I.O.I just claimed a trophy it never won during its original run — and did it without a single member on stage. On June 13, 2026, "Suddenly" topped MBC's "Show! Music Core" on the strength of digital and broadcast charts alone.
June 13, 2026: I.O.I Takes the Music Core Crown
I.O.I won No. 1 on MBC's "Show! Music Core" with "Suddenly" on June 13, 2026, scoring 7,815 points on episode 950 . The result is notable for one reason beyond the score: no I.O.I member appeared at the live broadcast, so the trophy was awarded in absentia . The win was driven entirely by digital streaming and broadcast-chart strength rather than an in-studio performance.
The field that week was fully active rather than thin. Roughly 18 acts performed on episode 950, including BABYMONSTER, TREASURE, BOYNEXTDOOR, EPEX and izna, with aespa and ILLIT trailing I.O.I in the final tally . The top three by points:
| Rank | Artist | Song | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | I.O.I | Suddenly | 7,815 |
| 2nd | aespa | LEMONADE | 5,901 |
| 3rd | ILLIT | It's Me | 5,590 |
The roughly 1,900-point margin over aespa's "LEMONADE" (5,901 points) and the gap to ILLIT's "It's Me" (5,590 points) underline how much of I.O.I's lead came from off-stage metrics . For a project group returning after years of inactivity, winning a music show without a studio appearance is an unusual outcome — and it sets up the milestone framing that follows.
The One Trophy I.O.I Never Claimed — Until Now
The June 13, 2026 result closes a specific gap that stayed open for nearly a decade: "Show! Music Core" is the one major music program I.O.I never topped during its original run. The framing matters — this is a Music Core first, not a first music-show win overall. Back in 2016–2017, the group did collect trophies, just on other shows.
"Very Very Very" won Show Champion on October 26, 2016, M Countdown on October 27, and Inkigayo on October 30 , and "Downpour" later took Inkigayo on January 31, 2017 . No accessible record shows a Music Core win before June 13, 2026 . The reunion track "Suddenly" finally claimed the program the group ran past during its brief original cycle.
That the win came in absentia makes it more striking, not less. With the members away from the studio, the 7,815-point total rested on digital, streaming and broadcast-chart strength rather than a live stage .
"I.O.I took its first-ever 'Music Core' trophy with 'Suddenly' — without appearing at the broadcast," as reported by Soompi, a detail echoed in Sports Today's coverage of the win.
The 10th-Anniversary Comeback: EP, Members, and Melon No. 1
The "Music Core" result is the latest milestone in a comeback built specifically around I.O.I's 10th debut anniversary. On May 19, 2026, the group released "I.O.I : Loop," its third extended play and first new album in roughly nine years . The six-track EP carries "IOI (Where My Girls At)," "Suddenly," "SPF 100+ (Summer Pop Fantasy)," "If I," "Then, Now, and Forever," and the pre-release single "Goodbye with a Smile," with title track "Suddenly" written and composed by Vvn, Kush and Ido .
Nine of the eleven original members returned for the main comeback: Im Na-young, Chungha, Kim Se-jeong, Jung Chae-yeon, Kim So-hye, Yoo Yeon-jung, Choi Yoo-jung, Kim Do-yeon and Jeon So-mi . Kang Mi-na and Zhou Jieqiong (Kyulkyung) were absent from the main project, largely due to prior acting commitments, though both reportedly appeared on the pre-release single . The return was confirmed by Swing Entertainment on February 23, 2026, framed explicitly around the group's 10th anniversary .
The chart momentum built steadily rather than peaking in release week. "Suddenly" reached No. 1 on Melon's TOP100 real-time chart on the morning of May 29, 2026 — about ten days after release — with Korean outlets reporting the members were "deeply moved" by the result . That same sustained digital strength is what analysts credited for the June 13 trophy. On the album charts, "I.O.I : Loop" peaked at #33 on South Korea's Circle Chart and #70 on Billboard Japan's Download Albums chart .
Live Shows: Seoul Jamsil Run and International Stops
Beyond the charts, I.O.I paired its reunion with live shows. The group held three Seoul concerts at the Jamsil complex on May 29, 30 and 31, 2026, scheduling the run to coincide with the comeback rather than waiting for a later tour leg . The opening night fell on the same morning "Suddenly" reached No. 1 on Melon, making May 29 a doubly significant date for the nine-member lineup.
International stops have been announced but not fully dated. Korea JoongAng Daily reported that the Seoul run would be followed by overseas tour stops including Bangkok and Hong Kong, though specific venues and exact dates were not confirmed as of mid-June 2026 . Fans planning to travel should monitor Swing Entertainment's announcements for ticketing windows and final venue details before booking flights or accommodation.
The takeaway: a decade after debuting as a temporary project group, I.O.I closed out its 10th-anniversary cycle with a Melon No. 1, three Jamsil shows and a first-ever "Music Core" trophy on June 13, 2026 — with Bangkok and Hong Kong still ahead for fans watching the official channels.
Frequently asked questions
When did I.O.I win Show! Music Core with 'Suddenly'?
I.O.I won No. 1 on the June 13, 2026 broadcast of MBC's "Show! Music Core" (Episode 950) with "Suddenly," scoring 7,815 points . The track beat aespa's "LEMONADE" (5,901 points) and ILLIT's "It's Me" (5,590 points) . It was the group's first-ever trophy on that specific program.
Why weren't I.O.I at the Music Core broadcast when they won?
I.O.I's members did not appear in the studio on June 13, 2026, so the trophy was awarded in absentia . The result was driven by accumulated digital, streaming and broadcast-chart strength rather than an in-studio performance vote — the same sustained momentum that earlier carried "Suddenly" to No. 1 on Melon's TOP100 real-time chart on May 29, 2026 .
Is 'Suddenly' I.O.I's first music-show win ever?
No. During its 2016–2017 run, I.O.I won multiple programs: "Very Very Very" topped Show Champion (Oct 26, 2016), M Countdown (Oct 27, 2016) and Inkigayo (Oct 30, 2016), and "Downpour" won Inkigayo on Jan 31, 2017 . "Suddenly" is specifically the group's first win on "Show! Music Core" — the one major program it had never topped before .
Which members are in I.O.I's 2026 comeback lineup?
Nine of the eleven original members took part: Im Na-young, Chungha, Kim Se-jeong, Jung Chae-yeon, Kim So-hye, Yoo Yeon-jung, Choi Yoo-jung, Kim Do-yeon and Jeon So-mi . Kang Mi-na and Zhou Jieqiong (Kyulkyung) were excluded from the main comeback due to prior commitments — primarily acting work — though both reportedly appeared on the pre-release single "Goodbye with a Smile" .
Where can fans see I.O.I perform live in 2026?
I.O.I held three Seoul concerts at Jamsil on May 29, 30 and 31, 2026, with later tour stops including Bangkok and Hong Kong announced . Specific international dates, venues and ticketing windows should be confirmed through Swing Entertainment's official channels before booking travel, as these details may change.
Last updated: 2026-06-25. Reviewed against Soompi and Wikipedia reporting on I.O.I's June 13, 2026 "Show! Music Core" win.
