I will be the first one to admit that I was oh-so-scared for the ZEROBASEONE transition. As a Boys Planet girly from day one, seeing our nine boys getting (call me dramatic but) RIPPED APART was something that I was dreading from the moment they debuted. Still, the moment came, and all we ZEROSE could really do is, well, accept it. And while many tears were shed, we also learned to move on and wait patiently for the next chapter that was to unfold. Who knew that that chapter would come so much faster than expected?
ZEROBASEONE is Back!!!
This May 2026 marked the official re-debut of ZEROBASEONE with five members. Sung Han-bin, Kim Ji-woong, Seok Matthew, Kim Tae-rae, and Park Gun-wook have officially stepped into a brand-new era – and a great one, at that. With the release of their highly anticipated sixth mini-album, Ascend-, the group is proving that they aren’t just continuing their journey. They are completely redefining it with a fiery, debut-level determination.
Photo from zb1official/Instagram
Transitioning from a nine-piece ensemble to a mere quintet is no small feat, but ZEROBASEONE has channeled their deep trust in one another into a refined, minimalist artistic identity. While their emotional final stages as a full lineup brought tears to us all, this new chapter marks a powerful rebirth.
Instead of trying to replicate the massive scale of their previous stages, the five members are focusing on a more classic, spacious performance style that allows each individual’s unique aura and vocal color to command the spotlight. It’s a sophisticated evolution that shows true artistic maturity. Particularly in Top 5, we can hear each member’s ultra-smooth vocal prowess truly shine, and it is a treat we didn’t know we needed. To be honest, Ascend- is one of my favorite albums of the group so far.
The members themselves have been incredibly vocal about their passion for this relaunch as well, even hilariously scaling Gayasan Mountain together prior to the release to solidify their teamwork and pledge their renewed dedication.
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“We really prepared the album with the same determination as when we debuted. We think it’s a good point that can firmly imprint us on the public and our fans.”
— Park Gun-wook
It takes an immense amount of courage to restart, but ZEROBASEONE has turned a bittersweet transition into an absolute triumph. Ascend- is a definitive declaration that Han-bin, Ji-woong, Matthew, Tae-rae, and Gun-wook are here to stay for a long, long time – just as we will remain ZEROSE for a long, long time.
