IZONE
| IZONE | |||||
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| Location |  South Korea
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| Activity Period | October 29, 2018 - | ||||
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| Debut Single | ** | ||||
| Producer | ** | ||||
| Theater Manager | ** | ||||
| Official Site | {{{officialsite}}} | ||||
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IZONE (often stylised as IZ*ONE) is a girl group formed in 2018 by CJ E&M through the Mnet television competition show Produce 48. The group consists of twelve members: Jang Wonyoung, Miyawaki Sakura, Jo Yuri, Choi Yena, Ahn Yujin, Yabuki Nako, Kwon Eunbi, Kang Hyewon, Honda Hitomi, Kim Chaewon, Kim Minjoo and Lee Chaeyeon.
The group is expected to release their debut album in October, and will be managed by Pledis Entertainment and Stone Music Entertainment in South Korea, and AKS in Japan.
History
Pre-debut: Produce 48
Prior to appearing on the show, several members had already been active in the entertainment industry. Honda Hitomi previously made her debut as a member of AKB48, while Miyawaki Sakura and Yabuki Nako debuted as members of AKB48's sister group HKT48. Kwon Eunbi previously debuted with Ye-A in 2014 under the stage name Ka-zoo but left the group later. Lee Chaeyeon previously competed in SBS's K-pop Star 3, and JYP Entertainment's own reality survival show Sixteen. Jo Yuri was a contestant in the past 2017 Mnet competition show Idol School, where she came in 15th place. Kim Minjoo had appeared as an actress in music videos and Korean dramas, notably the 2018 MBC television series Tempted.
Izone was formed through the television competition show Produce 48, which aired on Mnet from June 15 to August 31, 2018. Out of an initial 96 trainees representing various South Korean agencies and the Japanese idol AKB48, the final 12 were chosen by audience voting and announced via live television broadcast.
Similar to the previous group of I.O.I and Wanna One, the groups name, IZ*ONE was chosen through an online public voting during the shows period. ‘IZ’ is a numeronym for the number 12, a homage to the groups 12 members, while ‘ONE’ is the indication that the 12 girls is one as a group that was formed through Produce 48. They will debut on October 29, 2018.
On September 4th, the group flew to Japan to meet with producer Akimoto Yasushi. That same day, it was reported that the group would make their official debut on October 29th, though their agency stated the exact date had not yet been set.
