From survival show to superstardom, ZEROBASEONE aims higher with 'NEVER SAY NEVER'

Members of K-pop boy band ZEROBASEONE, from left, Kim Gyu-vin, Kim Ji-woong, Seok Matthew, Han Yu-jin, Zhang Hao, Sung Han-bin, Kim Tae-rae, Ricky and Park Gun-wook pose for the press during a media showcase at Blue Square in central Seoul, Monday. Yonhap

Two years ago, nine trainees stepped onto the survival show stage with little more than ambition and nerves.

Now, those same boys — the winners of Mnet's "Boys Planet" — are back as grown men, armed with their first full-length album, "NEVER SAY NEVER." For K-pop boy band ZEROBASEONE (ZB1), this release is not just a milestone, it's a bold attempt to prove that a project group born under temporary contracts can still command the spotlight like stars built to last.

The group, comprising members Sung Han-bin, Kim Ji-woong, Zhang Hao, Seok Matthew, Kim Tae-rae, Ricky, Kim Gyu-vin, Park Gun-wook and Han Yu-jin, released the 10-track record on Monday. It was the band's first album since February's "BLUE PARADISE."

At a press showcase held just hours before the album drop at Blue Square in central Seoul, the nine emerged in racing-core leather, trading in their rookie glow for something more sultry and stylish.

Members of K-pop boy band ZEROBASEONE speak during a media showcase at the Blue Square in central Seoul, Monday. Yonhap

"It's our first full-length release, so we're really excited," Zhang Hao said. "This one captures the growth and changes of the past two years. We wanted it to be a gift to fans who've been with us from the start."

Han Yu-jin, the youngest, made the transition clear. "Back then, I showed myself growing up. This time, it's about showing a transformation into a superstar."

If the track list is any indication, ZB1 is aiming high. Produced with an all-star roster led by veteran K-pop hitmaker KENZIE, "NEVER SAY NEVER" folds multiple genres into a single package.

"SLAM DUNK" pulses with basketball court drama, while "Lovesick Game" dips into a sultrier register, spinning romance as obsession. "Goosebumps" leans into the dizzying highs of love, while "Dumb" offers the opposite — a carefree shrug against anxiety.

K-pop boy band ZEROBASEONE performs a track from the group's latest release, "NEVER SAY NEVER," during a media showcase at Blue Square in central Seoul, Monday. Yonhap

There are also nods to past achievements. The Korean version of "NOW OR NEVER" resurrects the title track of the group's first Japanese EP, "PREZENT." Units also split the members into contrasting moods — the seductive "EXTRA," with Sung Han-bin, Seok Matthew, Kim Gyu-vin, Park Gun-wook and Han Yu-jin; and "Long Way Back," spotlighting the vocals of Kim Ji-woong, Zhang Hao, Kim Tae-rae and Ricky. The set rounds out with "Star Eyes" and "I Know U Know."

Then there's the centerpiece — "ICONIK." Built on a nu-disco pulse, the track is designed to project undeniable presence. Onstage at the press event, the band leaned into the challenge, channeling the sheen of global pop royalty.

"The song's message is for listeners to see themselves proudly as an 'icon,'" Sung Han-bin explained. "We wanted to deliver our positive energy and spirit of challenge."

Kim Gyu-vin went further, admitting they studied Michael Jackson's energy for the track. "We tried to reinterpret it in our own color," he said.

K-pop boy band ZEROBASEONE performs a track from the group's latest release, "NEVER SAY NEVER," during a media showcase at Blue Square in central Seoul, Monday. Yonhap

For a group built from a reality show, longevity is never guaranteed. While the band's contracts officially run out in roughly four months, the members said "ICONIK" comes as a refusal to fade quietly.

"We've had a lot of discussions, but nothing's decided yet," Sung Han-bin said when asked about the group's future. "What matters now is presenting this meaningful album."

Park Gun-wook was blunter.

"We've won rookie awards and we've gotten good reviews from media. But what matters isn't the titles, it's whether we keep rising. We want this album to take us higher," he said.

"I hope people know all nine of us value each other deeply. As a group and as individuals, our bond is strong. I believe fans will always be able to see us together, close and laughing."

K-pop boy band ZEROBASEONE performs a track from the group's latest release, "NEVER SAY NEVER," during a media showcase at Blue Square in central Seoul, Monday. Yonhap