There have been rumors floating around the online communities that HYBE and Source Music are currently in the process of recruiting former IZ*ONE members for a new girl group, including Kim Chae Won and Miyawaki Sakura.

According to the rumors, HYBE has so far run into some difficulties in maneuvering around Miyawaki Sakura's contract with her Japanese agency. In addition, there have been reports that Kim Chae Won is currently in talks to debut in the upcoming HYBE x Source Music girl group, a project that has received massive media attention for the past few years.

Then on August 18 KST, both HYBE and Kim Chae Won's current label Woollim Entertainment have responded to the speculation. The labels stated, "We cannot confirm the content of artist contracts. We ask for your understanding."

As the rumors are spreading further, many netizens have gathered in an online community to discuss this matter as online users are having mixed reactions in regards to this issue. Netizens commented, "Oh interesting," "If they take Minjoo and Sakura, that's 80% of the IZ*ONE fandom I feel," "Will they be successful?" "I'm not really sure since these two members were part of the group with the rigged voting controversy," "Kim Chae Won? I hoped that HYBE x Source Music would find a new face..." "I think the group will do well with these two members," "I'm just speechless at this point," "I think there are other trainees who have been training for a long time, why do they need to recruit members that have already debuted?" "This is so crazy, why isn't there a company with a sane mind, lol," "I'm really disappointed," and "They're recruiting two members from that rigged voted group?"