Produce 48 () is the third season of the South Korean reality competition series Produce 101. It was a large-scale project in which the public "produces" a girl group by voting for members out of a pool of 96 contestants from South Korea and Japan, as well as voting for the group's concept, name and debut single. The show was a collaboration between the Mnet series Produce 101 and the J-pop idol group AKB48. The winning 12 contestants, with no nationality caps, as voted only by Korean viewers, would promote as a group for two years and six months. The show announced the final 12 members who made it into, as well as the official name of the group Iz*One during the finale on August 31, 2018.
Produced by AKATV (the company that also produced the second season of Produce 101) for Mnet, the show premiered on June 15, 2018, and concluded on August 31, 2018, with 12 episodes. It was directed and produced by Ahn Joon-young, who also directed the first two seasons of Produce 101.
Following irregularities in the patterns of votes, an investigation into Mnet in 2019 found that Ahn and seven others had pre-determined the lineups of Produce 101 groups, and subsequently manipulated vote counts to favor certain contestants, in exchange for financial favors. Ahn and the show's executive producer, Kim Young-bum, were sentenced to prison in 2021 on charges of fraud and bribery.
Concept and format Produce 48 brought together 96 girls from idol groups and entertainment companies in Japan and South Korea to form a 12-person Korean-Japanese group that would promote for two and a half years. Formed as a collaboration between Mnet and Yasushi Akimoto, the project planned to adopt the AKB48's concept of "idols you can meet and greet" and be able to perform in a designated theatre. Members of the group are able to promote under their own agencies concurrently, as the show, and the groups' promotions thereafter, are recorded in batches.
The show started with 96 contestants, who were initially grouped into several classes. Episodic competitions were featured in which girls performed in teams on various songs, and were voted by the studio audience, with the winning teams receiving a number of bonus votes to apply to their overall vote count. The viewer-submitted votes were then applied and the girls were ranked, with certain episodes being elimination rounds to reduce the remaining number of contestants.
Of the 96 contestants, 57 of them were from South Korean idol groups and companies, and the other 39 were from Japanese idol groups, consisting of current members of AKB48 and their sister groups. The final 12 were selected regardless of nationality.
Promotions and broadcast The concept for Produce 48 was revealed at the 2017 Mnet Asian Music Awards in Japan on November 29, 2017, following a joint performance by AKB48 and South Korean artists Weki Meki, Chungha, Pristin, Idol School and Fromis 9. In February 2018, Mnet stated that it would not use the speculated format of having 48 girls from South Korea and 48 girls from Japan competing separately, or that six members of each country would be selected.
The first teaser for the show was released on April 11, 2018. On April 22, the series' theme song "Nekkoya (Pick Me)" (내꺼야 (Pick Me)) was recorded by the contestants of the show with HKT48's Sakura Miyawaki and Lee Ka-eun as center. The winners of the previous series, I.O.I and Wanna One, made appearances at the recording. Produce 48's contestants performed the theme song on Episode 570 of M Countdown in May 2018.
The show premiered on June 15, 2018, on Mnet in South Korea and Mnet Japan. It is also being broadcast in Japan on BS Sky PerfecTV. CJ E&M is also live streaming the series on their TVing Global service. The series was broadcast on tvN Asia in Hong Kong, Singapore, Macau, Malaysia, Indonesia, Taiwan, Thailand, Sri Lanka, the Philippines, Cambodia and Myanmar where it premiered on June 21, 2018.
