ZEROBASEONE ’s story began on TV. Formed through Boys Planet in 2023, the nine-member group debuted with a contract set to expire in early 2026. From the start, everyone knew the clock was ticking.
A year later, fans can’t help but wonder if the group really has to end. ZB1’s first full length album is titled Never Say Never and their upcoming tour is called Here & Now. Are these subtle signals of a future beyond 2026? Or are fans simply reading what they want to see?
That push and pull between a story designed to end and the desire to keep it going is at the heart of the ZB1 experience.
WakeOne’s Role in Feeding the Ambiguity
Entertainment companies understand the power of words. A title like Never Say Never fits neatly into ZEROBASEONE’s concept of resilience and fleeting youth. When you attach that image to a group with a built-in expiration date, it takes on an extra charge.
WakeOne has never promised an extension and they haven’t denied it either. That’s why their titles and concepts lean into themes of impermanence and living in the moment. By leaving things unsaid, they allow fans to dream. Dreaming fuels loyalty, engagement, and investment. Ambiguity is a marketing tool, and it works.
The Fandom’s Habit of Reading Between the Lines
WakeOne doesn’t shoulder all the responsibility. K-pop fandoms are good at finding meaning in the smallest details. That instinct only intensifies when it comes to temporary groups.
Fans know survival-show groups are temporary and how rare extensions are. That doesn’t stop them from building theories, spreading them across timelines, and clinging to the possibility of “just maybe.” Speculation becomes a way of holding onto something that’s slipping away too soon.
Lessons from Wanna One, IZ*ONE, X1, and Kep1er
ZEROBASEONE isn’t the first group to inspire this kind of hope:
Wanna One (2017–2019): So popular that even industry insiders floated the idea of extending their 1.5-year contract. It didn’t happen. They ended on schedule, returning later only for special reunion stages.
IZ*ONE (2018–2021): Fans went as far as raising funds to push for an extension. Agencies still said no, and the group disbanded on time.
X1 (2019–2020): Meant to last five years, they ended after only five months due to scandal. A reminder that contracts, even long ones, don’t guarantee permanence.
Kep1er (2021–present): The exception to the rule regarding temporary survival groups. Originally set for 2.5 years, Kep1er’s contract was extended to allow the group to complete their planned activities. This extension is limited, and agencies had to coordinate carefully to make it happen. It was a rare case showing that extensions are possible, but are still the exception.
A Group Built on Borrowed Time
So where does that leave ZB1? Probably in the same place as their predecessors. Destined to wrap up in early 2026, with members branching into solos, acting, or new groups afterward.
That doesn’t make the speculation meaningless. In fact, it’s part of what makes the journey so powerful. Watching them is like watching a coming-of-age drama in real time.
The first season was the members compete on Boys Planet. The second season is their debut and watching the guys come into their own as idols. The series finale will be their disbandment; bittersweet, but inevitable. When that ending comes, the memory of ZEROBASEONE and the good times fans had will matter more than anything else.
