IZONE
IZONE (아이즈원) (アイズワン) (often stylised as IZ*ONE and pronounced as "eyes one") is a Korean-Japanese girl group formed in 2018 by CJ E&M through the Mnet television competition show Produce 48, the third season of Produce 101. 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 released their debut album in October, and will be managed by Off The Record and Stone Music Entertainment in South Korea, and AKS in Japan.
Contents
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.
IZ*ONE 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 group's 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. The star (*) inbetween stands for the astrological signs of the zodiacal circle. They will debut on October 29, 2018.
On September 21, 2018, Off the Record Entertainment revealed that they would take over the management of IZONE from Stone Music Entertainment and Pledis Entertainment.
Leading up to their debut single, they also released four episodes of their own reality TV shows IZ*ONE CHU.
COLOR*IZ
On October 29, 2018, IZ*ONE released their first mini album COLOR*IZ. The lead single was La Vie en Rose and as a second promotional song also performed regularly, O' My! was chosen. The songs were performed on multiple television programms in Korea and La vie en Rose was also performed in Japan (although not in Japanese).
During the time of COLOR*IZ's promotion in Japan, the Japanese members Miyawaki Sakura, Yabuki Nako and Honda Hitomi also joined a performance of NO WAY MAN. Sakura and Nako also joined an HKT48 concert, however, they attended as IZ*ONE members and special guests and not as HKT48 members.
Suki to Iwasetai
On December 12, 2018, it was announced that IZ*ONE would have their Japan debut in February of 2019. On December 27th, the name of the single, "Suki to Iwasetai" was announced. Only four days later, on New Year's Eve 2018, a short version of the song was aired for the first time on CDTV'S New Year Special. On January 8, 2019, Neko ni Naritai was aired for the first time on AKB48 no All Night Nippon and confirmed to be a unit song. On January 10, the official covers for the single were released. On January 15, Gokigen Sayonara was played for the first time on the radio show Saku no Ki, also revealed to be a unit song. On January 20, they had their official Japan debut with a showcase which is announced to be aired on television on February 6, the official release date of Suki to Iwasetai. On January 24, the official music video for Suki to Iwasetai was aired on ZIP TV and subsequently posted to IZ*ONE's official YouTube channel. On January 28, the official YouTube channel posted a teaser for the yet unreleased music videos of Gokigen Sayonara and Neko ni Naritai, as well as audio clips of Kenchanayo and Dance wo Omoidasumade.
On January 8, the Korean television broadcaster CBS announced IZONE will receiver their own variety show, IZ*ONE City. It will air for two weeks starting from January 18th.
Discography
Mini Albums
# | Cover | Title | Release date |
---|---|---|---|
01 | COLOR*IZ |
2018.10.29 |
Singles
# | Cover | Title | Release date |
---|---|---|---|
01 | Suki to Iwasetai (好きと言わせたい) |
2019.02.06 |
TV Shows
Survival
Variety
Endorsements
Even before debuting, the group has endorsed and collaborated with multiple brands including Overhit, Salewa, and Skoolooks.
Members
Group | Picture | Romaji | Nickname | Birthdate | Birthplace | Blood Type | Age | Height | Agency | Position |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
IZONE | Ahn Yujin | ** | September 1, 2003 | Daejeon, South Korea | A | 20 | 168cm | Starship Entertainment | Lead Vocalist, lead dancer | |
IZONE | Choi Yena | Happy Virus | September 29, 1999 | Seoul, South Korea | A | 24 | 163cm | YUEHUA Entertainment | Main rapper, lead vocalist, lead dancer | |
8 / B / IZONE | Honda Hitomi | Hiichan (ひぃちゃん), Ppangtomi (bread + (Hi)tomi) | October 6, 2001 | Tochigi, Japan | A | 22 | 158cm | AKS | Lead dancer, vocalist, rapper | |
IZONE | Jang Wonyoung | Giant Baby, Giant Maknae | August 31, 2004 | Seoul, South Korea | O | 19 | 168cm | Starship Entertainment | Center, lead vocalist, dancer, rapper | |
IZONE | Jo Yuri | Yul, daengdaeng (puppy) | October 22, 2001 | Busan, South Korea | AB | 22 | 160cm | Stone Music Entertainment | Main vocalist | |
IZONE | Kang Hyewon | Innocent Rapper, Kwangbae, Kangchan/Kanchan (カンちゃん) | July 5, 1999 | Kyungnam, South Korea | B | 24 | 163cm | 8D Creative | Lead rapper, vocalist, visual | |
IZONE | Kim Chaewon | Angel Chaewon, Fairy Chaewon, ssam (raddish) | August 1, 2000 | Seoul, South Korea | B | 23 | 160cm | Woolim Entertainment | Lead Vocalist, lead dancer | |
IZONE | Kim Minju | Minmin, Pepe | February 5, 2001 | Seoul, South Korea | AB | 23 | 165cm | Urban Works | Main visual, lead rapper, vocalist | |
IZONE | Kwon Eunbi (Leader) | Queen, Eunbit (rabbit), Leader Kwon | September 27, 1995 | Seoul, South Korea | A | 28 | 160cm | Woolim Entertainment | Leader, main dancer, lead vocalist | |
IZONE | Lee Chaeyeon | Chaen, father | January 11, 2000 | Gyeonggi, South Korea | A | 24 | 164cm | WM Entertainment | Main dancer, lead vocalist, lead rapper | |
KIV / IZONE | Miyawaki Sakura | Sakura (さくら), Kkura | March 19, 1998 | Kagoshima, Japan | A | 26 | 164cm | AKS | Vocalist, visual | |
H / IZONE | Yabuki Nako | Nako (なこ) | June 18, 2001 | Tokyo, Japan | ** | 22 | 149cm | AKS | Vocalist |