i-dle (formerly known as (G)I-DLE) are a K-pop girl group that isn’t afraid to reinvent themselves. Throughout the ups and downs, this group has pushed the boundaries of what a girl group can do, and they don’t care if it goes against people’s expectations.
The Members
The members of i-dle
- Soyeon (Jeon So-yeon): Leader, main rapper, sub-vocalist, and center. She’s renowned for being the creative force behind i-dle, writing and producing the majority of the group’s music.
- Miyeon (Cho Mi-yeon): Main vocalist and visual. She’s known for having a feminine and elegant visual and has worked as an actress and a host for various TV shows like M Countdown.
- Minnie (Nicha Yontararak/Kim Min-hee): Main vocalist. Born in Bangkok, Thailand, Minnie is i-dle’s second main vocalist with a unique vocal tone. She’s also a songwriter and composer, contributing to many of i-dle’s songs.
- Yuqi (Song Yuqi): Main dancer, lead vocalist, sub-rapper, and face of the group. A Chinese singer-songwriter with a deep, husky voice that sets her apart from other female idols.
- Shuhua (Yeh Shuhua): Sub-vocalist, visual, and the youngest member—or maknae. Originally from Taiwan, she’s known for her beauty and expressive stage presence.
- i-dle initially had a sixth member, Soojin, who left the group in 2021.
The Basics
i-dle debuted under Cube Entertainment on May 2, 2018, with their first EP I Am. Their original name, (G)I-DLE, was supposed to reflect the group’s individuality. The “I” stands for each member’s unique personality, while “dle” is derived from the Korean word “아이들” (aideul), meaning “children” or “young people.” The “G” was tacked onto the name since the English translation of “idle” in parentheses is silent when spoken, so the group is pronounced simply as “i-dle.”
On May 2, 2025, the group rebranded themselves as i-dle to celebrate their seventh anniversary.
Musical Style & Cultural Impact
What sets i-dle apart from other girl groups is their versatility and their image as self-producing idols. Soyeon plays a crucial role in crafting the group’s sound, contributing to songwriting, production, and overall creative direction.
They’re also known for embracing bold concepts that challenge societal and industry norms. Their 2022 single “Tomboy” questioned traditional gender roles with lyrics and styling that promote individuality. Their follow-up single “Nxde” boldly addressed how women are objectified and hypersexualized by the media. “Wife” was a sexually suggestive track that playfully mocks the stereotype of how a wife is supposed to behave around her husband.
With South Korea being a conservative, patriarchal society, most girl groups avoid alluding to issues women face, or they’re subtle in their approach. But i-dle has managed to achieve commercial success domestically and internationally while still taking risks with their music and concepts. This strategy has also made them one of the more successful girl groups that isn’t signed to one of the “Big 4” Korean entertainment companies.
List of Achievements
- As of 2025, they’ve accumulated over 70 music show wins since their debut.
- Their first single “LATATA” gave them their first music show win 20 days after their debut, which was unheard of at the time for a rookie group.
- They won Rookie of the Year awards from the Asia Artist Awards, Golden Disc Awards, Gaon Chart Music Awards, Genie Music Awards, and Melon Music Awards in 2018.
- They’ve also won Best Female Performance Award at the 2020 & 2021 Golden Disc Awards and multiple Daesang (grand prize) throughout their career.
- i-dle were labeled “monster rookies” for the immediate success of their debut and have been cited as a source of inspiration by other K-pop artists.
- Miyeon and Soyeon provide the voices of Ahri and Akali, respectively, for Riot Games’ virtual girl group K/DA.
- They’re currently the only artist to achieve two perfect all kills (PAKs for short; it’s when a song tops all of Korea’s weekly and daily music charts) with two different songs released in the same year. They achieved this feat with “Tomboy” and “Nxde” in 2022.
- They’re the first fourth-generation K-pop girl group to accumulate over 1 billion total streams on Spotify.
- “Nxde” peaked at number 40 on Billboard’s Pop Airplay Chart, making i-dle the first artist from an independent label to chart with a non-English song.
Must-Listen Songs
- LATATA – Their debut single that started it all
- HANN (Alone) – A haunting dance-pop track about trying to forget a past relationship
- POP/STARS – K/DA’s first single that showcases Soyeon’s rap prowess and Miyeon’s vocals.
- DUMDi DUMDi – A bright, summery Moombahton anthem
- HWAA – An elegantly dark pop song that uses fire and flowers as a metaphor for dealing with a breakup
- TOMBOY – A rebellious and addictive pop-punk title track that celebrates female empowerment
- Nxde – An alternative pop song that tackles how women are hypersexualized, while using nudity to describe “baring” one’s true self
- Queencard – A fun and confident pop song about self-acceptance
- Wife – A daring B-side that’s also one of the more explicit songs they’ve released
- Super Lady – An empowering electro house single filled with attitude and flair
- Fate – A pop/funk B-side that went viral in South Korea for its relatable lyrics and nostalgic sound
- Girlfriend – A B-side from their new album We Are, where they declare having a female friend is better than a boyfriend
