ZEROBASEONE, also abbreviated as ZB1, was formed as a male project group through MNET’s music survival show BOYS PLANET. The name means “starting from zero and forming one group.” Accordingly, ZEROBASEONE is a rising 5th-generation group known for its fusion of pop, R&B, synth-pop, and house music. The group debuted on July 10th, 2023, under WakeOne Entertainment with its EP ‘Youth in the Shade’ and the lead single “In Bloom.” Undoubtedly, this group has a lot to offer. Ready to get started? Let’s deep dive into POP TOKKI 101: A Guide to ZEROBASEONE!
Members
In short, the current lineup of ZEROBASEONE includes 9 members: Hanbin, Jiwoong, Zhanghao, Matthew, TaeRae, Ricky, Gyuvin, Gunwook, and Yujin.
Hanbin
- Birth name: Sung Han Bin
- Position: Leader, Visual, Main Dancer
- Birthday: June 13th, 2001 (Gemini)
- Nationality: Korean
- Fun facts:
- He is a former Cube Entertainment trainee.
- One of Hanbin’s specialties is waacking.
- He was a backup dancer for Wanna One’s “Boomerang” performance at SBS Gayo Daejeon 2018 as well as BTS’ “Dionysus” performance at MMA 2019.
- Hanbin sang an OST for the Kdrama ‘My Lovely Liar’‘ titled “Luv Luv Luv” with Jo Yuri.
- Hanbin is super close to Matthew because they knew each other before BOYS PLANET as well as trained together.
Jiwoong
- Birth Name: Kim Ji Woong
- Position: Visual
- Birthday: December 14th, 1998 (Sagittarius)
- Nationality: Korean
- Fun facts:
- Jiwoong made his first K-drama appearance with a cameo in ‘The Liar And His Lover,’ and he made his official acting debut in 2021 with the web drama ‘The Sweet Blood.’
- Additionally, he has played roles in ‘Don’t Lie Rahee,’ ‘Kissable Lips,’ ‘Convenience Store Junkies,’ ‘Pro, Teen,’ ‘Roommates of Poongduck 304,’ and ‘The Good Bad Mother.’
- Jiwoong has his own variety show, “Boy Detective Kim Ji Woong,” which premiered on August 30th, 2023.
- Jiwoong’s role models are Taemin of SHINEE as well as Park Hyo-shin.
Zhanghao
- Birth Name: Zhang Hao
- Position: Main Vocalist, Visual, Center
- Birthday: July 25th, 2000 (Leo)
- Nationality: Chinese
- Fun facts:
- Zhang Hao has a teacher’s license. Additionally, he can also play the violin, cello, and piano.
- He is the first-ever foreign center of an MNET survival show.
- His interests include going on food tours as well as walking, traveling, and swimming.
- Zhang Hao‘s role model is GOT7, and his favorite song of theirs is “Lullaby.”
Matthew
- Birth Name: Seok Matthew
- Position: N/A
- Birthday: May 28th, 2002 (Gemini)
- Nationality: Canadian-Korean
- Fun facts:
- He was born and raised in Vancouver, Canada.
- He is a former HYBE trainee under HYBE Japan and was supposed to participate in the program that formed &TEAM. Unfortunately, he was cut off before the full formation of the group.
- Matthew is very close to Hanbin: in fact, the two have known each other since before BOYS PLANET. Furthermore, they also trained together.
- Matthew has two tattoos, one on his right arm as well as one on his back.
TaeRae
- Birth Name: Kim Tae Rae
- Position: Main Vocalist
- Birthday: July 14th, 2002 (Cancer)
- Nationality: Korean
- Fun facts:
- He has a habit of moving his eyebrows while singing.
- He is very close to Yujin since they come from the same company and trained together before going on BOYS PLANET.
- His favorite foods are sushi as well as tteokbokki.
- His role models are NCT‘s Taeyong as well as Jisung.
Ricky
- Birth Name: Shen Quanrui
- Position: N/A
- Birthday: May 20th, 2004 (Taurus)
- Nationality: Chinese
- Fun facts:
- His hometown is Shanghai, China.
- He can speak Chinese, Korean, as well as English.
- Ricky loves strawberries and, without a doubt, anything strawberry-flavored.
- Ricky has the words “Role model” tattooed on his neck. The meaning behind the tattoo is that in time, Ricky wants to become someone’s role model.
