IZONE disbands, fans declare agency boycott
Yesterday, MNET issued a statement that all activities of the girl group IZ*ONE will stop completely starting April 2022. In other words, IZONE will soon be disbanded after next week’s concert.
The news of IZONE’s disbandment was definitely not a pleasant morning for WIZ*ONE, as their fanatical fans are called. Various actions were launched, ranging from hashtags on social media, to a boycott campaign to provide support.
Through the Twitter account @DC_IZONECHU, in Korean, he conveyed a number of things regarding the disbandment of IZONE. Here we summarize the translation of the statement.
“Broadcast company Mnet under the auspices of the music division CJ ENM announces that the girl group activity project IZONE will end in April. However, Mnet’s statement is very difficult to understand from the perspective of fans who support the 12 members of IZ*ONE.
1. News about IZONE’s expiring contract must go through discussion and communication involving WIZ*ONE at the Official Fan Cafe, not through the media.
2. Without notifying that this is IZ*ONE’s last online concert, the announcement that Mnet unilaterally issued does not respect WIZ*ONE’s existence.
3. Through various media reports, CJ ENM and Mnet have always said they continue to support IZONE’s activities, and WIZ*ONE has also amassed a strong fandom in supporting the 12 members of IZ*ONE since their debut.
4. This is evident in the achievements of IZONE that have been made, including ranking first as the girl group with the best album sales in 2022.
5. Even in this situation, WIZONE has the right to be notified of the termination of IZONE’s activities and activities directly, not through third party media.
6. WIZ*ONE expresses disappointment to CJ ENM and all the member agencies concerned for the arbitrary act of terminating IZ*ONE’s activities and contracts.
In this regard, WIZ*ONE has discussed and declared the following actions:
A. WIZONE as IZONE’s official fanbase urges related parties to keep the current 12 active members unchanged, and continue group activities in the future.
B. We also request that Mnet immediately withdraw their official statement regarding IZONE’s disbandment.
C. WIZ*ONE requires a statement from the member’s agency Starship Entertainment, Woollim, WM, Urban Works, 8D, Stone Music, Yuehua and Vernalossom regarding the members’ future activities.
D. WIZ*ONE will issue a boycott of all activities scheduled by each agency after the IZONE members return to their respective agencies.
E. We also urge IZ*ONE’s online concert to be postponed, and refund all MD and CGV tickets from fans.”
That’s the statement of the boycott of those claiming to be WIZ*ONE. However, it turned out that the action was not supported by many fans. Not a few who criticized the unscrupulous fans.
“You are only making the situation worse, whatever you do will not change the situation. This brings a bad image of WIZ*ONE, please stop. Don’t pretend to be WIZONE again.” wrote a fan in the reply column.
It is not yet known what the activities of all IZ * ONE members will be after the group is disbanded later. Some news from South Korea said Miyawaki Sakura joined Big Hit Entertainment, BTS’s agency. Honda Hitomi and Yabuki Nako return to HKT48.
While on the other hand, Kwon Eunbi, Choi Yena, Kang Hyewon, Kim Minju, Ahn Yujin, Jang Wonyoung, Jo Yuri, Kim Chaewon, Lee Chaeyeon will announce their further activities through the agency.
IZONE’s decision to disband by Mnet and the agencies and labels that supervise them is difficult to avoid. Considering that IZ*ONE is a survival event group, their disbandment is a sure thing as experienced by IOI and Wanna One.
