IZ*ONE Showbiz and Celebrity Breaking News

Squid Game star Lee Jung-jae has reportedly shared when we can expect season two of the hit Korean drama.The series, which aired on Netflix in 2021 was hugely popular, becoming the platform’s most-watched series within its first 28 days of being uploaded. It has gained more than 265million views since its release, and received 14 Emmy nominations, with Lee winning the award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series.The highly-anticipated second season began production in July last year, with a teaser trailer having been released by Netflix in February.Now, Lee has given an update on when we can expect the series, as he told Business Insider via an interpreter that it “will be released in December”.

Kwon Eun-bi has officially dropped her second single album ‘Sabotage’, alongside a music video for its title track.The former IZ*ONE singer released both the single and accompanying visual on June 18. In the music video for ‘Sabotage’, Kwon Eun-bi is cast under a love spell by a stranger and sings of the inescapable impulse of falling hard and fast.“Boy, that is sabotage / Baby, you really know, really know, know what’s the deal / Oh, that is sabotage / This feel awakening in my deepening heart / ‘Cause when you look at me, look at me, can’t tell what’s real,” she croons on the chorus.Aside from its title track, the ‘Sabotage’ single album includes two other B-side tracks: ‘Unnatural’ and ‘Bad Blood’.

K-pop soloist Kwon Eun-bi has returned with a music video for her new single ‘The Flash’.Today (August 2), former IZ*ONE member and soloist Kwon Eun-bi made a comeback with her first single album ‘The Flash’ and its title track of the same name. The singer plays a disillusioned star in the new visual, appearing gloomy as she gets her makeup done on set.“It spreads to me, I fall in love / Tonight, come to me, I caught my breath / Impossible to catch, it makes me want more / In a flash,” she sings in the chorus.

IZ*ONE member Jo Yu-ri is set to make a comeback with her second mini-album in late October.On October 10 at Midnight KST, the singer unveiled a “mood poster” for the upcoming record, which is titled ‘Op.22 Y-Waltz : in Minor’. According to the image, Jo’s sophomore mini-album will be released on October 24 at 6PM KST, alongside a music video for its lead single ‘Loveable’.The new visual features the above details, as well as a photo of the singer looking up from a pair of binoculars.

WM Entertainment has responded to plagiarism allegations surrounding the concept art for Lee Chae-yeon’s forthcoming album.On October 8, the K-pop agency shared a statement addressing recent claims that the concept art and design for Lee’s upcoming debut mini-album ‘Hush Rush’ were plagiarised from SHINee member Key’s recent studio album ‘Gasoline’.Fans of the latter had pointed out similar fonts, colour schemes, lightning and moon-related visual motifs that were used in the concept photos and promotional art for the two records, both of which borrow from classic horror themes.“We are very sad and upset,” WM Entertainment said of the allegations, per The Korea Times, adding that “‘Hush Rush’ is a mini-album with its own distinctive image and a unique narrative”.“[‘Hush Rush’] revolves around a vampire who leaves her old castle after waking up from 300 years of sleep and we tried to depict Lee as a vampire of the young generation,” explained WM.“When designing this album, we made use of the objects and colours that are often used to show horror or a Halloween vibe. In the case of the font and the heart image, WM and our outsourcing company paid to use them as they fit well with the overall mood of the album.”“We want to apologise to Lee’s fans ― who have been looking forward to her debut for a long time ― for fuelling worries,” added the agency.

Kwon Eun-bi has announced her comeback with her third mini-album.On September 20 at midnight KST, the 26-year-old singer unveiled a mysterious first teaser poster for her third solo mini-album, titled ‘Lethality’.The new poster, which features a dark room framed by red, gold-trimmed curtains, reveals Kwon’s upcoming project will drop on October 12 at 6pm KST.

IZ*ONE member Lee Chae-yeon has been confirmed to debut solo next month.South Korean news publication News1 reported earlier today (September 15) that the K-pop idol is slated to make her anticipated solo debut with her first album sometime in October.Lee’s agency, WM Entertainment, confirmed the news in a brief statement to TV Report shortly after. “Lee Chae-yeon is preparing for her solo album with the aim of an October release,” the label wrote, as translated by Soompi. Specifics about Lee’s new music, including a tracklist, exact release date and the record’s format, will be unveiled by the entertainment company at a later stage.Lee’s forthcoming solo debut will mark her first official music since IZ*ONE parted ways in April 2021.

