[Photograph by Yoo Dae-gil = dbeorlf123@ajunews.com]
The band was to hold a series of events in Japan and South Korea, but the release of its new album, set for November 11, has been postponed. IZ*ONE will not hold planned events in Japan on December 6, 7 and 8. Members will also skip the annual Mnet Asian Music Awards (MAMA) to be held in Nagoya, Japan.
IZ*ONE's nine members from South Korea and three from Japan debuted on October 29, 2018, after they were selected through Produce 48, an Mnet audition show. The band has gained popularity in Japan by issuing three albums since its debut.
In early November, Kim Yong-bum, the executive producer of Produce X 101, a boy group survival reality show, and its producer and director Ahn Jun-young were arrested on charges of rigging votes to form X1, a project body band that debuted through a music audition show this year. They were accused of rigging votes cast by fans in favor of particular contestants. Ahn told investigators that Produce 48 votes were also rigged.
Through Produce X 101, the fourth season of Mnet's Produce 101 franchise, from May 3 to July 19, X1 debuted on August 27. However, a group of viewers filed a legal complaint against Mnet, insisting vote counts were manipulated. The Produce 101 series, a preferred stage for trainees who wish to become a K-pop idol, have produced project bands. Viewers choose 11 members out of 101 trainees from different entertainment companies and independent trainees through online and live voting with multiple elimination rounds.
reporter
Lim Chang-won
cwlim34@ajunews.com
