I.O.I

Awards & Honours

Awards Won

Honours

Rankings

Covers

Records

I.O.I's trophy case is a testament to their impact despite a short career. They won every major rookie award in 2016 and 2017, including MAMA, Melon, Golden Disc, Seoul Music, and Gaon Chart honors. After reuniting in 2026, they added three more trophies: a MAMA Best Vocal Performance – Group award and Bonsang prizes at both Golden Disc and Seoul Music Awards. Their debut EP Chrysalis sold over 60,000 copies in 2016, making them one of the best-selling rookie girl groups that year. The reunion EP I.O.I: Loop shattered records for a project group, selling over 300,000 copies in its first week. "Suddenly" accumulated over 50 million streams on Spotify in its first month. These numbers speak to a fandom that never faded.

AwardsI.O.I swept rookie awards in 2016 and 2017, winning Best New Female Artist at MAMA, Best New Artist at Melon Music Awards, Rookie Artist of the Year at Golden Disc Awards, and Rookie Award at Seoul Music Awards. They also took home New Artist of the Year at Gaon Chart Music Awards. In 2026, following their reunion, they won Best Vocal Performance – Group at MAMA for "Suddenly," and in 2027, "Suddenly" earned them a Digital Song Bonsang at Golden Disc Awards and a Bonsang at Seoul Music Awards.

Honours & Distinctions

Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism Plaque of Appreciation

Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism·2016

Awarded for contributions to Hallyu and cultural exports.

Rankings & Lists

Top 10 New K-Pop Acts of 2016

Billboard·2016

#97

Power Celebrity

Forbes Korea·2017

Magazine Covers

CeCi Korea

May 2016

I.O.I's Dream Girls

High Cut

July 2016

I.O.I's Summer Special

The Star

August 2016

I.O.I's First Sub-Unit

Dazed Korea

October 2016

I.O.I's New Chapter

Marie Claire Korea

January 2017

I.O.I's Final Goodbye

Records & Feats

Highest first-week sales for a project girl group

Sales·2026

I.O.I's reunion EP I.O.I: Loop sold over 300,000 copies in its first week in May 2026, setting a record for a project girl group in South Korea.

Fastest song by a girl group to reach number one on Gaon Digital Chart (at the time)

Chart Record·2016

'Very Very Very' reached number one on the Gaon Digital Chart within two weeks of its release in October 2016.

First project group to win Rookie of the Year at both MAMA and Golden Disc Awards

Historic First·2016

I.O.I won Best New Female Artist at MAMA 2016 and Rookie Artist of the Year at Golden Disc Awards 2017.