IZ*ONE member and soloist Choi Yena has released the music video for ‘Smartphone’, the title track of her sophomore mini-album of the same name.In the vibrant visual, Choi is a gamer who guides an avatar of herself through a playground filled with whimsical mascots, eventually stopping at a shooting game inspired by the Five Nights at Freddy’s franchise.“Mix and match as you like / Airplane in my hands / No matter where you’re going or what you’re going to do, get connected / This star is too narrow to contain me,” Choi sings.Apart from the title track, ‘Smartphone’ includes four other songs – two of which credit Choi as lyrics co-writer. The idol is credited as one of the writers for B-sides ‘Make U Smile’ and ‘WithOrWithout’, as well as title track ‘Smartphone’.

IZ*ONE vocalist Jo Yu-ri will be releasing new music next month, as confirmed by her agency WAKEONE.The entertainment confirmed Jo’s impending comeback in a brief statement to South Korean news outlet Top Star News earlier today (May 13). WAKEONE noted that the K-pop idol will be “making a comeback with a mini-album in June”, as translated by Soompi.Jo’s forthcoming record will be her first release since making her solo debut in October 2021 with the single album ‘Glassy’.

LE SSERAFIM’s Kim Chae-won has opened up about reuniting with former IZ*ONE bandmate Miyawaki Sakura for the new girl group.In a new interview with Weverse Magazine, Kim spoke about joining Source Music as a member of LE SSERAFIM and working with fellow ex-IZ*ONE bandmate Sakura again. She revealed that the pair had not been particularly close during their time in IZ*ONE, adding that it was “amazing” how they got to know each other after moving to the new agency.Back in 2018, Kim had joined the Mnet reality TV competition Produce 48 as trainee under Woollim Entertainment, while Sakura participated as a member of Japanese girl group HKT48.

IZ*ONE leader Kwon Eun-bi has made her comeback with a brand-new solo single ‘Glitch’, from her sophomore mini-album ‘Color’.In the gorgeous new visual, the idol dons a series of extravagant gowns as she runs through a deserted city, her surroundings glitching in and out of existence. Later, accompanied by backup dancers, she dances to the song’s sharp choreography, which incorporates elements of vogueing.“I come and go, like a glitch / Stealin’ and getting people crazy, I’m that snitch / And move it like a glitch,” she sings in the chorus.

HYBE Labels subsidiary Source Music has confirmed that its upcoming girl group, which includes former IZ*ONE members Miyawaki Sakura and Kim Chae-won, are set to debut in May.Today (March 21), the agency confirmed to News1 that their next K-pop act are preparing to debut in May. The news comes just a week after Source Music confirmed that it had signed ex-IZ*ONE’s Miyawaki Sakura and Kim Chae-won as members of its upcoming girl group.“The first girl group created under HYBE with Kim Chae-won and Miyawaki Sakura is preparing with an aim to debut in May,” said the agency, as translated by Soompi.

Kwon Eun-bi is set to make her much-anticipated return with her upcoming second mini-album, ‘Color’.Today (March 21), the singer announced her forthcoming return with a series of artistic teaser images and a new video that’s dubbed a “palette film”. The dreamy visual captures the star submerged underwater in a white dress and flower crown as she slowly lets go of a bouquet of white flowers.Kwon Eun-bi’s second mini-album, titled ‘Color’, is set to drop on April 4 at 6pm KST.‘Color’ will mark the former IZ*ONE member’s first official comeback since her debut mini-album ‘OPEN’ and its title track ‘Door’ arrived last August.“I feel good overall, but I have a lot of weight on my shoulders about needing to show my own colours,” Kwon shared shortly after her solo debut.

IZ*ONE member Miyawaki Sakura has spoken about her move to HYBE Labels’ Source Music in a letter to fans.Yesterday (March 14), a representative from Source Music shared that ex-IZ*ONE members Miyawaki and Kim Chae-won had signed “exclusive contracts with the agency” and would be joining its upcoming girl group.Later that day, the Japanese idol took to Instagram to personally share the news with her fans. “This time, I’ve moved to Source Music under HYBE,” she wrote in Korean and Japanese.Miyawaki shared that she had been unable to post much on social media in recent months, and apologised for keeping her fans waiting.

