I.O.I Member’s In-Ear Monitor Struggle Sparks Unexpected Reactions

Recently, the girl group I.O.I made a long-awaited comeback after almost 10 years since their debut with their reunion album, I.O.I: LOOP.

However, most recently, a radio show clip of member Lim Nayoung garnered much attention online.

나롱언니 아침에 멜론차트 순위보고 울었대….
그리고 언제는 인이어가 비틀려 있길래 청하가 돌려줬는데 팬분께 선물받고 처음 껴보는거라 그게 맞는 줄 알고 끼고 있었던거래…… 무너져내림 pic.twitter.com/5z1KHV7i9D

— 앙덕 (@angduck2) May 25, 2026

Nayoung wore her in-ear monitor, but she put it on the wrong way, so I fixed it for her. She told me it was way more comfortable, and I asked her how she promoted all this time. It turns out it was her first time wearing those in-ear monitors because she received them as a gift, but at that time, they didn’t have any promotions, so this was the first time wearing them.

— Chungha

Many were shocked to see her powerful energy on stage despite not being active for a long time.

젤 놀라운 건 임나영누나임
프리스틴 해체한지 엄청됐는데..
무대폼 잃으신 적 없는 사람처럼 무대하고..
(플레디스 연습생이 얼마나 빡셌으면
얼마나 무대가 그리웠을꼬 pic.twitter.com/yrlnbMEQmu

— 파자마 (@geuksesa) May 25, 2026

The most shocking for me was Lim Nayoung. It’s been a long time since PRISTIN disbanded, and yet she looks like someone who hasn’t lost her spark on stage. I wonder how hard it was being a PLEDIS trainee and how much she missed being on stage…

Netizens agreed they missed seeing her on stage and blamed PLEDIS for their lack of judgment.

• “Her expression looks so happy.”
• “I really loved PRISTIN.”
• “If PLEDIS has any sense, they need to stop making girl groups.”
• “My heart hurts thinking about PRISTIN. Seeing Nayoung shine on stage, then hearing the story about the in-ear, made me so sad.”
• “She is still so pretty and talented…”
• “I am in tears whenever I hear stories like this…since they are going on tour, I hope she gets to perform on stage a lot.”
• “PLEDIS, those b*stards!”