"We'll Definitely Come Back": I.O.I Takes Two Awards at 2026 MMA

K-POP group I.O.I has wrapped up its 10th anniversary reunion with a promise to fans that it will be back. The group won the Best Music Style award and a Top 10 award at the 2026 Melon Music Awards (2026 MMA), held on the afternoon of the 14th at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul's Guro district.

I.O.I marked its 10th anniversary this year by releasing a new song, "Gapjagi," in May. The release brought all the members back together for the first time in about 10 years. The song did well on South Korean music charts and drew strong interest from fans.

Member Lim Na-young spoke first when the group took the stage to accept.

"It's an honor to receive such a meaningful award," Lim said. "We were so happy to get a lot of love for 'Gapjagi.' I really wanted to sing it at an awards show. I love Angdungi so much, and I miss you. Thank you." Angdungi is the name of the group's fandom.

Lim went on to thank staff at the members' agencies, along with KUSH, Vivian and others who worked on "Gapjagi." She also thanked fans for waiting for I.O.I for 10 years. Being able to work with the other members again made the project even more special, she added.

Choi Yoo-jung then told the crowd that the night's performance would close out the reunion project.

"Today is our last stage as a full group for this 10th anniversary project," Choi said. "The members shared both happy and bittersweet feelings in the waiting room."

"After today, another wait with no set end will begin," she said. "But I don't think the wait will feel hopeless. We'll hold on to the love of everyone waiting for us, and we will definitely come back."

She ended with a nod to the song's title, which means "suddenly" in Korean. "Let's meet again, all of a sudden," she told fans.

Now in its 18th year, the Melon Music Awards stretched its schedule to two days for the first time. Along with I.O.I, the first day featured Dragon Pony, RIIZE, RESCENE, IDID, aespa, AEN, ATEEZ, TUIDE, Hearts2Hearts, HANA, NCT DREAM, TWS and YENA.

For a group that came back together after a decade apart, the reunion ended on a stage, not a goodbye. Like many K-pop acts that return for anniversaries, I.O.I left the door open, and its fans now have a reason to keep waiting.