From 1.4 Million to 70,000

In July 2023, ZeroBaseOne debuted with 'YOUTH IN THE SHADE' and sold 1.24 million copies. Their first comeback later that year, 'MELTING POINT', pushed that to 1.45 million. Back-to-back million-seller titles cemented them as one of the frontrunners of 5th-generation K-pop boy groups.

Then, on February 2, 2026, their Special Limited Album 'Re-Flow' moved 69,378 copies on its first day. The weekly total came in at 66,921 — good enough for third place on the Hanteo Chart, but nowhere near their old numbers.

1.45 million down to 70,000. That's roughly one-twentieth of what they used to sell.

Fans were confused. "Did their popularity just tank?" "Why did they make so few copies?" But this wasn't a popularity dip, and it wasn't an accident. It was a deliberate choice — the way a project group says goodbye.

The Fate of a Project Group

ZeroBaseOne was born through Mnet's survival show 'Boys Planet', where fans around the world voted to select nine members. The final lineup: Zhang Hao (1st), Sung Hanbin (2nd, leader), Seok Matthew (3rd), Ricky (4th), Park Gunwook (5th), Kim Taerae (6th), Kim Gyuvin (7th), Kim Jiwoong (8th), and Han Yujin (9th). Six Korean members, two Chinese, one Canadian — a genuinely international group built by a global fanbase.

Here's where things get complicated. Project groups — idol groups formed through survival shows with pre-set contract periods — have an expiration date baked in from day one.

Boys Planet terms: 2.5 years.

They debuted in July 2023, which put the contract end date at January 2026. WAKEONE, after discussions with all nine members, announced a two-month extension — meaning the group would officially wrap up activities in March 2026.

Why can't they just keep going? Because every member belongs to a different agency.

WAKEONE manages ZeroBaseOne as a unit, but each member has an individual contract with their original agency. When the project ends, they return to their respective homes. Getting all nine back together would require multiple agencies to agree — and that's almost impossible to pull off in practice.

It's the same story as Wanna One, IZ*ONE, and X1, the earlier project groups from Mnet's Produce series (survival shows with similar voting formats). They all debuted explosively, then disbanded the moment their contracts expired.

So why the two-month extension at all? Simple: instead of an abrupt disbandment, they wanted to give fans — and the members — time to say a proper goodbye. Re-Flow is the album that exists to fill that space.

Why Re-Flow Is a Limited Album

Re-Flow isn't a regular comeback. It carries the label "Special Limited Album" — released in a single version, and it sold out quickly across multiple platforms.

If this were a standard album rollout, they would have dropped three or four versions (A, B, C, D), each with different photocards and exclusive inclusions to incentivize fans to buy multiple copies. For a million-selling group, they'd have pressed a massive initial print run too.

Re-Flow did none of that.

WAKEONE described the album as containing "the past, present, and future of ZeroBaseOne, who ran hard for two and a half years, all at once" — a way of carrying forward their own flow, supported by fans across 184 countries and regions.

Re-Flow. To flow again.

The group is disbanding, but each member will find a new current to move with. That's the message — and that's why the priority was a meaningful ending, not a numbers game.

The pre-release track 'Running to Future' dropped on January 9th. That title isn't accidental. The lead single 'LOVEPOCALYPSE' reads less like an apocalypse and more like a new beginning — an ending that's also a starting line.

For fans, it's a bittersweet goodbye. For the group, it's a clean, intentional close. Going from 1.45 million-copy album cycles to suddenly announcing "we're disbanding next month" would be jarring. Releasing a small-batch limited album that says "we're each going our own way now" is a much more honest and graceful way to land.

Where Are the Members Headed?

On February 9th, WAKEONE announced that Seok Matthew and Park Gunwook had signed exclusive contracts with the agency. Both will continue activities under WAKEONE after ZeroBaseOne wraps — likely as soloists or in a sub-unit.

The four YH Entertainment members (Zhang Hao, Ricky, Kim Gyuvin, Han Yujin) released a statement on January 11th saying they would "take time to prepare for future activities and carefully consider various directions." Translation: no specific plans yet. The possibilities on the table include breaking into the Chinese market, re-debuting in Korea, or going the individual route.

The remaining three — Sung Hanbin, Kim Jiwoong, and Kim Taerae — haven't announced anything yet.

Full reunion? Unlikely.

Some fans have floated the idea of a smaller group reforming, similar to how EVNNE (a sub-unit formed by former X1 members) came together. But EVNNE worked because those members were all under the same agency. ZeroBaseOne's members are split across multiple companies, and with some already re-signed to WAKEONE, the logistics of a full or partial reunion just don't add up.

March 2026 is almost certainly the last time these nine perform under the ZeroBaseOne name. Individual members will keep working in their own ways, but the next time all nine are in a room together is probably a fan meeting or a one-off special stage.