Staff members The series was presented by Lee Seung-gi. Other artists featured as cast members: Vocal trainers: Lee Hong-gi Soyou Dance trainers: Bae Yoon-jeong Choi Young-jun May J Lee Rap trainer: Cheetah Special MC's: Jeon So-mi (Episodes 1 and 5) Kang Daniel (Episode 1) Kim Chung-ha (Episode 5) Bora (Position Evaluation - Episodes 6 and 7)
One-day Dance Judge: Kahi (Episode 1-2)
One-day Healing Mentor: Bora (Episode 11)
Contestants
Color key (In order of contestant's rank on the show) Final members of Iz*One Contestants eliminated in the finale Contestants eliminated in the third elimination round Contestants eliminated in the second elimination round Contestants eliminated in the first elimination round Contestants that left the show
+ 96 contestants Jang Won-young () Sakura Miyawaki (宮脇咲良) Jo Yu-ri () Choi Ye-na () An Yu-jin () Nako Yabuki (矢吹奈子) Kwon Eun-bi () Kang Hye-won () Hitomi Honda (本田仁美) Kim Chaewon () Kim Min-ju () Lee Chae-yeon () Han Cho-won () Lee Ga-eun () Miho Miyazaki (宮崎美穂) Juri Takahashi (高橋朱里) Miyu Takeuchi (竹内美宥) Miu Shitao (下尾みう) Park Hae-yoon () Miru Shiroma (白間美瑠) Kim Na-young () Sae Murase (村瀬紗英) Kim Do-ah () Moe Goto (後藤萌咲) Jang Gyu-ri () Huh Yunjin () Kim Si-hyeon () Wang Yiren () Na Go-eun () Lee Si-an () Go Yu-jin () Son Eun-chae ()Erii Chiba (千葉恵里) Mako Kojima (小嶋真子) Yoon Hae-sol () Bae Eun-yeong ()Chiyori Nakanishi (中西代梨) Tomu Muto (武藤十夢)Minami Sato (佐藤美波)Saho Iwatate (岩立沙穂)Noe Yamada (山田野絵)Nanami Asai (浅井七海) Kim So-hee () Kim Min-seo ()Vivian Murakawa (村川緋杏) Kim Hyun-ah ()Kim Su-yun () Lee Ha-eun ()Misaki Aramaki (荒巻美咲)Kim Cho-yeon () Lee Yu-jeong ()Aoi Motomura (本村碧唯) Park Min-ji () Yu Min-young () Park Seo-young () Wang Ke () Cho Ka-hyeon () Jurina Matsui (松井珠理奈)Ikumi Nakano (中野郁海) Hwang So-yeon () Shin Su-hyun () Kang Da-min ()Shinobu Mogi (茂木忍)Erina Oda (小田えりな) Yoon Eun-bin () Choi Yeon-soo ()Natsumi Matsuoka (松岡菜摘) Park Chan-ju ()Park Jinny ()Kim Da-yeon () Rena Hasegawa (長谷川玲奈) Cho Ah-yeong () Lee Seung-hyeon () Yuuka Kato (加藤夕夏) Kim Da-hye ()Mina Imada (今田美奈)Serika Nagano (永野芹佳) Hong Ye-ji ()Lee Chae-jeong () Park Ji-eun ()Manami Ichikawa (市川愛美)Alex Christine ()Sae Kurihara (栗原紗英) Cho Yeong-in ()Yuka Asai (浅井裕華) Ahn Ye-won ()Kokoro Naiki (内木志) Kim Yu-bin () Cho Sa-rang () Choi So-eun ()Ayana Shinozaki (篠崎彩奈) Won Seo-yeon ()Miku Tanaka (田中美久)Cocona Umeyama (梅山恋和)Amane Tsukiashi (月足天音)Azusa Uemura (植村梓)
Episodes
Ranking The top 12 contestants were chosen through popularity online voting (open internationally) at Produce 2020s homepage and audience's live voting. The results were shown at the end of each episode. This ranking determined the 12 trainees who would form the unit girl group.
Color key
New Top 12 +Produce 48 Top 12No.Ep.1Ep.2Ep.3Ep.5Ep.8Ep.9Ep.11Ep.121Sakura MiyawakiLee Ga-eun ↑4Lee Ga-eun =Lee Ga-eun =Jang Won-young ↑2Miho Miyazaki ↑24Sakura Miyawaki ↑1Jang Won-young ↑62Ahn Yu-jinAhn Yu-jin =Ahn Yu-jin =Ahn Yu-jin =Nako Yabuki ↑5Sakura Miyawaki ↑5Miho Miyazaki ↓1Sakura Miyawaki ↓13Jang Won-youngKwon Eun-bi ↑22Sakura Miyawaki ↑2 Jang Won-young ↑1Kang Hye-won ↑22Kang Hye-won =Lee Chae-yeon ↑9Jo Yu-ri ↑154Jurina MatsuiJang Won-young ↓1Jang Won-young =Sakura Miyawaki ↓1Ahn Yu-jin ↓2Miyu Takeuchi ↑26Kang Hye-won ↓1Choi Ye-na ↑125Lee Ga-eunSakura Miyawaki ↓4Kwon Eun-bi ↓2Kwon Eun-bi =Kwon Eun-bi =Lee Ga-eun ↑3Lee Ga-eun =Ahn Yu-jin ↑96Jang Gyu-riChoi Ye-na ↑1Moe Goto ↑2Moe Goto =Kim Min-ju ↑9Miu Shitao ↑16Miyu Takeuchi ↓2Nako Yabuki ↑37Choi Ye-naWang Yi-ren ↑4Choi Ye-na ↓1Nako Yabuki ↑9Sakura Miyawaki ↓3Nako Yabuki ↓5Jang Won-young ↑1Kwon Eun-bi ↑58Lee Si-anMoe Goto ↑8Miyu Takeuchi ↑3Wang Yi-ren ↑1Lee Ga-eun ↓7Jang Won-young ↓7Miru Shiroma ↑6Kang Hye-won ↓49Miru ShiromaNoe Yamada ↑36Wang Yi-ren ↓2Choi Ye-na ↓2Han Cho-won ↑38Hitomi Honda ↑3Nako Yabuki ↓2Hitomi Honda ↑210Jo Yu-ri Lee Chae-yeon ↑19Lee Chae-yeon =Lee Chae-yeon =Jo Yu-ri ↑9Ahn Yu-jin ↓6Miu Shitao ↓4Kim Chaewon ↑911Wang Yi-renMiyu Takeuchi ↑28Noe Yamada ↓2Miyu Takeuchi ↓3Huh Yunjin ↑11Kwon Eun-bi ↓6Hitomi Honda ↓2Kim Min-ju ↑412Mako KojimaJurina Matsui ↓8Jurina Matsui =Hitomi Honda ↑10Hitomi Honda =Lee Chae-yeon ↑5Kwon Eun-bi ↓1Lee Chae-yeon ↓9
Result
The finale was held on August 31, 2018, and was broadcast live. Lee Seung-gi announced the unit girl group name, IZ*ONE ().
