I.O.I's Kang Mina Shuts Down Member Feud Rumors: 'We Text Almost Every Day'

I.O.I member and actress Kang Mina has pushed back on rumors of conflict within the group, telling fans directly that she is still in close contact with her members.

Writing on a fan messaging platform, Kang said she and the other members had been checking in with each other that same day. "Today the members and I told each other we miss them and said congratulations. We text almost every day on KakaoTalk, but people keep talking about a feud. Why do they live so tired?" she wrote, referring to South Korea's dominant messaging app. She added, "If they have that kind of time, they should be congratulating I.O.I on a No. 1 win instead."

I.O.I reunited on Nov. 19 to mark the group's 10th debut anniversary, the first time the members have come back together in nine years. The group released its third EP, "I.O.I : LOOP," and returned to music shows and broadcast schedules, drawing a strong response from longtime fans.

Two of the original members, Kang Mina and Zhou Jieqiong, did not take part in the reunion activities. Their absence sparked online speculation that there was tension inside the group, which Kang directly shut down with her message to fans.

I.O.I will open the Seoul leg of its concert tour "2026 I.O.I Concert Tour: LOOP in SEOUL" from Nov. 29 to 31 at Jamsil Indoor Stadium in the Songpa district of Seoul. From there, the group plans to take the tour to Bangkok, Hong Kong and other cities to meet fans overseas.

Kang has also been active as an actress. She played Im Na-ri in the Netflix series "Girigo," released in April, and is set to appear in the upcoming tvN Monday-Tuesday drama "Off to Work Tomorrow!," premiering in June.