ZEROBASEONE Ultimate Guide: The New 5-Member Era Explained
ZB1's story is K-pop's project-group experiment at full scale: double-million debut, a 2026 restructure to five members, and what ZEROSE should know now.
Who Are ZEROBASEONE?
ZEROBASEONE (ZB1) formed through Mnet’s survival show Boys Planet (2023), where nine trainees won their spots in a live-voted finale. They debuted on July 10, 2023 with YOUTH IN THE SHADE and title track “In Bloom” — and immediately rewrote rookie records: the debut EP sold over two million copies, making them the first K-pop group to debut as double-million sellers.
Their run since has included MELTING POINT (2023, another 2.1M+ seller), a “rookie award grand slam” across Korea’s major year-end ceremonies, and a Japanese debut single that broke first-day sales records for a K-pop debut in Japan.
The 2026 Restructure — Read This First
ZB1 began as a project group with a fixed contract period (about 2.5 years — the same model as I.O.I and other project groups). When that period ended:
- February 12, 2026: it was announced that four members — Zhang Hao, Ricky, Kim Gyuvin, and Han Yujin (all Yuehua-affiliated) — would depart after the project’s end
- March 15, 2026: the final nine-member concert closed the first chapter
- Since then, ZEROBASEONE continues as five: Sung Hanbin (leader), Kim Jiwoong, Seok Matthew, Kim Taerae, and Park Gunwook, with activities coordinated by WAKEONE while members keep their individual agencies
The five-member era opened with the mini album Ascend- and title track “TOP 5” (May 18, 2026) — a title that says exactly what it means to say.
Recent Headline: A 3rd-Anniversary Gift That Wasn’t Merch
On July 10, 2026 — the group’s third debut anniversary — leader Sung Hanbin donated 100 million won (~$66,000) to Good Neighbors, a global children’s-rights NGO, funding career education and scholarships for youth in crisis. It’s the kind of anniversary celebration that tells you something about how this team wants to be remembered.
Essential Discography
- YOUTH IN THE SHADE (Jul 2023) — debut, “In Bloom,” double-million seller
- MELTING POINT (Nov 2023) — 2.1M+ copies
- NEVER SAY NEVER (2025) — first full album
- “Re-Flow” (Feb 2, 2026) — the nine members’ farewell single
- Ascend- (May 18, 2026) — first release as five, led by “TOP 5”
How to Follow
- Fandom name: ZEROSE (제로즈)
- YouTube: ZEROBASEONE official channel (@ZB1_official)
- Departed members remain active under their own agencies — following them now means following more artists, not fewer
FAQ
How many members does ZEROBASEONE have now? Five, since March 2026: Sung Hanbin, Kim Jiwoong, Seok Matthew, Kim Taerae, and Park Gunwook. The group debuted with nine.
Why did four members leave? ZB1 was a fixed-term project group; when the contract period ended, the four Yuehua-affiliated members moved on as planned agreements concluded. The remaining five continue under WAKEONE’s coordination.
When did ZEROBASEONE debut? July 10, 2023, with YOUTH IN THE SHADE.