Why are people so fixated on this narrative that most IOI members "failed" when this is factually incorrect?

No one is saying post-disbandment Sistar flopped or post-Girls' Day they flopped so why is this strange energy towards IOI?

Yall were saying the same for Sejeong when girl is literally one of the most active idols on variety shows, but u can't now cos she's a proven drama star.

Anyways Sejeong, Chungha and Somi leading the way.

Kang Mina and Jung Chaeyeon are the next tier down always getting big drama roles, same with Jieqiong in China.

Yoojung always in variety and has hosting roles, Doyeon had roles in 3 dramas last year, Yeonjung's WJSN is consistently always one of the top tier groups.

Sohye is slowly finding her way as a film actress.

Nayoung is the only questionable one cos Pledis f'ed her over, but you can't win them all.

Honestly they're one of the best groups in solo careers. Like the pool for 3rd gen actresses is so small, yet IOI has 3/4 of them, and Sejeong is arguably the most successful one so far out of this generation.

It's rare for groups to have 2/3 members to still be in the "spotlight" during solo activities. If SNSD has Taeyeon and Yoona, IOI has Sejeong, Chungha and Somi. A leading actress, leading solo artists, and consistent TV actresses. Why are people so stuck on this narrative?

It's because only 2 really succeeded in music and ifans don't pay a huge deal of time and attention to k drama so don't see the others thriving as much as say Chungha and Somi.

They see Pinky going to China and view it as failing in Korea and running home and Weki Meki are a failed group(let's be honest here) so those members + Nayoung add to the narrative.

Some were successful, but overall since 2016 looking at their body of work Doyeon, Yoojun, Nayoung and Sohye all failed, let's not pretend they didn't. WJSN is a mid tier team at best, these days more lingering on lower-mid tier so she ain't a great success either.

you forgot seohyun and sooyoung for snsd but yeah you do have a point

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It's because only 2 really succeeded in music and ifans don't pay a huge deal of time and attention to k drama so don't see the others thriving as much as say Chungha and Somi.

They see Pinky going to China and view it as failing in Korea and running home and Weki Meki are a failed group(let's be honest here) so those members + Nayoung add to the narrative.

Some were successful, but overall since 2016 looking at their body of work Doyeon, Yoojun, Nayoung and Sohye all failed, let's not pretend they didn't. WJSN is a mid tier team at best, these days more lingering on lower-mid tier so she ain't a great success either.

K-drama/movies can be just as big as k-pop, if not bigger (Parasite, Squid Game), so it needs to be considered.

The Korean market is small. Kpop/drama/film is only relevant because of its international success. China's market is much bigger, so even though Pinky is focused just on that market, she is still doing very well. Plenty of other idols originally from China moved back to China for that reason.

So I would say that:

Very Successful ($$$): Somi (in order: endorsements, music, variety), Sejeong (acting, variety, endorsements, music), Chungha (music, endorsements), and Pinky (endorsements, acting, variety, music. People don't know/forget that she was a MENTOR in one of the Chinese produce series)

With everyone else, except possibly Sohye and Nayoung being moderately successful (Weki Meki is low tier, but Yoojung and Doyeon are doing well with individual activities), but they are all still in the entertainment industry after almost 6 years, which is impressive in itself... we'll see about Izone members 5 years from now.

4/11 being very successful individually after disbandment is unusually good for any former kpop group's members... and it was the first season of Produce before it established itself internationally... and they all got their start before kpop blew up internationally.

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K-drama/movies can be just as big as k-pop, if not bigger (Parasite, Squid Game), so it needs to be considered.

The Korean market is small. Kpop/drama/film is only relevant because of its international success. China's market is much bigger, so even though Pinky is focused just on that market, she is still doing very well. Plenty of other idols originally from China moved back to China for that reason.

So I would say that:

Very Successful ($$$): Somi (in order: endorsements, music, variety), Sejeong (acting, variety, endorsements, music), Chungha (music, endorsements), and Pinky (endorsements, acting, variety, music. People don't know/forget that she was a MENTOR in one of the Chinese produce series)

With everyone else, except possibly Sohye and Nayoung being moderately successful (Weki Meki is low tier, but Yoojung and Doyeon are doing well with individual activities), but they are all still in the entertainment industry after almost 6 years, which is impressive in itself... we'll see about Izone members 5 years from now.

4/11 being very successful individually after disbandment is unusually good for any former kpop group's members... and it was the first season of Produce before it established itself internationally... and they all got their start before kpop blew up internationally.