IZ*ONE members Miyawaki Sakura and Kim Chae-won will return as bandmates in Source Music’s as-yet-unnamed new girl group, the entertainment company has confirmed.On March 14, a representative from Source Music shared a statement confirming that the two idols had signed “exclusive contracts with the agency” and would be joining its upcoming girl group. Notably, the label had reportedly signed the two stars as early as last August, though it did not confirm the news at the time.“Miyawaki Sakura and Kim Chae-won have signed exclusive contracts with the agency on the basis of mutual trust.

CJ ENM has voiced its support for potential reunions for previous acts formed through Mnet’s Produce series.Following the news of Wanna One’s upcoming reunion at this year’s Mnet Asian Music Awards (MAMA), the group’s former agency CJ ENM has shared that it is open to supporting the reunion of other acts such as I.O.I, IZ*ONE and X1.“The members [of Wanna One] had wanted to do this performance, so a special stage was arranged. We cannot force anything.

IZ*ONE member Kim Min-ju has reportedly rejected an offer by BTS agency HYBE to join its upcoming girl group.This is according to a new report by YTN News, which claims that the South Korean singer-actress has decided to turn down HYBE’s offer after discussing it with her agency Urban Works Media.Instead of joining the upcoming HYBE girl group, which will reportedly be managed by former GFRIEND agency Source Music, Kim will continue to pursue her burgeoning acting career.

IZ*ONE member Jo Yu-ri has revealed the music video teaser for her forthcoming debut single album ‘Glassy’.The clip follows the K-pop star as she heads to a retro diner called ‘Glassy’ for a cup of coffee. There, she comes across a news story about a giant glass shoe that has mysteriously appeared in the “centre of the city”.The visual is soundtracked by a snippet of the upcoming single, which seems to feature a disco-inspired sound.

IZ*ONE member Choi Yena is reportedly set to make her solo debut later this year.This is according to a new report by South Korean media outlet StarNews, which claimed that the K-pop idol is currently working new music, although the format of the project – whether it’ll be a full-length, mini or single album – has yet to be decided.

IZ*ONE singer Kwon Eun-bi is set to make her solo debut this month, her agency has confirmed.Earlier today (August 5), Korean media outlet Star News reported that the singer is currently filming a music video as well as taking part in photoshoots in preparation for her solo debut at the end of August.Kwon’s agency, Woollim Entertainment, later responded to the report in a statement to Newsen.

IZ*ONE member Lee Chaeyeon is set to compete on the Mnet’s upcoming TV dance competition Street Woman Fighter (a direct translation of its Korean title, ‘스트릿 우먼 파이터’).Her agency WM Entertainment has confirmed that shared that the K-pop idol will appear on the forthcoming series as part of the dance crew WANT, which also includes celebrity choreographer and dancer Choi Hyojin.Choi had previously appeared on Mnet’s 2016 dance competition programme Hit The Stage, where she performed with INFINITE’s

IZ*ONE have reportedly broken down, according to a new report.South Korean media outlet TenAsia claimed in a new report that discussions with CJ ENM – the media company that owns Swing Entertainment and Off The Record, both of which managed IZ*ONE during their time together – has fallen through. However, the publication did not cite a reason for the breakdown in talks.However, a source from CJ ENM later confirmed to E-Daily that the IZ*ONE relaunch plans have fallen through.

CJ ENM has confirmed that the respective agencies of IZ*ONE members are discussing the possibility of reforming the girl group.On June 18, the team behind the Parallel Universe Project – which is a crowdfunded initiative by fans who wish to relaunch the girl group – noted in an update to backers that it had received “favorable” responses from the various agencies of former IZ*ONE members regarding a reunion of the K-pop act, as per Koreaboo.A day later, CJ ENM told South Korean news outlet Star

IZ*ONE has shared her thoughts on the group’s disbandment.Yesterday (April 28), the Japanese K-pop singer talked about her time with the girl group during her Bay FM radio show, Tonight, Under The Sakura Tree, ahead of IZ*ONE’s official disbandment at 12am KST on April 29.

IZ*ONE have raised nearly US$2million for the Parallel Universe Project, an initiative that hopes to keep the group from disbanding.The crowdfunding project was launched yesterday (April 21) on Wadiz by the girl group’s fanbase (also known as WIZ*ONE), following the announcement of IZ*ONE’s disbandment.