ZEROBASEONE (Sung Hanbin, Kim Jiwoong, Seok Matthew, Kim Taerae, Park Gunwook), who have led the 5th generation boy group scene since their debut, are now at a major turning point. After a reorganization from a 9-member group to a 5-member group, they have declared a new beginning with the release of their 6th mini-album ‘Ascend-‘.
“We did a lot of research among ourselves to show the public a new side of us as five members,” Sung Hanbin shared. “Since the number of people changed, the performance would be different, so we focused on movement patterns that could fill the stage and dance lines that would make each member stand out.”
Park Gunwook also viewed the change to a 5-member group as an opportunity rather than a crisis, hoping it would be a chance to bring hidden strengths to the surface.
“I think the strengths of the members, which I thought I already knew well, can actually be maximized through this change,” Park Gunwook explained. “Jiwoong hyung, with his amazing visuals, fits this sophisticated concept perfectly. When he stands in the center, the overall atmosphere of the stage feels refreshed. Matthew hyung also firmly captures the flow and tone when singing the hip tracks on this album. Now, the individual charms and roles of the five members are clearly revealed on stage.”
“As soon as I received the concept draft and heard the title track, I was convinced it was a perfect fit for our members,” Seok Matthew said. “It was such an intuitive and attractive song that I could immediately picture the performance on stage in my head.”
Sung Hanbin also described the process of figuring out how to showcase the new ZEROBASEONE despite a tight schedule.
“We talked a lot about maintaining ZEROBASEONE’s signature refreshing identity while adopting a cleaner and more sophisticated ‘Contemporary R&B’ mood,” Sung Hanbin noted. “Fortunately, the company’s direction and our musical opinions aligned well, which is how this album was born.”
Their title track ‘TOP 5’ has a delicate and minimal R&B sensibility, contrary to its title, which suggests the strong ambition of the now 5-member ZEROBASEONE. Park Gunwook mentioned that he studied how to “take the pressure off” by analyzing classic movies from the 2000s and performances by senior artists.
“Both sonically and performance-wise, we tried to go minimal by removing unnecessary decorations and effort,” Kim Jiwoong added. “This time, we want to show a faithful performance by focusing solely on the sophisticated concept.”
Before this comeback, ZEROBASEONE first showcased their 5-member system through a large-scale performance in Japan. Sung Hanbin recalled feeling the members’ unity during the rigorous practice process.
“We had no physical breathing room because we had to prepare for the comeback and the KCON Japan stage simultaneously,” Sung Hanbin recalled. “However, we all felt a responsibility to grow as individuals and clearly prove our distinct personalities on stage. Fortunately, the reaction from the audience was very passionate, and we gained a lot of energy from that.”
For ZEROBASEONE, KCON provided not only the joy of completing the performance without any accidents but also the fruit of seeing the public accept the 5-member version of the group without resistance.
“When we finished the KCON stage as five, I was worried whether the public would fully accept us, but completing it successfully gave us great confidence,” Sung Hanbin said. “In this comeback premiere show, we plan to show our even stronger synergy.”
A special encounter is also planned for this promotion. They will engage in friendly competition with ‘AND2BLE’, a group formed by former colleagues who led ZEROBASEONE through the survival show but have since left the team.
“I sincerely respect and support the choices and new paths of the members who moved to other teams,” Sung Hanbin said. “Since we are now colleagues dreaming the same dream, I think our biggest goal is for everyone to deliver great performances in their respective positions.”
“To be honest, it would be a lie to say I had no worries about the change,” Park Gunwook admitted. “But instead of carrying that anxiety in my heart, I used it as a healthy ‘stimulant’ to help us grow. Rather than obsessing over numerical achievements during this promotion, I hope this becomes an album that ZEROSE wants to buy because they want to keep it, and an album they can confidently recommend to anyone.”
“I want to be an artist who is clearly recognized for their skill by the public and fans, and I want our songs to be heard often on the streets,” Sung Hanbin added. “Above all, the compliment I want to hear first is, ‘This song is really good.'”
Behind ZEROBASEONE’s musical ambitions lies a deep affection for the fans who silently watched over the team’s transition period with anxious hearts. The members earnestly hoped that this comeback would reach fans as pure happiness, rather than another burden or worry.
“I think our ZEROSE must have worried and suffered a lot due to the change in member composition,” Park Gunwook said. “Fangirling should be about happiness, so it broke my heart to think you were stressed and anxious because of us. From now on, we plan to show you so many amazing performances that you won’t have to worry anymore, and we’ll appear frequently in the media and on broadcasts, so please trust us and enjoy it together.”
