ZEROBASEONE (제로베이스원)

ZEROBASEONE (stylized as ZB1) is a South Korean boy band that quickly rose to fame after being formed through the popular reality competition show Boys Planet, which aired on Mnet in 2023. Managed by WakeOne and abbreviated as ZB1, the group consists of nine multinational members: Kim Ji-woong, Zhang Hao, Sung Han-bin (the leader), Seok Matthew, Kim Tae-rae, Ricky, Kim Gyu-vin, Park Gun-wook, and Han Yu-jin. Each member emerged from a rigorous selection process, where 98 contestants from South Korea, China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan, Thailand, Vietnam, the United States, and Canada competed for a spot in the final lineup. By the show’s finale, aired live in April 2023, the top nine trainees were confirmed to form the new group, set to debut for an initial contract of two years and six months.

ZEROBASEONE officially debuted on July 10, 2023, with the release of their extended play (EP) Youth in the Shade, which achieved extraordinary commercial success. The EP sold over two million copies and topped South Korea’s Circle Album Chart. Internationally, it was among the best-selling albums, according to the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI). The EP’s lead single, “In Bloom,” further boosted their global recognition by charting on the Billboard Global 200. The immediate success of their debut project allowed ZEROBASEONE to achieve the coveted “Rookie Grand Slam,” by winning 10 Rookie of the Year awards at various prestigious award ceremonies, including the Golden Disc Awards, MAMA Awards, Melon Music Awards, and Seoul Music Awards.

Prior to their official debut, some of the ZB1 members had already gained experience in the entertainment industry. Kim Ji-woong, for example, was a former member of the boy group INX and had established himself as an actor in popular BL web series like Kissable Lips and Roommates of Poongduck 304. Similarly, Kim Tae-rae had appeared in the competitive singing show Top 10 Student in 2020, while Park Gun-wook participated in the reality show Wild Idol in 2021, though he did not make it to the final group lineup.

After their debut, the group released their second EP Melting Point in November 2023, which also became a massive hit, with pre-orders surpassing 1.7 million copies. In just its first week, the EP sold over two million copies, making ZEROBASEONE the first K-pop group to achieve such high sales in their debut year. This success solidified their position as one of the most promising K-pop acts of their generation.

ZEROBASEONE expanded their influence in Japan, making their Japanese debut in March 2024 with the single “Yura Yura (Unmei no Hana),” which set a new sales record for a debut single by a K-pop artist in Japan. With more than 187,000 copies sold on the first day and over 300,000 in the first week, ZB1 became the first foreign artist to surpass this milestone in Japan.

As of 2024, the group continues to expand their global reach, releasing new music and embarking on their first international tour. Their fourth EP, Cinema Paradise, released in August 2024, further showcased their growth as artists. ZEROBASEONE has also gained attention for their endorsements with brands like Bring Green, Romantic Crown, Skoolooks, and SPAO, positioning themselves as trendsetters in both music and fashion. Their collaboration with Line Friends, where they launched a series of animated characters dubbed “zeroni,” reflects their growing influence in pop culture.