Gyuvin
- Birth Name: Kim Gyu Vin
- Position: Visual
- Birthday: August 30th, 2004 (Virgo)
- Nationality: Korean
- Fun facts:
- Gyuvin’s the tallest member of the group: in fact, he is 6’1″!
- He looks up to ATEEZ’s San and Hongjoong, as well as EXO’s Kai.
- He has a dog named Eumppappa.
- He is good at many sports, especially soccer, basketball, bowling, and ice hockey.
Gunwook
- Birth Name: Park Gun Wook
- Position: Rapper, Vocalist, Dancer
- Birthday: January 10th, 2005 (Capricorn)
- Nationality: Korean
- Fun facts:
- He was a contestant on MBC’s survival show Extreme Debut: Wild Idol before appearing on BOYS PLANET.
- During high school, he was class president, vice president of the student council, and a part of the anti-bullying committee.
- His specialty is his high-pitched voice.
- His favorite foods are chicken-focused dishes such as fried chicken soup, buffalo wings, and steamed chicken. His all-time favorite chicken dish is dak-bokkeum-tang, also known as braised spicy chicken.
Yujin
- Birth Name: Han Yu Jin
- Position: Visual, Maknae
- Birthday: March 20th, 2007 (Pisces)
- Nationality: Korean
- Fun facts:
- Surprisingly, he has a habit of sleeping with his eyes open.
- His role models are Taemin (SHINee), Kai (EXO), and Hyunjin (Stray Kids).
- His specialty is his deep awareness of the human body, especially the motor system.
- He is 17 years old, which makes him the youngest member of ZEROBASEONE.
Music Recommendations
Feel the POP
“Feel the POP” is ZEROBASEONE’s latest single, which captures the feeling of summer through its upbeat sound and feel-good music video. Basically, its lyrics dive into living in the moment and being carefree through the repetitive use of the word “pop.” Additionally, this vibrant song with an infectious chorus is the lead single on ZEROBASEONE’s third mini-album ‘You Had Me At Hello.’ Undoubtedly, this song is perfect for sitting by the pool in the hot weather!
SWEAT
“SWEAT” by ZEROBASEONE is featured in The Garfield Movie, making it their first movie OST (original soundtrack). This house dance track expresses the feelings of dancing until you “sweat,” which is undeniably captured perfectly in its lyrics. Additionally, this song was a pre-release single for their album ‘You Had Me At Hello.’
Melting Point
“Melting Point” is a bright jersey club track that incorporates a variety of instruments including strings, guitars, as well as drums. The dreamy vocals evoke a sense of comfort, which pairs well with its lyrics about using warmth to subsequently melt a frozen heart when it comes to falling in love. Unlike “Feel the POP” and its summer vibes, this song has a wintery feel.
CRUSH
From their second mini album ‘MELTING POINT,’ “CRUSH” is a darker track that is different from ZEROBASEONE’s usual sound while also staying true to their infectious hooks and signature jersey club style. Furthermore, there is also a Japanese version of this song that is featured on ZEROBASEONE’s Japanese debut single album titled ‘Yura Yura.’
Things to Watch
CAMP ZEROBASEONE
CAMP ZEROBASEONE is a pre-debut variety show that follows the group as they bond and get to know one another better. There are three episodes, all of which are featured on MNET’s YouTube channel. Specifically, the group heads off to a new environment in the countryside full of fun surprises as well as surprise guests who come to wish them good luck with their upcoming debut. Additionally, the group competes in fun challenges to help them bond.
Ze_pisode
Ze_pisode is a series of videos on ZEROBASEONE’s channel that shows the behind-the-scenes preparation of their music promotions, video and photo shoots, award shows, and concerts. Overall, this series gives fans a unique glimpse into the process of getting ready for different events as well as showing ZEROBASEONE’s teamwork as a group.
Fun Facts
- Their fandom name is ZE_ROSE, which is a combination of the words “zero” and “rose.”
- Their official fan color is blue.
- Recently, ZEROBASEONE achieved a “Rookie Grand Slam” (2023–2024) by sweeping 10 Rookie of the Year Awards from different prestigious domestic award ceremonies.
- At this point in time, they have a collab with Line Friends featuring nine new characters as the group’s alter egos which is used throughout their different products.
- Not to mention the group is also known for their unique lightstick design.
