Meet ZEROBASEONE, K-pop's 'New Kidz on the Block': Members talk debut and hopes for future

ZEROBASEONE, abbreviated as ZB1, arrived less than two months ago. In that short time, the K-pop boy group already has broken records, quickly cementing their position in the industry. The group's EP surpassed 1 million preorders, making ZB1 the first "million seller" for a K-pop group debut.

ZEROBASEONE is also among the first to usher in the fifth generation of K-pop. And with the band's rise in motion, ZB1 is eager to grow. They are taking their first steps toward accomplishing their dreams: Their next EP already is set for release in November.

USA TODAY spoke with ZEROBASEONE about their journey to debut, hopes for the future and appreciation toward fandom ZE_ROSE.

Meet ZEROBASEONE

ZEROBASEONE is a nine-member boy group managed by WAKEONE, under CJ ENM. Kim Jiwoong, Zhang Hao, Sung Hanbin, Seok Matthew, Kim Taerae, Ricky, Kim Gyuvin, Park Gunwook and Han Yujin made their debut July 10 with EP "YOUTH IN THE SHADE" and title track "In Bloom."

The group recently made their official debut, but the members were first introduced on the reality competition show "Boys Planet" back in February. They were among more than 90 contestants competing for the chance to join the boy group.

During the program, the members captivated attention from domestic and global audiences – each accumulating millions of votes – through raw talent and skill and secured their spot in the final lineup.

Being a part of ZB1 has been surreal, said Gyuvin, and the members are like family. "I'm part of ZEROBASEONE, but ZEROBASEONE is everything to me," he said.

The experiences on "Boys Planet" laid the foundation for ZB1's debut, giving members the chance to perfect how they record in a studio as well as hone their stage presence as a group and as individuals.

"We're still newbies right now, but we already kind of got what the big image is," Ricky said.

Establishing the tone with 'YOUTH IN THE SHADE'

The six-track EP sets the stage for ZEROBASEONE's journey. With lyrics like "we're going straight to the top, we're the new kidz on the block," the songs build on concepts of growth and excitement.

"We thought a lot about certain virtues as artists," Jiwoong said. "For our debut album, we put our thoughts and considerations under the keyword of youth and blended them into our identity."

The concept of youth is unique from person-to-person, so members sought to convey variety in the album's tracks.

"Youth can be defined in various ways. For someone it can be a reminiscent time, and for someone it can be the time of passionately running toward a certain goal," said Hanbin, the group's leader. "We wanted to include our emotions regarding that keyword of youth in our songs."

This is best exemplified in the title track. "In Bloom" underscores many themes, including life's uncertainty and how from hardship you can blossom.

'All because of' ZE_ROSE

Since the band's formation, ZEROBASEONE has had several performances, including at KCON in Los Angeles. The experience was amazing for the members; Yujin said he had never heard cheers that loud.

Matthew echoed this enthusiasm and expressed deep gratitude toward ZB1's fans, called ZE_ROSE. "Because of ZE_ROSE, all of their love and support got us to be able to perform at KCON and go overseas, which is really just a dream for all of us."

Even before debut, the members have felt energy and love from ZE_ROSE, and they hope to return the favor.

"I hope people gain hope and comfort by listening to our music or watching our performances," Taerae said.

When you're an idol, you have the ability to inspire others, Gunwook said. "I learned that idols are not just about dancing and singing," he said. "I hope to build a relationship with ZE_ROSE where we can grow and learn together, sing and dance together, and lean on each other through hard times."

It's because of ZE_ROSE that ZEROBASEONE are here. "We were created all thanks to ZE_ROSE," Zhang Hao said. "We wish to stay next to ZE_ROSE all the time."

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