ZEROBASEONE split shocks fans as 4 members plan rival debut after contract exit
ZEROBASEONE / Xportsnews
A looming split inside K-pop group ZEROBASEONE is igniting intense debate among fans, after four members opted not to extend their contracts and instead prepare for a separate debut — potentially setting up a direct showdown with their former bandmates.
On Wednesday, a representative from YH Entertainment told Xportsnews that ZEROBASEONE members Zhang Hao, Ricky, Kim Gyuvin and Han Yujin are preparing to debut as a new group. While the agency did not confirm specific details, local reports said the quartet is targeting a May 26 debut under the name “N Double.”
The move comes as ZEROBASEONE, a nine-member project group formed through Mnet’s survival show “Boys Planet” in 2023, approaches the end of its originally planned two-and-a-half-year run. The group recently extended its activities by two months, with promotions now set to conclude in March.
ZEROBASEONE / Xportsnews
YH Entertainment said in January that it had agreed with the four members to “take time to carefully prepare for their next steps based on mutual trust,” adding that it is “reviewing various directions” to help each artist maximize their potential.
Still, the announcement fueled speculation that the four would effectively exit ZEROBASEONE after its full-group activities end, rather than continue under an extended contract.
Complicating matters further, ZEROBASEONE is reportedly preparing a comeback in May — this time as a five-member unit consisting of Sung Hanbin, Kim Jiwoong, Seok Matthew, Kim Taerae and Park Gunwook. If both groups debut and promote around the same time, it could mark a rare case of former project group members directly competing in the same market window.
The situation has sharply divided the group's fandom.
Some fans expressed disappointment over the split, with comments such as, “It feels incomplete — like a red bean bun without filling” and “I wish all nine members could have stayed together until the end.” Others suggested that the presence of several core members in the new group could even shift fan loyalty.
On the other hand, many fans reaffirmed their support for the remaining ZEROBASEONE lineup.
“ZEROBASEONE is still ZEROBASEONE,” some said, while others added that the split could strengthen unity within the existing fandom. “I’m curious about N Double, but if they go head-to-head, I’ll support ZEROBASEONE,” another fan wrote.
Project groups formed through survival shows are a defining feature of the K-pop industry, but their limited contracts often lead to complex transitions as members pursue new paths. In this case, the overlap in timing — and shared origin — has amplified both anticipation and tension.
As both sides gear up for their next chapter, the question now is whether this split will dilute the brand — or fuel even stronger fan engagement on both fronts.
This article from Xportsnews is adapted by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times.