IZ*ONE, the Korean-Japanese girl group created by the latest season of Produce 101, finally made their debut last week. Did you catch their debut track La Vie en Rose?
There are 12 members: Kwon Eunbi (leader), Jang Wonyoung, Miyawaki Sakura, Jo Yuri, Choi Yena, Ahn Yujin, Yabuki Nako, Kang Hyewon, Honda Hitomi, Kim Chaewon, Kim Minjoo, and Lee Chaeyeon.
The girls were voted into the group via a weekly elimination show held on Mnet earlier this year. Existing fans of the Produce 101 format and its previous groups – I.O.I and Wanna One – were keen to see what the show would create this time around. The new version of ‘Pick Me’ had the most tricky choreography yet.
The show started out with 96 trainees, including many from one of J-pop’s biggest girl groups, AKB48. While many of the Japanese trainees had already debuted in Japan, they were really put through their paces as newbie K-pop trainees. It wasn’t easy for the Korean trainees either, as everyone had to perform both Japanese and Korean songs.
The final group includes three Japanese trainees: Sakura, Hitomi, and Nako.
The girls’ contract will run for two and a half years, so we can look forward to plenty of Korean and Japanese events and releases. Check out our review of their debut album too.
Recommended watching
Debut intro on MCountdown
The girls feature on Idol Room
Sakura’s audition featured an AKB48 song
Kwon Eunbi and Kim Chaewon auditioned with choreo by Lovelyz and Infinite
