Everything You Need To Know About The Up-And-Coming Boy Group ZEROBASEONE
Watch out for their comeback in September.
By Ynez Loh - published
If you’re a fan of Korean idol survival shows, the name ZEROBASEONE should sound familiar to you. The nine-member group comprising the top-ranked finalists of the survival show Boys Planet debuted in 2023, and the super rookies won 10 awards within their first year of promotional activities. Read on for everything you need to know about the up-and-coming K-pop boy group.
1. They were formed through a survival show
Created through MNET’s survival show Boys Planet, ZEROBASEONE, commonly abbreviated as ZB1, is a nine-member group comprising members Sung Han Bin, Kim Ji Woong, Zhang Hao, Seok Matthew, Kim Tae Rae, Ricky, Kim Gyu Vin, Park Gun Wook, and Han Yu Jin. The 12-episode series debuted its nine top-ranked finalists in July 2023.
2. Zhang Hao was the first foreigner winner of a South Korean idol survival show
Chinese member Zhang Hao, who hails from Nanping, emerged as the highest-ranking finalist of Boys Planet, earning him his debut spot with ZEROBASEONE and making him the first foreigner to win a South Korean idol survival show.
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3. Ji Woong was in three groups before ZEROBASEONE
Vocalist Ji Woong is no stranger to the idol life—he made his singing debut with the now-disbanded group INX in 2016 under the stage name Ji Nam. His other projects include the pre-debut groups Ateen and B.I.T., both of which have disbanded.
4. Ji Woong starred in multiple dramas pre-debut
After the discontinuation of Ji Woong’s previous groups, he began acting with his first lead role in the Naver web series The Sweet Blood (2021). He even ventured into the Boys’ Love (BL) scene with Kissable Lips (2022) and Roommates of Poongduck 304 (2022). His most recent acting gig was in The Good Bad Mother (2023), where he played the fiancé of a presidential candidate’s daughter.
5. Their debut set a new rookie album sales record
The nine-member ensemble debuted with the EP Youth In The Shade featuring the title track “In Bloom”. Surpassing one million pre-orders for their debut album, ZEROBASEONE made history with a new record in rookie album sales for a K-pop group.
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6. They achieved a rookie grand slam
Within a year of their debut, ZEROBASEONE swept up 10 “Rookie of the Year” awards across different South Korean award ceremonies. They became the seventh K-pop act to achieve a rookie grand slam, following their senior groups like aespa, TOMORROW X TOGETHER, and SHINee.
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7. They went on their first world tour only a year after debut
In 2024, ZEROBASEONE embarked on their first tour since debut, spanning eight cities across Asia including a sold-out concert night at the Singapore Indoor Stadium. The tour came after their previous instantly sold-out fan concerts in South Korea and Japan.
8. Their last comeback was in February 2025
ZEROBASEONE’s latest comeback happened late February this year. The Korean extended play–a release that sits between a single and a full-length album–is titled ‘Blue Paradise’, and ranked first on charts such as Billboard and Circle (previously known as Gaon).
The full release followed the drop of a pre-release single ‘Doctor! Doctor!’, a contemporary R&B track with a cover art done by Junji Ito, a Japanese artist of Tomie fame.
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9. Their first full album is dropping this September
The group teased their first full album, Never Say Never, on YouTube last week. The concept film showcased a stronger beat than their usual lively, youthful sound, and many of the members like Yujin and Matthew sported brand new hairstyles, marking a new chapter for the group.
Never Say Never is set to drop on 1 September 2025.