quipped, "Me?" Kian84 then noted, "Produce 101 wasn’t just for idol fans — it was a national show," recalling the frenzy at the time.
The conversation also dove into how reunion profits are split. When asked, "If the reunion makes 100 million won, how much do you take?", Choi explained, "A lot gets deducted. Each member has their own company, and there are a lot of parties involved. I get whatever’s left."
"There has to be something left for you to feel motivated, right?" Kian84 asked. Choi revealed, "That’s how we end up not being able to get together. The reunion fell through twice." Given how hard it was to make this reunion happen, she implied the meaning of being together outweighs the money.
Choi Yoojung debuted with I.O.I through Produce 101 in 2016 and has been loved by many since.