IZ*ONE

Iz*One (/ˈaɪz wʌn/ EYEZ-wun; Korean: 아이즈원, romanized: Aijeuwon; Japanese: ア イ

ズワン, romanized: Aizuwan; stylized as IZ*ONE) is a South Korean–Japanese [1][3][4] girl

group formed through the Mnet reality competition show Produce 48. The group is

composed of twelve members: Jang Won-young, Sakura Miyawaki, Jo Yu-ri, Choi Ye-

na, An Yu-jin, Nako Yabuki, Kwon Eun-bi, Kang Hye-won, Hitomi Honda, Kim Chae-

won, Kim Min-ju, and Lee Chae-yeon.[5] The group was managed by Off the Record

and Swing Entertainment.[6]

Iz*One debuted on October 29, 2018 with their first extended play (EP) Color*Iz. Upon

its release, the group received immediate commercial success, selling over 225,000

units and peaking at number 2 on South Korea's Gaon Album Chart. In addition, both

the EP and its lead single "La Vie en Rose" charted on Billboard World Albums and

World Digital Songs respectively.[7] The early success subsequently hailed them as the

New Artist of the Year at several awards ceremonies, including Golden Disc

Awards and Seoul Music Awards.

The group's Japanese debut single, "Suki to Iwasetai", was released on February 6,

2019 under UMG's EMI Records label. Peaking at number 2 on Oricon Singles

Chart and with over 250,000 unit sales, the single was certified Platinum by

the Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ).[8]

Since their debut as Iz*One, they released two studio albums (one Korean and one

Japanese), seven extended plays (four in Korean and three in Japanese). Despite initial
talks of contract extension, Mnet confirmed on March 10, 2021, that they are officially

set to disband in April.[9]

The group's name, Iz*One (stylized in all caps), was suggested by netizens through the

official Produce 48 website and chosen by CJ ENM.[10] "IZ" is a numeronym for the

number 12, a homage to their twelve members, while "ONE" indicates that they

are one as a group. The asterisk (*) between "IZ" and "ONE" symbolizes

the astrological signs of the zodiac.[11][12]

Iz*One was formed through the reality competition show Produce 48, which aired

on Mnet from June 15 to August 31, 2018. The show was billed as a collaboration

between the Korean Produce 101 franchise and the Japanese idol AKB48 Group. Out

of an initial ninety-six contestants, the final twelve were announced via live television

broadcast.[13][14]

IZ*ONE's logo

Prior to appearing on the show, several members had already been active in the

entertainment industry. Hitomi Honda previously made her debut as a member

of AKB48.[15] Prior to joining HKT48, member Sakura Miyawaki had appeared in a Shiki

Theatre Company musical production of The Lion King (2008–2009),[16][17] and

member Nako Yabuki was in the 2005 film Touch, followed by roles in various Japanese

television dramas and commercials.[18][19][20][21] Kwon Eun-bi previously debuted with Ye-A

in 2014 under the stage name Ka-zoo but later left the group.[22] Kang Hye-won was a

potential member for the groups DayDay and The Ark. [23] Lee Chae-yeon previously
competed in SBS' K-pop Star 3, and JYP Entertainment's own reality competition

show Sixteen.[24] Jo Yu-ri was a contestant in the past 2017 Mnet competition show Idol

School, where she came in fifteenth place.[25] Kim Min-ju had appeared as an actress in

music videos and Korean dramas, notably the 2018 MBC television series Tempted,

wherein she portrayed the role of the young Choi Soo-ji (Moon Ga-young).[26][27] An Yu-

jin had also appeared as an actress in commercials and music videos, most notably in

an Acuvue Vita commercial.[28][29]

In September 2018, Off the Record announced that they would be taking over the

management of Iz*One from Stone Music and Pledis.[30][6] All three Japanese members

halted activities with their respective 48 groups to focus on Iz*One.[31]

2018: Korean debut with Color*Iz[edit]

Iz*One at the 2018 Asia Artist Awards

The group's debut extended play (EP) Color*Iz was released on October 29, 2018, with

"La Vie en Rose" as its lead single.[32][33][34] A debut showcase concert, entitled Color*Iz

Show-Con, was held in conjunction with the album's release at the Olympic Hall in

Seoul, South Korea, in which the tickets to the showcase were sold out within a minute

of being on sale.[35][36] Iz*One's first music program performance was aired on November

1 on Mnet's M Countdown.[37] They garnered their first music program win a week later

on M Countdown, ten days after their official debut, and broke the record for the fastest

girl group to receive a music program win at the time.[38] The EP recorded a sale of over

