K-pop girl group IZ*ONE, composed of nine Korean and three Japanese members, officially disbanded on April 29 when their exclusive contracts expired after two and a half years.

The members were winners of the survival audition show “Produce 48,” which aired from June to August 2018. IZONE debuted on Oct. 29, 2018 with the album “ColorIz,” which sold 192,738 copies by year-end and was certified platinum for selling 250,000 copies.
The group’s three Japanese members, Nako Yabuki, Sakura Miyawaki and Hitomi Honda, left Seoul on April 29 to go back to Japan.

The other members of IZ*ONE were Kwon Eunbi, Jang Wonyoung, Kang Hyewon, Choi Yena, Kim Minju, Lee Chaeyeon, Kim Chaewon, Jo Yuri and An Yujin.

On March 13 and 14, IZONE held their online concert “One, The Story.” On IZONE’s YouTube channel, a video was uploaded on April 29 showing the group’s second day of their concert.

“We love you WIZONE. Thank you for everything,” IZONE said.

Mnet, the TV channel that aired “Produce 48,” announced last March that IZ*ONE would be disbanding in April as scheduled.

“Mnet and Swing Entertainment/Off the Record have been listening to and discussing each agency's opinions for the best activities of the 12 members ahead of the end of the IZ*ONE project,” it said.

It said, “The activities of project group IZONE, which debuted with the album ‘ColorIz’ in 2018 and has grown into a girl group representing Asia that is greatly loved not only in Korea but also around the world, will end in April as scheduled.”

“Mnet and Swing Entertainment/Off the Record thank all the 12 members of IZONE who have shown their best and we will continue to support their growth as an artist in the future so that their fantastic stories they have created can continue,” Mnet said. In 2020, IZONE’s three albums sold 1.23 million copies. According to Hanteo Chart, “Oneiric Diary” sold 439,994 copies, “BLOOM*IZ” had 415,827 copies and “ONE-REELER: Act 4” had 378,443.