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I think more of IOI will be successful in the long run compared to IZ*One, but IZ*One wouldn't drop off in int. eyes and will overall stay in music/idol life. Doyeon is making a lot of money of mdelling, and Yoojung is on variety every day. They're richer for sure, than even Sohye. And way more well known on the K-side.

We already know who IZ*One's big 4 is tbh, Sakura, Chaewon, Wonyoung, Yujin. And then Yena/Minju/Yuri a bit after. But that's in terms of int attention.

I feel like Nako, Eunbi, and Chaeyeon are going to be screwed over though. Hitomi is going to be successful but only in J-ent, so she may fade away in int. eyes, and if Hyewon markets herself as well as she is now, she is gonna be a very powerful influencer.

Also good for Chaewon. She was rigged in but arguably could be the most successsful of the lot after Sakura and Wonyoung. Considering Sakura's prior popularity, and Wonyoung being an it girl -- she's no slouch.

The bar is high.

When Kpop fans talk about success, they aren't simply talking about just "making money". They are talking about competing with the top tiers in their field, being an A-lister. Sure, plenty of failed idols can find ways to make money from producing and earning royalties, modeling, doing variety, web dramas or whatever, but simply doing that isn't the same as being at the top, having relevancy, a high brand, etc.

Other than Somi, Chungha, and the ones that went off to China who most people do acknowledge, who among the other post I.O.I members is competing with Blackpink, Twice, G-idle, Aespa, IVE, StayC? Who among them is competing Jung Hoyeon in modeling or acting? Who among them is competing with Suzy, Han Sohee, or Seo Yeji in acting?

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The bar is high.

When Kpop fans talk about success, they aren't simply talking about just "making money". They are talking about competing with the top tiers in their field, being an A-lister. Sure, plenty of failed idols can find ways to make money from producing and earning royalties, modeling, doing variety, web dramas or whatever, but simply doing that isn't the same as being at the top, having relevancy, a high brand, etc.

Other than Somi, Chungha, and the ones that went off to China who most people do acknowledge, who among the other post I.O.I members is competing with Blackpink, Twice, G-idle, Aespa, IVE, StayC? Who among them is competing Jung Hoyeon in modeling or acting? Who among them is competing with Suzy, Han Sohee, or Seo Yeji in acting?

Lol what is this ridiculous standard. How many idol actresses are competing with Suzy, Han Sohee, or Seo Yeji? Does that mean Apink's Eunji failed as an actress? Or Uee? Or Kwon Nara? So why raise the bar when it comes to IOI?

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Lol what is this ridiculous standard. How many idol actresses are competing with Suzy, Han Sohee, or Seo Yeji? Does that mean Apink's Eunji failed as an actress? Or Uee? Or Kwon Nara? So why raise the bar when it comes to IOI?

Is Apink Eunji considered an A-tier actress? No? Then why even mention her? It's like you didn't bother to read what I said so I will repeat myself. THE. BAR. IS. HIGH. As idols, I.O.I girls were A-tier or even higher. To go from anything beside A-tier in their field is going to be considered by Kpop fans as flops. Get over it. That's just how it is. Nobody said they aren't making money or doing okay. But for Kpop fans, in the context that you were asking about "successful" only refers to the top of the top.

Nobody is "raising the bar" when it comes to I.O.I. The bar has always been that high. I'm not sure why you guys are acting so surprised when even top groups like NCT or even Twice get called flops if they aren't constantly outdoing themselves or ranking in the top 10s.

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The bar is high.

So what is the bar - Daesangs/Gaon or Melon #1/PAKs?

Then nobody, not even Somi or Chungha have achieved it, have they?

Neither have most girl groups or Iz*one etc.

Somi, Chungha, Sejeong are definite successes.

other 5(?) of them are thriving,

None have dropped off public eye, even Nayoung has been getting good TV gigs.

That is good average for disbanded groups, particularly for a group that was only active for few months - 3 comebacks?, built no fandom etc.

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So what is the bar - Daesangs/Gaon or Melon #1/PAKs?

Then nobody, not even Somi or Chungha have achieved it, have they?

Neither have most girl groups or Iz*one etc.

Somi, Chungha, Sejeong are definite successes.

other 5(?) of them are thriving,

None have dropped off public eye, even Nayoung has been getting good TV gigs.

That is good average for disbanded groups, particularly for a group that was only active for few months - 3 comebacks?, built no fandom etc.

