IZONE News and Discussion Thread

Hyewon's channel has posted a new photoshoot video for her birthday:

 

Korea news site 10ASIA is reporting today that IZ"ONE will definitely not reunite:
https://tenasia.hankyung.com/topic/article/2021070605894

Via Papago translator:

 

Official announcement from DC Gall that it has failed

https://gall.dcinside.com/mgallery/board/view/?id=real__izo&no=1396659

Google translated:

I don't really understand why CJ suddenly pulled out? Don't get me wrong, I don't necessarily want PUP to succeed (the girls seem happy and are doing well individually). However, didn't they recently say they're willing to go ahead with relaunching IZ*ONE if even not all agencies are on board?

 

The new show obviously . GP999

 

Probably no financial agreement could be made.
Contrary to pre izone formation, CJ wasn't the game Master in these negociations and had to play by the other agencies rules.

From what i saw, the pup project never really could reach Vernalossom, i wouldn't be surprised if a part of the blocking was there.

 

Just to clarify, PUP is not over yet, the people in charge were already working in a Plan B in which they were the one aproaching to each agency to make agreements.

It seems they will make another announcement soon.

https://twitter.com/IZ_PU_Project/status/1412393494694432772?s=19

 

This is kind of the Hyewon you get in vlive/streams, actually more crackhead energy. Overall she's super laid back and chill, often puts others before herself (including screentime). 8D/OTR really did not highlight her well back then.

Wizone are saying that it was a PR Stunt and CJ jumping out infront of the fan effort to remind people GP999 (not Produce, Produce) is coming, also taking credit for 'taking over' the effort to bury it is the best thing to get people to move on.
The concept that CJ would randomly blame one of the involved agencies for not wanting to extend could play into that narrative, and connects to how early they stopped IZONE's promotions (1.5 months early and unreleased final songs or concert dvd/bluray). I'm curious if this move garnered the involved agencies toward CJ (but likely against). CJ for sure has beef with Starship at the very least.

 

Honestly, one has to be naive to believe, some negociation that failed in late february / early march, would have been successfull 4 months later.

 

Eunbi was one of the composers for the song"Let's Dance" on Rocket Punch's Japanese mini album.
https://twitter.com/prettyjoyul/status/1414982562145992706

 

Eunbi is joining the Universe app
https://twitter.com/into__universe/status/1415476226353946625

Might indicate that she's going solo

 

Chaeyeon is participating on a new dance show.

 

Yujin appears at 5:08 - 5:43 in this 'making'video for the Pepsi x Starship 'Taste of Korea' campaign:



She's also the subject of another Starship video called 'Let's Go to INKIGAYO This Summer' (English subs):

 

Interviews from Esquire Korea with Chaewon and Eunbi (both with English subs):

In her interview Eunbi says that she's preparing a solo album for release later this year.

 

oooh i'm excited for eunbi solo! she's one of the member who i thought will shine the best in solo activities (other is chaeyeon)
hopefully it's a cool/sexy upbeat song kinda like Chungha's songs

 

The Parallel Universe Project ended in a dead end.
- 1 korean agency said no from the start
- some other agreed for a relaunch, some weren't against.
- They couldn't contact Vernalossom*

So they are closing the project.

*Personnal thought:
From their report, they said they couldn't reach Vernalossom because of the pandemic travel restrictions.
I find this weird, when there are lots of way to comunicate from distance in our days.
Anyway, it's not surprising it ended this way.

 

ksw001 on reddit posted a detailed summary of the events regarding extension/PUP.

Also maybe the part people are most curious about.

ksw001 "fyi, among the DC communities, it is speculated that
Agency A: Starship Agency B: Urbanworks Agency C: Woolim Agency D: 8D Agency E: WM Agency F: Yuehua Agency G: Wakeone Agency H: Vernalossom.
Some of these speculations are based on information that I didn’t include in the summary. For example agency A was described to have an executive overseeing both music and acting business, which is why it is speculated to be Starship. In fact this list is considered pretty much set in stone lol"


About the Agencies

• Agency A (Starship)

This agency has always been against contract extension and relaunch. It is uncertain why they are against it, but they went out to argue with the truck driver during truck protest, and they refused to receive mails from the PUP team. Some other agency says they are preparing to launch a new group, and are receiving songs for their debut album.

• Agency B (Urban Works)

This agency directly contacted the PUP team once the team sent out the first official statement. This agency has always been positive towards the team’s effort. The PUP team thanks this agency, saying that we wouldn’t have come this far without them.

• Agency C (Woollim)

This agency is considered a key agency that the team must persuade. While it was difficult reaching this agency at first, the PUP team now has a direct contact with the executives. This agency has provided the PUP team a lot of information, that they are preparing a solo album while also looking out for the PUP discussions. This agency is preparing an ad collaboration with the member from agency B, and is positive towards the relaunch.

• Agency D (8D)

While the website of this agency had not much information available to contact its executives, through the PUP team head’s personal relationship, they were able to contact the agency, and exchange information about group ordering their recently published merch. They were also positive towards the relaunch and were waiting for CJ’s response.

• Agency E (WM)

This agency not only has a good relationship with people helping PUP, but it also has a good work environment and was positive towards the relaunch. This agency can also be reached directly by the PUP head.

• Agency F (Yueha)

This agency is a relatively new agency with which PUP team doesn’t have much relationship. This agency has been skeptical towards CJ’s discussion on relaunch, but plans to support the effort on their own. This is the agency that the PUP team has difficulties obtaining information.

• Agency G (WakeOne)

Agency G is CJ’s WakeOne ent. The executives of this agency has been surprised at the efforts and the knowledge the PUP team had; they gave an impression that they do sincerely care IZ*ONE. This agency was, as most agencies did, reluctant with contacting the PUP team directly, and it is uncertain how they approached the discussion on the relaunch.

• Agency H (Vernalossom)

Agency H is the Japanese office, and it was almost impossible to reach them, especially since there were COVID quarantines in place. Thus, the PUP team put their efforts in persuading the Korean agencies first before reaching out to Japanese members.

 

I'm not really surprised if Starship is planning to debut a new girl group with Wonyoung and Yujin. Both of them have a lot of talent and they're still very young, so they can easily start again in a new group. I'm also not surprised that Chaeyeon's, Minju's and Hyewon's agencies were most positive and helpful toward the project. I don't think they really know what to do with these girls outside of IZ*ONE. Chaeyeon seems to be going somewhere with her dance show now, but even though Hyewon has released a photobook, I'm not sure what's gonna happen. Both her and Minju could easily work as models though and maybe Minju will pick acting back up.

 

Pepsi x Starship CM with Yujin:

 

Eunbi x Chaewon Summer Diary Fashion Film from Esquire Korea:



Interview in the magazine:
https://www.esquirekorea.co.kr/article/57025

 

According to Newsen, Hyewon will be get a role in web drama "일진에게 반했을 때", her role is a university student who is a rival of the main character
https://twitter.com/IZONEGLOBALTWT/status/1417726716903055368