IOI's Kim Doyeon Same-Sex Kiss Scene Goes Viral

I.O.I is officially reuniting for the first time in about nine years to celebrate their 10th anniversary and release a new album, 'I.O.I : LOOP'. In relation to this, the released music video teaser for the title track 'Suddenly' is drawing significant attention for a same-sex kiss scene between Kim Doyeon and Jeon Somi.

In the released teaser video, Kim Doyeon stands leaning against a wall in a blue dress, and Jeon Somi appears in a pink dress. Jeon Somi approaches Kim Doyeon, suddenly gives her a short kiss, and then closes the door and leaves. Afterward, Kim Doyeon is shown covering her mouth in surprise and sinking to the floor.

Regarding this scene, Kim Doyeon revealed through a fan communication platform that she directly proposed it. She explained that the original storyboard had a scene where she would playfully slap the cheek, but she judged that a kiss would be more suitable for expressing the song's emotions than a slap, and thus changed the setting. She also added that multiple retakes of the scene were conducted during filming.

After the teaser video's release, fans and netizens showed a heated reaction, unable to hide their shock at the unconventional development. Online communities were also abuzz with related content, with fans commenting, "It's really 'Suddenly' just like the song title," and "They're really making a comeback." Some negative reactions were also present, with comments like, "They should have stuck with the old concept. Why did they go with a homosexual concept?"

In response to fans' questions, Kim Doyeon stated, "You might not believe it, but this was my idea," and regarding the kiss scene with Jeon Somi, she drew attention by replying, "We weren't flustered. We did it passionately." She also mentioned that there were multiple retakes, saying, "We went through many takes."