IZONE News and Discussion Thread

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:


if the video does not show watch the video here

 

Eunbi x Chaewon Summer Diary Fashion Film from Esquire Korea:


if the video does not show watch the video here

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

 

SBS Inkigayo - MC Cut (3rd week of July)

if the video does not show watch the video here

 

It seems it's not confirmed yet. The next tweet in this thread says 8D is positive towards it, but nothing confirmed yet. Hopefully she'll get the role ^^

 

ELLE Photo Shoot Behind | Kang Hyewon × Jo Yuri

if the video does not show watch the video here
English fan-subbed

Follow Me Press Conference

if the video does not show watch the video here

 

Hyewon appears in the MV of 'Hobby' by Parc Jaejong:


if the video does not show watch the video here

 

A cafe in Seoul has been decorated by Chaewon's fans to celebrate her birthday on 8/1:


if the video does not show watch the video here

 

To mark Chaewon's birthday, Woollim will release a Happy Chaewon Day video tomorrow (8/1) at 19:00 KST:


if the video does not show watch the video here

 

New CM for Innisfree cosmetics with Wonyoung:


if the video does not show watch the video here

Hyewon's 'making' video for the MV of 'Hobby' by Parc Jaejong in which she appears:


if the video does not show watch the video here

 

Chaeyeon on Street Woman Fighter trailer (Eng CC)

if the video does not show watch the video here

 

Chaewon Profile Sketch Film:


if the video does not show watch the video here

 

STARNEWS in Korea is reporting that Eunbi's solo album will be released at the end of this month:
https://star.mt.co.kr/stview.php?no=2021080408391084121&MS2

EDIT: In English from meaww.com:
https://meaww.com/eunbi-is-the-first-iz-one-member-to-go-solo-might-reunite-with-minju-and-yujin

 

Eunbi I wish her good luck and lots of success. Going solo surely will we more stressful, then having members around. Nevertheless I think Eunbi, without doubt, has the skills to go solo.

 

Q&A with Hyewon (not English subbed):


if the video does not show watch the video here

EDIT: now with English subs

 

Chaewon Profile 'Behind':


if the video does not show watch the video here

AllKpop is reporting that Yena is preparing for a solo debut by the end of the year:
https://www.allkpop.com/article/2021/08/choi-ye-na-reportedly-preparing-for-her-solo-debut-this-year

 

Q&A with Yuri and Hyewon for ELLE Korea (not English subbed):


if the video does not show watch the video here

Eunbi announcing her new official YT channel:


if the video does not show watch the video here

URL: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCoCvj_VhZPOtttlJK7RCh2A/

The banner header has a release date for her solo mini album of 8/24.

The release date is also confirmed on her new Twitter account:
https://twitter.com/KWONEUNBI