K-pop girl group I. O. I reunite for live broadcast, Shinee stars and NCT Dream to release albums, but BTS’ plans for 2021 not yet finalised

Short-lived 11-member girl group I. O. I – very popular in their day – will reunite for a live event on May 4 to mark the band’s fifth anniversary

Shinee’s Taemin will release a solo album in May, Key is planning to release a solo album in July, and Onew is planning on releasing a solo album in September

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Popular K-pop acts including I.O.I, NCT Dream (pictured) and Shinee have announced their upcoming plans for 2021, from new album drops to special events and concerts. Photo: Imazins via Getty Images

Published: 10:15pm, 18 Apr 2021Updated: 10:15pm, 18 Apr 2021

In the past week, K-pop acts including I. O. I, NCT Dream and Shinee have confirmed their plans for 2021, raising anticipation for the rest of the year.

Short-lived but very popular girl group I. O. I, an 11-member team formed through the 2016 television series Produce 101 but who parted ways in 2017, announced on April 13 that members would be reuniting for a special event on May 4 in celebration of their fifth anniversary.

Nine of the 11 members will meet up for a special live broadcast; the other two members, unable to attend because of work clashes, aim to participate in some way.

The event will stream on the KT Seezn mobile app, which publishes a lot of K-pop content.

Girl group I. O. I announced on April 13 that members would be reuniting for a special event on May 4 in celebration of their fifth anniversary. Photo: Getty Images

Boy band Shinee, who dropped new music for the first time in about three years in February, also shared plans for the rest of 2021 during a live-stream event promoting their new single Atlantis, which came out on April 12.

According to the band, Taemin will release a solo album in May and hold a concert on May 2, while Key is planning to release a solo album in July. Onew is also planning on releasing a solo album in September.