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Nowhere did I state Somi and Chungha weren't successful. In fact, I literally stated the opposite.

Somi and Chungha are idol soloists and rank among the top of their fields. Chungha did well shortly after leaving I.O.I and Somi took some time to find a sound that worked well for her and managed to make a comeback after a series of flops.

As for the bar, like I said, it's a matter of being among the top competition of their field. For idols or idol soloists, could it depend on a Daesang or Melon Chart or Gaon chart? Yes. Those things are factors, but for domestic success. There are other charts and platforms and measurements that Kpop fans use to rank success besides those.

As for Iz*One, during their run they did rank if not in the top 5 then at least the top 10 of 4th gen groups. They literally broke the record for most physical albums sold before BlackPink went and smashed it. They also had good streaming numbers. Afterward, most of the post-IzOne girls are doing consistently well. IVE is already among the top 5 for 4th Gen girl groups and Somugg is on their way. Then there is Yena who sold a lot of albums and charted high. Nako and Hitomi are doing better than ever after returning to Japan. It's a stark difference from I.O.I. They broke the precedence that "post-produce groups are cursed to flop" that I.O.I helped set before them.

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Nowhere did I state Somi and Chungha weren't successful. In fact, I literally stated the opposite.

Somi and Chungha are idol soloists and rank among the top of their fields. Chungha did well shortly after leaving I.O.I and Somi took some time to find a sound that worked well for her and managed to make a comeback after a series of flops.

As for the bar, like I said, it's a matter of being among the top competition of their field. For idols or idol soloists, could it depend on a Daesang or Melon Chart or Gaon chart? Yes. Those things are factors, but for domestic success. There are other charts and platforms and measurements that Kpop fans use to rank success besides those.

As for Iz*One, during their run they did rank if not in the top 5 then at least the top 10 of 4th gen groups. They literally broke the record for most physical albums sold before BlackPink went and smashed it. They also had good streaming numbers. Afterward, most of the post-IzOne girls are doing consistently well. IVE is already among the top 5 for 4th Gen girl groups and Somugg is on their way. Then there is Yena who sold a lot of albums and charted high. Nako and Hitomi are doing better than ever after returning to Japan. It's a stark difference from I.O.I. They broke the precedence that "post-produce groups are cursed to flop" that I.O.I helped set before them.

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You still haven't specified your *bar",

If Melon which is 60% of the market or Gaon which aggregates multiple charts, then your bar is in your mind.

Not anything objective that can be verified.

You are just making up things to show Only Somi and Chungha are successful and others aren't - limiting to singing and then some imaginary bar.

As to post Iz*one don't be in a hurry, Pristin had a great debut year, as has Ive. Only time will tell, what comes of it.

And Iz*one never reached the digital charting IOI achieved, despite their much shorter career.

Physicals mean nothing, it is still the Wizone base buying, which will run out soon enough

If Yena/Eunbi had some well digitally, that would have mattered.

Japanese members don't matter much, they are equal to Kyulkung who is doing pretty well.

Quote from Steamed Chestnuts & Venison (939)

Nowhere did I state Somi and Chungha weren't successful. In fact, I literally stated the opposite.

Somi and Chungha are idol soloists and rank among the top of their fields. Chungha did well shortly after leaving I.O.I and Somi took some time to find a sound that worked well for her and managed to make a comeback after a series of flops.

As for the bar, like I said, it's a matter of being among the top competition of their field. For idols or idol soloists, could it depend on a Daesang or Melon Chart or Gaon chart? Yes. Those things are factors, but for domestic success. There are other charts and platforms and measurements that Kpop fans use to rank success besides those.

As for Iz*One, during their run they did rank if not in the top 5 then at least the top 10 of 4th gen groups. They literally broke the record for most physical albums sold before BlackPink went and smashed it. They also had good streaming numbers. Afterward, most of the post-IzOne girls are doing consistently well. IVE is already among the top 5 for 4th Gen girl groups and Somugg is on their way. Then there is Yena who sold a lot of albums and charted high. Nako and Hitomi are doing better than ever after returning to Japan. It's a stark difference from I.O.I. They broke the precedence that "post-produce groups are cursed to flop" that I.O.I helped set before them.

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Lol it's almost like you're conveniently leaving out all the acting successes IOI members have had. If Wonyoung, Minju or Hyewon were the ones starring in a string of hit dramas like Uncanny Counter, Business Proposal and Hotel Del Luna, you would be singing a completely different tune