The group has achieved over 10 million in album sales.
There is a blend of disappointment and anticipation among fans.
The anticipation for an extension of ZEROBASEONE's activities has decreased as the members' agencies officially confirmed preparations for future endeavors, signaling an end to the group's full activities. Initially formed for 2 years and 6 months, this anticipation was extended by an additional 2 months, but with the agencies' recent statements hinting at a shift towards individual pursuits, the group is set to conclude approximately 2 years and 8 months of activities.
ZEROBASEONE debuted in July 2023 through the Mnet audition program 'Boys Planet,' consisting of members Seong Han-bin, Kim Ji-woong, Zhang Hao, Seok Matthew, Kim Tae-rae, Ricky, Kim Kyu-bin, Park Geon-wook, and Han Yu-jin. They received explosive reactions immediately following their debut, significantly impacting the K-pop market, and all their albums achieved the remarkable feat of being million-sellers.
With cumulative album sales exceeding 10 million by combining figures from South Korea and Japan, the upcoming release in February is likely to bolster these numbers further. However, similar to other project groups in the past, such as I.O.I and Wanna One, which concluded their journeys with a strong legacy but on a tight schedule, ZEROBASEONE appears poised to follow this same trajectory, leaving behind expectations and regrets from fans at the peak of their popularity.
The end of ZEROBASEONE’s journey serves as a reminder of their significant impact on the K-pop landscape. Despite being a project group, they have set a new record by exceeding 10 million album sales, demonstrating not only numerical success but also the culture of fandom that this group cultivated.
In the past, groups like I.O.I and Wanna One achieved high popularity, yet their journeys ended within a specified timeframe. Consequently, the conclusion of ZEROBASEONE leaves a sense of wistfulness among fans, especially since their performances and connections were nurtured at their peak. This sense of nostalgia will likely intensify as fans look back on their journey.
Furthermore, the evolution of project groups in the K-pop industry hints at the potential for more innovative constructs in the future. The success of ZEROBASEONE is indicative of how future artists may be grouped and how they engage with fans, suggesting that this model of collaboration is likely to flourish in the evolving K-pop market.
This article is KOSTAR’s reinterpretation of a story originally reported by TVDaily.
Photo: TVDaily
