Did former IZ*ONE members Miyawaki Sakura and Kim Chaewon sign an exclusive contract with HYBE LABELS?

On August 19th, HYBE LABELS commented on the exclusive contract reports regarding former IZ*ONE members Miyawaki Sakura and Kim Chaewon.

Korean and Japanese media have been reporting that Miyawaki Sakura will be moving to South Korea in August due to an exclusive contract with HYBE LABELS and that Miyawaki and Kim Chaewon, along with another IZ*ONe member and a Produce 48 member will be joining part of a brand new female pop group.

HYBE issued the following statement:

We can’t confirm the content related to the artist’s contract. Please understand.

HYBE LABELS has the following subsidiaries: Big Hit Music (BTS, TXT, Lee Hyun), Source Music, Pledis Entertainment (Seventeen, NU’EST, Fromis 9, Nana and many more), Belift Lab and KOZ Entertainment.

If the rumors are true, this would be a very smart business decision for HYBE LABELS knowing that IZ*ONE has one of the strongest fan bases in Korea and Japan but also internationally and their fandom has led to the IZ*ONE being one of the top money making all-female k-pop female groups of all time despite only being around for a limited time.

But for many IZ*ONE members, the news dashes hopes who have hoped for an IZ*ONE reunion, as Kwon Eunbi is pursuing a solo career and her debut album is set for August 24th, Choi Yena. Kim Minju and Ahn Yujin busy on television, Lee Chaeyeon is on a dance group competition show, Jang Won Young and Kang Hyewon are busy as models, Honda Hitomi busy with AKB48, Yabuki Nako busy with HKT48 and Jo Yuri also busy with music.

It’s important to note that Kim Chaewon is still being shown on Woolim Entertainment’s website and they recently released a video featuring Kim Chaewon on August 9th:

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