IZ*ONE, a project K-pop girl group formed through the third season of Mnet’s audition program “Produce” series in 2018 will disband next month, Mnet announced Wednesday.

The fate of the 12-member girl group in question since controversy arose over vote-rigging on the popular ‘Produce” series. Though there were talks that the group’s two-and-a-half-year contract with CJ ENM, which operates Mnet, may be extended, considering the group's popularity, Mnet confirmed Wednesday that the group will disband with the expiration of the contract.

The members’ respective agencies, Swing Entertainment and Off The Record Entertainment announced in January that they will talk to the girls to “collect their opinions on whether or not to extend their contracts with CJ ENM.”

With the disbandment announcement, it looks like the upcoming online concert, set to take place on March 13 and 14, may be IZ*ONE’s final gig as a group.

BY YIM SEUNG-HYE [yim.seunghye@joongang.co.kr]