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Iz*One, who disbanded on Thursday. Fans knew the K-pop girl group were not supposed to be continuing beyond April, but had been holding out for news of an extension. Photo: Getty Images
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K-pop girl group IZ*One part ways, and fans are devastated despite knowing their end was planned

  • Fans of IZ*One always knew the group was only supposed to last until the end of April, but had been holding out for news of an extension
  • Despite controversy over the television competition series that led to the group’s formation, IZ*One remained popular with K-pop fans throughout their career
K-pop, Mandopop and other Asian pop
Tamar Hermanin United States
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K-pop girl group IZ*One disbanded on Thursday.

Formed during the third season of Produce 101, a popular – and rigged – television competition series in which K-pop hopefuls competed against one another, IZ*One ended their career together on Thursday after a final two-day online concert series in March.

The group was made up of nine Korean members and three Japanese members, the latter drawn from the AKB48 Group of related J-pop girl groups. It had been predetermined that IZ*One would break up at the end of April.

Though aware from the outset of this deadline, fans had been holding out for news the group would extend their time together.

The disbandment left many of them upset – there had been rumours of IZ*One continuing beyond April until an announcement after the band’s March concerts, their final live events, made clear the deadline would be adhered to.

The band’s three Japanese members – Sakura Miyawaki, Hitomi Honda and Nako Yabuki – were spotted leaving South Korea on Thursday, with airport paparazzi filming Honda tearing up as the IZ*One era ended.

Later, IZ*One shared the 100th episode of their behind-the-scenes YouTube series Enozi Cam, which followed the members backstage at their final concert.

Following the good reception for their debut single, October 2018’s La Vie En Rose, the group saw much success, even though the tail-end of their career was clouded by the scandal over the rigging of Produce 101. Controversy erupted following the fourth season of the series, when it became evident that the show’s producers and industry insiders had manipulated results across the seasons.

Legal action was launched against several parties involved, and those at the heart of the corruption were sentenced to imprisonment.

Yet IZ*One remained popular in spite of the controversy. Last year, they had a trio of consecutive hits with Fiesta, Secret Story of the Swan and Panorama.

Although they didn’t promote a single formally in 2021, IZ*One kept busy ahead of their disbandment, with several releases including February’s Zero: Attitude, a Pepsi-sponsored collaboration with hip-hop artist pH-1 and vocalist Soyou.

In March, they also shared a remake of the ’90s hit 3!4! by early K-pop progenitor group Roo’ra, and on April 18 they shared a special video for the song Parallel Universe, dedicating it to their fans, known collectively as Wiz*One.

The song was co-written by the band’s leader, Kwon Eun-bi, and they performed it in their March concerts.

The future of the members of IZ*One is unknown, although it has been reported that Miyawaki will be joining Hybe Corporation. The label, home to K-pop groups including BTS and Seventeen, is set to debut a new girl group this year.
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