The 5th-Gen K-pop Survival Game

What does the K-pop landscape look like in 2026, the year ZeroBaseOne disbands?

Korean financial outlet Herald Economy called 2026 "the year of the boy group." The 5th-generation groups that debuted over the past few years are ramping up to fight for the top spot, while a wave of rookie groups is queuing up right behind them.

Notable new boy groups in 2026:

• Alpha Drive One: Formed through Mnet's 'Boys 2 Planet' — essentially Boys Planet Season 2, and the direct successor to ZeroBaseOne in format and lineage.
• Longshot: The first boy group from Jay Park's More:Vision label, with their debut album 'SHOT CALLERS'.
• Kickflip: A JYP Entertainment group with a rock/pop-punk sound. Their mini album title track held a spot on Apple Music's Korean chart for over 50 consecutive days.

The major agencies are moving too. SM Entertainment is hand-picking members from their trainee team SMTR25 for a new boy group debut. YG's chief producer Yang Hyun-suk has announced plans to debut two new boy groups and two new girl groups.

Why is everyone piling into boy groups right now?

Because ZeroBaseOne proved it works.

Debuting in 2023, ZeroBaseOne hit million-seller status on six consecutive albums — starting from their very first release. The survival show format meant a passionate fanbase was already in place before they even debuted. And since the nine members were selected by global vote, their fanbase stretched across 184 countries from day one.

In an interview with GRAMMY.com, the members said: "We're grateful that these milestones are connected to our group name. In the middle of a generational shift, we believe we helped create the starting point of the 5th generation. Even amid changes, we continue to build our career and achievements as a group."

The starting point of the 5th generation.

And now the group that built that starting point is bowing out. The groups waiting to claim that ground are already lined up. Alpha Drive One is quite literally copying the same playbook — survival show, project group format, everything.

It's a fierce market. 4th-gen groups like Stray Kids, ATEEZ, and ENHYPEN have already carved out solid footholds in the global scene, and 5th-gen groups are fighting to follow in their footsteps. Rookies are setting million-seller targets from debut day one, while big agencies are pouring capital into their training pipelines.

In this battlefield, ZeroBaseOne left a short but blazing mark: six million-sellers in 2.5 years, a claim on the 5th-gen throne, fans in 184 countries. They're disbanding because of structural limits — but the trail they blazed stays.

Not a Goodbye — A Change in Current

Think about what Re-Flow actually means.

To flow again. Not a stop — a redirect.

The group pauses in March, but the nine members each find a new current to move with. Matthew and Gunwook flow into solo or unit work at WAKEONE. Zhang Hao and Ricky head toward the Chinese market or a Korean re-debut. The others will find their own paths.

This is where the project group model has its own kind of value. You debut with maximum impact, leave a strong impression, and wrap up cleanly. You don't get the longevity of a group on a seven-year standard contract — but you get something different: maximum intensity in a compressed window.

For fans, it hurts. Two and a half years of love and investment, and suddenly it's over. But this was always how it was going to go. When the nine members were finalized on the Boys Planet finale, the episode subtitle literally read: "2.5-year contract."

Fans knew. They always knew this day was coming.

Re-Flow is a comfort, then. "This is where we end together — but we'll each keep flowing. Come with us."

70,000 copies isn't a failure. It was never supposed to be 1.45 million. The goal was to hand fans a limited-edition farewell keepsake — and that goal was met. It sold out on multiple platforms.

The 5th-gen K-pop scene is only going to get more competitive from here. New groups will keep coming, the pressure will keep rising. But ZeroBaseOne carved their name into the foundation: "5th gen started here."

What a project group leaves behind isn't just albums and chart records. It's proof of possibility. Nine members chosen through a survival show can hit million-seller status back-to-back. A global fanbase can collectively will a group into existence. And even in two and a half years, you can help define a generation.

Re-Flow. Keep flowing.

ZeroBaseOne stops in March — but the current they set in motion keeps moving. Through Alpha Drive One, through the next survival group, through the 5th-gen artists still on the way.

Same goes for the fans. ZEROSE (the official ZeroBaseOne fandom name) will scatter — but new currents will form around each member.

Not a goodbye. A change in current.

Sources

- Manila Bulletin - ATEEZ, Taeyeon, Zerobaseone lead weekly album chart
- Koreaboo - Million Seller 5th Gen Group Drops To Less Than 70,000 Copies
- Soompi - ZEROBASEONE Announces Short-Term Contract Extension
- GRAMMY.com - ZEROBASEONE Will 'Never Say Never'
- Herald Economy - K-pop Rule Breakers: The Rise of the 5th Generation
- Asia Economy - ZeroBaseOne Contract Ends