I.O.I Ends a 10-Year Wait for “Music Core” First Place as HYBE’s New “ICONIC BY MISTAKE” Dance Practice Draws Attention

After a decade-long stretch without a first-place trophy on Music Core, I.O.I finally clinched its first win with “Suddenly.” The group took the top spot on the June 13, 2026 episode of MBC’s long-running music program, finishing with 7,815 points—an outcome that capped their 10th-anniversary run and reignited interest in one of K-pop’s enduring comeback-era hits.

I.O.I’s first-ever “Music Core” win: “Suddenly” takes the crown

According to reporting from Soompi, the June 13 episode featured three songs vying for first place: I.O.I’s “Suddenly,” ILLIT’s “It’s Me,” and aespa’s “LEMONADE.” In the final score tally, I.O.I emerged on top with 7,815 points, marking their first time reaching the No. 1 position on Music Core since their debut a decade earlier.

The win is particularly notable because I.O.I’s identity is closely tied to the group’s limited timeline—born from the reality-competition era and remembered as a milestone in second-generation idol history. That this first-place moment arrived on a 10th-anniversary occasion adds extra weight: rather than fading into legacy status, “Suddenly” has continued to perform as a nostalgia-proof track capable of competing with contemporary leaders.

For fans, the trophy functions as more than a scoreboard result. Music show first places often serve as public validation of a song’s sustained momentum, and in this case, it also reflects the enduring collective memory around I.O.I’s signature sound and era.

Stage energy across the episode: performances from across K-pop’s roster

The Music Core broadcast also served as a broad showcase of current and rising acts. Soompi lists performances spanning major agencies and different generations, including BOYNEXTDOOR (“VIRAL”), BABYMONSTER (“SUGAR HONEY ICE TEA”), TREASURE (“IF I”), and aespa-adjacent competition-era artists like izna (“R.I.P.” and “METRONOME”).

Other billed stages included MEOVV (“DDI RO RI”), tripleS (“Baby Flower”), FIFTY FIFTY (“Like a Bubble”), AND2BLE (“Aura”), and EPEX (“ECHO”). The lineup extended further with Mighty Mouth featuring Soya (“Tok Tok”), Samuel (“ZIGI-ZIGI-ZIGI”), IDID (“FLY!”), HEART OF WOMAN (“Lost in Proof”), Queenz Eye (“LBD”), and multiple additional performances such as CrazAngel (“Picasso”), XODIAC (“Phantom Fire”), and EJel (“Summer Equation”).

While the competition centered on the first-place candidates, the wide range of artists on the same episode illustrates how Korean music television increasingly functions as a cross-section of the industry—where established groups, newer acts, and experimental projects share the same high-visibility platform.

HYBE’s next choreography spotlight: “ICONIC BY MISTAKE” goes practice-stage

As the Music Core spotlight stayed on I.O.I’s historic win, HYBE simultaneously pushed another K-pop moment into circulation: a new dance practice video tied to “ICONIC BY MISTAKE,” performed by LE SSERAFIM, ILLIT, and KATSEYE. Soompi reports that on June 14, HYBE released a choreography-focused video that expands on the choreography first shown through their appearance on M Countdown.

In practical terms, the release reflects how agencies and labels are using video formats to extend the lifecycle of a collaboration. A dance practice upload gives fans a closer look at synchronization, formations, and detail work—especially helpful for choreographies that go viral in short clips. It also provides a second wave of content after the initial performance, keeping attention high across platforms such as YouTube and short-form social media.

The timing is also notable in light of the earlier “Music Core” competition: ILLIT was part of the first-place race on June 13 with “It’s Me,” and now appears again in a collaboration spotlight with LE SSERAFIM and KATSEYE. For viewers following both episodes of public activity, the connection highlights how quickly artists can transition from weekly music-show results to broader content campaigns.

Why these moments matter: trophies, collaborations, and longevity

I.O.I’s Music Core first place underscores a broader industry reality: legacy acts can still dominate attention when the timing and emotional resonance land correctly. “Suddenly” competing directly against major contemporary hits and winning with a specific final score total of 7,815 points suggests that audience support and performance metrics remain strong even years after the original era.

At the same time, HYBE’s choreography release for “ICONIC BY MISTAKE” highlights the other engine powering modern K-pop headlines: constant content refresh. Even when the core performance window is over, practice-stage videos, collaboration media, and choreography breakdowns keep songs in circulation and turn stage execution into ongoing shareable material.

What to watch next

With I.O.I’s first-ever Music Core win secured, the likely next chapter is how long the momentum from “Suddenly” will carry across subsequent broadcasts and chart cycles—especially as newer releases continue to compete for weekly trophies. Fans will also be watching whether this win triggers additional anniversary-era programming or performance appearances linked to the group’s 10th milestone.

Meanwhile, HYBE’s “ICONIC BY MISTAKE” dance practice video may influence how quickly the collaboration choreography spreads among trainees and fans, and how it performs alongside other week-to-week content. If the practice-stage choreography continues to drive engagement, expect further official clips—such as camera-focused cuts, stage replays, or behind-the-scenes material—designed to sustain interest well beyond the first broadcast.