As ZEROBASEONE (also known as ZB1) heads into what could be their final chapter, fans have been hoping to see the group perform live. But when WAKEONE announced the ZB1’s first world tour [HERE&NOW], which starts on October 3rd, it became clear that the tour wouldn’t be so worldly after all.
- Seoul, South Korea: October 3-5, KSPO DOME
- Bangkok, Thailand: October 18, IMPACT CHALLENGER
- Saitama, Japan: October 29-30, SAITAMA SUPER ARENA (STADIUM)
- Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia: November 8, IDEA LIVE ARENA
- Singapore: November 15, SINGAPORE INDOOR STADIUM
- Taipei, Taiwan: December 6, TAIPEI ARENA
- Hong Kong: December 20-21, KAI TAK ARENA
As you can see there are no stops in the US, Europe, Oceania or Latin America.
For a fandom already grieving over the idea of ZEROBASEONE disbanding in January 2026, this news was gutting.
The Clock Is Ticking
For those that don’t know. ZEROBASEONE is a temporary group formed through the survival competition series Boys Planet. Like most groups born from survivor shows, they only promote for a short amount of time. For ZB1, they’re on a 2.5-year contract that went into effect on their debut date, July 10th, 2023. That contract is supposed to expire in January 2026.
There’s no official word yet on whether any members will re-sign or extend, and no one knows what’s next for the group or the individuals. With the clock clocking down, this tour could be fans’ last chance to see ZB1 live.
“World Tour” Means Something Different In South Korea
In the West, a “world tour” implies an artist is traveling to multiple continents, playing in major cities around the globe.
When it comes to K-pop, “world tour” often just means “outside of Korea.” If the tour hits a handful of Asian cities, it still qualifies. It’s more about marketing than geography.
This isn’t exclusive to ZB1. Many K-pop groups stretch the definition of a world tour to include only Asia, maybe with a U.S. stop if you’re lucky. Only bigger acts and groups with large international fandoms like BTS, Stray Kids, TWICE and ATEEZ consistently tour across continents.
For everyone else, it’s a mix of limited budgets, logistical nightmares, and agency refusing to take risks.
Why Didn’t WAKEONE Add More Dates?
International fans are wondering why can’t WAKEONE add more dates to the [HERE&NOW] tour? Or start the tour earlier in the year?
1. It’s Expensive and Complicated
Touring outside Asia, especially in regions like Europe or South America is complicated. Each country requires separate promoters, venues, visas, and travel arrangements. For a group nearing the end of its lifespan, agencies may decide it’s not worth the hassle.
2. Promoters Are Hesitant
With so little time left on ZB1’s contract, concert promoters may be wary of investing. What if their schedules change? What if demand isn’t strong enough in certain cities? A short-term group presents more risk than reward.
3. ZB1 Just Finished a Tour
ZEROBASEONE wrapped up their TIMELESS WORLD Asia tour at the end of 2024 and then jumped into performaning at award shows and year-end ceremonies well into 2025. Oh, and then they had a comeback back in February.
There’s often a recovery period after a tour both for the artists and the market. Pushing out another large-scale tour too soon risks burnout and weaker ticket sales.
4. No Comeback Yet
Most K-pop tours are either preceded or followed by a comeback, which boosts promotion and excitement. ZB1 hasn’t announced anything yet, though there have been hints that new music is coming sooner or later. It’s possible WAKEONE is waiting to sync up tour dates with an upcoming release.
5. Agency Priorities
Ultimately, agencies are businesses. WAKEONE may be prioritizing markets where ZB1 is guaranteed to sell out venues like Seoul, Bangkok, or Tokyo. International expansion might not be part of the strategy this late in the game.
The Emotional Toll on Fans
At the end of the day, this isn’t just about concert logistics. It’s about connection.
ZEROSE (ZB1’s fandom) has been with the group since the beginning; voting during Boys Planet, streaming every release, buying albums, and watching every variety show they appear in.
So when the “world tour” was revealed to be a regional tour, international fans outside of Asia felt abandoned. They feel this is their last chance to see their favorite group live for the first (and probably last) time.
What Can Fans Do?
There’s nothing fans can do at the moment. The dates and venues have been booked. The rest of ZB1’s schedule for the rest of the year has been planned out, even if a lot of things haven’t been announced yet. There is a good chance that the concerts in Seoul will have a live stream, so keep an eye out for any news about that.
Stanning a temporary group like ZEROBASEONE means living in countdown mode. Every moment feels more precious because you know it’s fleeting. While a lot of things could’ve been handled better, it’s important to show ZEROBASEONE as much support as possible for the rest of their promotions.
