Iz One (/ˈaɪz wʌn/ EYEZ-wun; Korean: 아이즈원, translit. Aijeuwon; Japanese: アイズワン, translit. Aizuwan; stylized as IZ*ONE) is a South Korean-Japanese girl group formed through the Mnet reality competition show Produce 48. The group is composed of twelve members: Jang Won-young, Miyawaki Sakura, Jo Yu-ri, Choi Ye-na, Ahn Yu-jin, Yabuki Nako, Kwon Eun-bi, Kang Hye-won, Honda Hitomi, Kim Chae-won, Kim Min-joo and Lee Chae-yeon. Iz One made their debut on October 29, 2018, with their first extended play Color Iz. The group is currently managed by Off the Record Entertainment in South Korea and AKS in Japan.

Name

The group's name, Iz One (stylized as IZ*ONE), was suggested by netizens through the official Produce 48 website and chosen by CJ E&M. "IZ" is a numeronym for the number 12, an 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.

Formation through Produce 48

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 chosen by audience votes and announced via live television broadcast.

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. Prior to joining HKT48, member Miyawaki Sakura had appeared in a Shiki Theatre Company musical production of The Lion King (2008–2009), and member Yabuki Nako was in the 2005 film Touch, followed by roles in various Japanese television dramas and commercials. Kwon Eun-bi previously debuted with Ye-A in 2014 under the stage name Ka-zoo but left the group later. Kang Hye-won was a potential member for the groups DayDay and The Ark. Lee Chae-yeon previously competed in SBS' K-pop Star 3, and JYP Entertainment's own reality competition show Sixteen. Jo Yu-ri was a contestant in the past 2017 Mnet competition show Idol School, where she came in fifteenth place. Kim Min-joo 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). In September 2018, Off the Record announced that they would take over the management of Iz One from Stone Music and Pledis. All three Japanese members will halt activities with their respective 48 groups to focus on Iz One.

2018–present: Debut with Color Iz

The group's debut extended play (EP) Color Iz was released on October 29, 2018, with "La Vie en Rose" serving as its lead single. 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. In its first day of release, the EP sold over 34,000 units reported by Hanteo Chart, setting a new record for the highest number of albums sold on the first day of a Korean girl group's debut release. 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.

Endorsements Prior to debut, Iz One had endorsed and collaborated with multiple brands including Overhit, Salewa, and Skoolooks. The group had also featured in magazines such as Non-no.

Members

Kwon Eun-bi (권은비) – Leader Miyawaki Sakura (宮脇咲良) (미야와키 사쿠라) Kang Hye-won (강혜원) Choi Ye-na (최예나) Lee Chae-yeon (이채연) Kim Chae-won (김채원) Kim Min-joo (김민주) Yabuki Nako (矢吹奈子) (야부키 나코) Honda Hitomi (本田仁美) (혼다 히토미) Jo Yu-ri (조유리) Ahn Yu-jin (안유진) Jang Won-young (장원영)- Wikipedia