34,000 units in its first day of release, setting a new record for the highest number of

albums sold on the first day of a girl group's debut release,[39][40] while the music video

for the lead single "La Vie en Rose" achieved more than 4.5 million views within 24
hours of its release on YouTube, making it the most-watched debut music video by a

Korean act in 24 hours at the time.[41] The EP peaked second on the Gaon Album

Chart and sold over 225,000 copies.[42][43] The EP received Platinum certification by

the Korea Music Content Association (KMCA) on July 9, 2020, or 20 months upon its

release, after recording more than 250,000 shipment figures.[44] The group ended their

promotions for Color*Iz on November 23 on KBS's Music Bank. With the group's early

commercial success, Iz*One won the "New Artist of the Year" category at the several

awards ceremonies, including Mnet Asian Music Awards, Golden Disc Awards,

and Seoul Music Awards.[45] Their debut was considered by Billboard as one of the best

K-pop debuts of 2018.[46] On December 5, Iz*One performed at the 2018 FNS Music

Festival in Japan, the group's first overseas activity.[47]

On December 6, Off the Record announced that Iz*One had signed a recording contract

with Universal Music Japan's EMI Records label, in preparation for the group's

Japanese debut which was revealed to be on February 6, 2019.[48] On December 15,

Sakura Miyawaki and Nako Yabuki returned to Japan for HKT48's 8th anniversary

concert. Although the news received criticism initially, Off the Record responded that the

two would participate in the concert as Iz*One members.[49]

2019: Japanese debut, subsequent releases and temporary hiatus[edit]

Iz*One held their Japanese debut show-con in Tokyo Dome City Hall on January 20,

where they performed their debut Japanese single "Suki to Iwasetai" for the first time.
[50]
 The music video for the single was released on January 25, five days after the event,

while the single itself was released on February 6. [51] It peaked at number 2 on both the

Oricon Singles Chart and the Billboard Japan Hot 100, selling over 200,000 copies on
its first week.[52][53] On March 8, it was certified Platinum by the Recording Industry

Association of Japan (RIAJ) with over 250,000 unit sales, the group's first Platinum

certification.[8]

On March 9, English DJ and producer Jonas Blue released a new version of his 2018

hit single "Rise", featuring Iz*One on vocals.[54]

The group released their second EP titled Heart*Iz on April 1.[55] Domestic pre-orders for

the EP exceeded 200,000 copies.[56] Upon its release, it topped in both the Gaon Album

and Oricon Overseas Album Charts, and sold more than 130,000 copies in the first

week of its sale, a new record for a K-pop girl group at the time. [57][58] The EP was then

certified Platinum on October 10 by the KMCA after selling more than 250,000 shipment

figures.[59] It peaked at number 6 on Billboard World Albums chart.[60] Meanwhile, the

lead single "Violeta" from the EP peaked at numbers 18 and 5 on Gaon Digital Chart

and Billboard K-pop Hot 100 respectively.[61][62] It also charted at number 8

on Billboard World Digital Songs.[60] The song received its first music program win on

SBS MTV's The Show on April 9.[63]

IZ*ONE in 2019

Iz*One began their first headlining tour titled Eyes on Me at the Jamsil Indoor

Stadium in Seoul, South Korea.[64] After tickets for the first two initial dates–June 8 and

9–were sold out, Off the Record added an additional concert date on June 7.[65] During

the tour, they performed two new songs, "Ayayaya" and "So Curious", as sub-units.
[66]
 Overall, the group visited eight cities in five territories, with 81,000 attendance in

total. On July 6, the group participated in the annual music festival KCON, held at

the Madison Square Garden in New York City, their first U.S. performance.[67]

The group released their second Japanese single, "Buenos Aires", on June 26.[68] The

single debuted atop on both Japanese domestic charts–the Oricon Singles Chart and

the Billboard Japan Hot 100.[69][70] It received its Platinum certification by the RIAJ in July

2019.[71] On September 25, Iz*One released their third Japanese single titled "Vampire".
[72]
 Like the previous release, the single topped on both domestic charts in Japan with its

first week sales exceeding 200,000 copies;[73][74] leading to its Gold certification by the

RIAJ.[71] It is also the group's only Japanese release to chart on Billboard K-pop Hot

100, peaking at number 52.[75] Following their commercial success, the group became

Oricon's best-selling new artist for the first half of 2019,[76] accounting an estimated

earning of ¥510 million (₩5.5 billion) of total sales in Japan between December 10,