#Episode 12 (Total votes) Name Votes Company 1 Jang Won-young 338,366 Starship 2 Sakura Miyawaki 316,105 HKT48 3 Jo Yu-ri 294,734 Stone Music 4 Choi Ye-na 285,385 Yuehua 5 Ahn Yu-jin 280,487 Starship 6 Nako Yabuki 261,788 HKT48 7 Kwon Eun-bi 250,212 Woollim 8 Kang Hye-won 248,432 8D Creative 9 Hitomi Honda 240,418 AKB48 10 Kim Chaewon 238,192 Woollim 11 Kim Min-ju 227,061 Urban Works 12 Lee Chae-yeon 221,273 WM
Discography Extended plays Title Details Peak chart positions Sales JPN HotJapan Hot Album:
JPN DigOricon Digital Album Chart: USWorldBillboard World Albums Chart: 30 Girls 6 Concepts Released: August 18, 2018 Label: Stone Music Entertainment Formats: Digital download 14 7 9 JPN: 2,473 Produce 48 – Final Released: September 1, 2018 Label: Stone Music Entertainment Formats: Digital download 22 — —
Singles Title Year Peak positionsAlbum KOR KORHot 100 JPNHot 100 "Pick Me" 2018 — — — "Rollin' Rollin'" 66 66 — 30 Girls 6 Concepts "To Reach You" 57 61 — "Rumor" 24 37 — "See You Again" 80 79 — "1000%" 70 68 — "I Am" 92 90 — "We Together" — — — Produce 48 – Final "Suki ni Nacchau Darō?" — — — "Yume wo Miteiru Aida" — — — "Yume wo Miteiru Aida" — — — "—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory.
Ratings In the table below, the blue numbers represent the lowest ratings and the red numbers represent the highest ratings. Broadcast date Average audience share AGB Nielsen Nationwide"Select the week from drop down menu." Seoul"Select the week from drop down menu." 1 June 15, 2018 2 June 22, 2018 1.913% 1.768% 3 June 29, 2018 1.999% 2.098% 4 July 6, 2018 2.833% 3.068% 5 July 13, 2018 2.538% 2.732% 6 July 20, 2018 2.479% 3.080% 7 July 27, 2018 2.075% 2.266% 8 August 3, 2018 2.397% 2.399% 9 August 10, 2018 2.561% 2.790% 10 August 17, 2018 2.594% 3.087% 11 August 24, 2018 2.435% 2.556% 12 August 31, 2018 Average NR rating means "not reported". The rating is low.
Aftermath
Iz*One released their debut extended play (EP) Color*Iz on October 29, 2018. Since then, they have released two studio albums (one in Korean and one in Japanese), four EPs and three Japanese singles. After two and a half years of activities, Iz*One disbanded on April 29, 2021, following their contract expiration. Hitomi Honda returned to activities with AKB48 until her graduation on January 28, 2024. She later signed with iNKODE and debuted in their new girl group Say My Name on October 16, 2024, with their first mini album of the same name. Nako Yabuki returned to HKT48 until her graduation on April 1, 2023, to focus on her acting career. Kwon Eun-bi debuted as a soloist on August 24, 2021, with her first EP, Open. Jo Yu-ri debuted as a soloist on October 7, 2021, with her first single album, Glassy. She made her acting debut in 2022 by playing Oh-Rosi in the TV mini series Mimicus. She went on to play Kim Jun-hee, also known as Player 222, in seasons 2 and 3 (2024-25) of the TV series Squid Game. Kim Min-ju and Urban Works announced in October 2021 that she would focus on her acting career.Park Su-in. 아이즈원 김민주 측, 하이브 걸그룹 합류설에 "배우의 길 걸을 것"() Newsen, October 7, 2021. Retrieved November 5, 2021. She later left Urban Works and signed with Management SOOP in September 2022. Jang Won-young and An Yu-jin debuted in Starship Entertainment's new girl group Ive with their first single album, Eleven, on December 1, 2021. Kang Hye-won debuted as a soloist on December 22 with her first extended play, W. She also debuted as an actress in the third season of web drama Best Mistake, which began airing on December 28.