In a shocking move, K-pop boy group ZEROBASEONE (also known as ZB1) will continue as a permanent five-member group. Made up of the top nine contestants of the survival competition show Boys Planet, ZB1 debuted in July 2023. They were supposed to promote as a temporary group for two and half years.
On February 12, 2026, WakeOne announced that Sung Hanbin, Kim Jiwoong, Seok Matthew, Kim Taerae, and Park Gunwook will remain in ZEROBASEONE. The other four members Zhang Hao, Ricky, Kim Gyuvin, and Han Yujin will leave after the group wraps up their encore concerts in March 2026.
It’s not common for temporary survival groups to make the switch to permanent. And if it works, it could become a blueprint for future project groups.
Why most survival show groups struggle
Survival groups are designed to burn bright and fade fast. Viewers fall for the trainees thanks to a combination of talent, charisma, and good editing. Fans invest all their time and money into the group once they debut. The thrill comes from knowing the group will promote for a limited time, all while hoping for some kind of extension.
When disbandment hits, that concentrated energy scatters across multiple solo acts or new groups. It’s tough trying to recreate that kind of intensity from ground zero.
IZ*ONE is the exception. Jang Wonyoung and Yujin joined IVE while Sakura and Chaewon re-debuted in LE SSERAFIM. Both groups achieved commercial success in South Korea and abroad.
Most survival show participants don’t get that lucky. The momentum dies, the fanbase splinters. When members debut in new groups, they either don’t chart as well, or they pivot to solo careers that fizzle out within a year. Some disappear from the industry entirely.
Boy groups have it tough
Boy groups and girl groups operate differently in K-pop, and that difference matters.
Girl groups tend to appeal to the general public. They want the general public to stream their songs, watch their variety show appearances, becoming casual fans.
Boy groups focus on cultivating a strong fandom. They need dedicated fans who will bulk-buy albums, mass-stream on loop, and show up to every event.
When a boy group disbands, the fandom loses its anchor. That intense loyalty needs something to rally around. Without it, the fans move on to other groups or leave K-pop entirely. Solo careers rarely command the same devotion because the group dynamic is what hooked people in the first place.
ZEROBASEONE doesn’t have to start all over again. The fandom (Zerose) doesn’t have to start over. Five members is a smaller group, but it’s still ZEROBASEONE.
A solution that could actually work
The five remaining members of ZB1 get something most post-survival show idols don’t: security and flexibility.
Hanbin stays with Studio GL1DE. Jiwoong stays with Nest Management. Matthew, Taerae, and Gunwook are under Wake One. They’re not forcing everyone under one agency, which gives members individual company support while keeping the group intact. Solo work raises individual profiles, which brings more attention back to the group. The group provides steady income and fan engagement. It’s a virtuous cycle.
This is how groups like SHINee and Super Junior operate. Members have solid solo careers, but the group remains the foundation. For a post-survival show group, being able to replicate something like that would be impressive.
Compare that to the four leaving members. Zhang Hao, Ricky, Gyuvin, and Yujin are going back to YH (Yuehua) Entertainment. Yuehua has had success with groups like EVERGLOW, but there’s no guarantee. The gap between being in a popular active group and trying to debut again is brutal.
What this means for future project groups
What ZEROBASEONE is doing makes you wonder if this can be replicated?
The answer is not easily. It requires multiple agencies to cooperate, and enough commercial viability to justify keeping the brand alive. Most project groups don’t have that leverage.
It proves that the choice between disbandment and forcing all members to stay isn’t the only option. There’s a middle ground. Keep the brand, maintain the fandom, give members room to grow individually.
The real test will be whether ZEROBASEONE can thrive as a five-member group. Zhang Hao, Gyuvin, Yujin and Ricky are the most popular members in Korea and internationally. If ZB1 can continue to have solid album sales and fan engagement, other agencies will take notice.
If they can’t, this becomes a footnote. An interesting experiment that didn’t pan out.