2018 and June 9, 2019.[77][78] Iz*One participated in the 2019 Tokyo Girls

Collection events held in three consecutive cities, the first guest performer to do so.[79]

The group was scheduled to release their first studio album on November 11.
[80]
 However, the release was postponed due to the Mnet vote manipulation

investigation.[81][82] Investigations revealed that the Produce 48 producer Ahn Joon-

young had selected the twelve members of Iz*One from the top 20 just before the airing

of the finale.[83] As a result, Iz*One's showcases, promotions, and several guest

appearances were cancelled or put on hold,[84][85][86][87][88] which included the release of

their concert film, Eyes on Me: The Movie,[89] and their Japanese promotions.[90][91]

2020–2021: Bloom*Iz, Twelve, final concert and disbandment[edit]

On January 6, 2020, Iz*One members' agencies and CJ ENM reached an agreement

that the group would resume their activities.[92][93] On February, they released their first

studio album Bloom*Iz and its single "Fiesta".[94][95] On February 23, the album broke the
then-record for the highest first-week sales on Hanteo for an album by a girl group with

356,313 copies; it is also the first album by a girl group to surpass the 300,000 copies

mark in Hanteo's history. Bloom*Iz was certified Platinum by the Korea Music Content

Association (KMCA) on April 9 after selling more than 390,000 shipment figures.[96][97] In

addition to domestic achievements, Bloom*Iz also topped Oricon Overseas Album

Chart, following their previous two EPs.[98]

On June 15, Iz*One released their third EP, Oneiric Diary, and its lead single "Secret

Story of the Swan". The single's music video was originally scheduled to be released on

the same day, but was postponed to June 16. The group held a comeback showcase to

promote the EP on Mnet's second channel M2. Oneiric Diary peaked at number 2 and

has recorded over 510,000 sales on the Gaon Album Chart. It is one of the first two

albums by a girl group to be certified Double Platinum by the KMCA, the other the one

being Twice's More & More.[99][100] On September 13, Iz*One held their first online

concert titled "Oneiric Theater".[101] On October 21, the group released their first

Japanese studio album Twelve.[102] The album debuted atop the Oricon Albums Chart.

[103]
 On December 7, Iz*One released their fourth EP, One-reeler / Act IV, accompanied

by its lead single "Panorama".[104] The EP debuted at number one on the Gaon Album

Chart.

On January 26, 2021, Iz*One released a promotional single titled "D-D-Dance" for

Universe, a mobile application. On February 11, the group announced that they would

hold their online concert named "One, The Story" on March 13 and 14 ahead of their

contract expiration in April, but the announcement on its extension was not yet

announced.[105] On February 15, 2021, 5 selected Iz*One members (Kwon Eun-

Bi, Sakura Miyawaki, Kim Min-ju, Jo Yu-ri and Jang Won-young) participated in the

release of a promotional single, “Zero:Attitude” alongside the artists Soyou and pH-1.

The song was released in collaboration with Pepsi and Starship, as a part of their

PEPSI X STARSHIP campaign. Iz*One participated in the compilation album Rewind :

Blossom and remade Roo'ra's popular song 3!4!.[106]

On March 10, 2021, Mnet confirmed Iz*One will disband in April as planned after their

contract expiration.[107]

Endorsements[edit]

Prior to debut, Iz*One had endorsed and collaborated with multiple brands including

Overhit,[108] Salewa,[109] and Skoolooks.[110] After debut, brands Iz*One endorsed and

collaborated with include G-Market,[111] Fever Basket,[112] Olive Young Colorgram:TOK,

[113]
 Sudden Attack,[114] Miche Bloomin',[115] and PepsiCo[116]. The group had also featured

in magazines such as Non-no.[117]

Members[edit]

Members are listed in Korean name format, except for Japanese members. For

Japanese members, their names are listed in Western order and both their Japanese

and Korean names are listed.

 Kwon Eun-bi (권은비) – leader[A]

 Sakura Miyawaki (宮脇咲良; 미야와키 사쿠라)

 Kang Hye-won (강혜원)

 Choi Ye-na (최예나)
 Lee Chae-yeon (이채연)

 Kim Chae-won (김채원)

 Kim Min-ju (김민주)

 Nako Yabuki (矢吹奈子; 야부키 나코)

 Hitomi Honda (本田仁美; 혼다 히토미)

 Jo Yu-ri (조유리)

 An Yu-jin (안유진)

 Jang Won-young (장원영)