Plus Magazine

ZEROBASEONE, emerging from ＜BOYS PLANET＞, embarked with grand ambition to capture the hearts of people on Earth and has now made a comeback with their second mini-album [MELTING POINT], more powerful than ever with a collection of strong tracks. Their impact is remarkable - on the release day itself, they surpassed 1.4 million copies, outdoing their previous album [YOUTH IN THE SHADE], and continue to show a consistent upward trend. We, M Countdown Magazine, have once again met with these wonderful nine members, who are growing with ZEROSE just as much as their impact. We're excited to share our interview with them, infused with the cozy ambiance of the year-end season.
 

Welcome, ZEROBASEONE! This is your second meeting with M Countdown Magazine, how have you been?

SUNG HANBIN: Hello! After wrapping up our [YOUTH IN THE SHADE] activities, we've been busily but fruitfully preparing our second mini-album [MELTING POINT], spending quality time together as a group :)
 

Ever since your debut, you've been showered with love from fans around the world. Can you feel the love?

ZHANG HAO: Ever since our debut, the support from our global fans has been overwhelming. It becomes real to us when we see fans, each speaking their own language, showing their love and support in their unique ways.
 

Could you give us a quick rundown of your newly launched mini-album, [MELTING POINT]?
 

KIM JIWOONG: This album is filled with our heartfelt emotions, featuring a variety of genres! It's an album that will melt frozen hearts with love through the cold winter, making every day feel like Christmas!
 

What would be the ‘MELTING POINT’ (charming point) of each member that can melt ZEROSE?

SUNG HANBIN → KIM JIWOONG: He might appear aloof, but his sunny smile reveals a surprisingly charming side!

KIM JIWOONG → ZHANG HAO: He's genuinely warm-hearted.

ZHANG HAO → SEOK MATTHEW: MATTHEW's allure is in his laughter. His laughter is so contagious, it makes me laugh too!

SEOK MATTHEW → KIM TAERAE: His dimples when he smiles are his charming feature.

KIM TAERAE → RICKY: The charming points for him are his striking visuals and the intensity in his eyes!

RICKY → KIM GYUVIN: GYUVIN is simply sweet.

KIM GYUVIN → PARK GUNWOOK: Despite being the younger one, GUNWOOK has a maturity and resilience about him.

PARK GUNWOOK → HAN YUJIN: There’s a unique cuteness about him when he tries to hide his fondness for things.

HAN YUJIN → SUNG HANBIN: HANBIN's magnetic charm lies in his leadership that steers us forward!
 

While your earlier album [YOUTH IN THE SHADE] was known for its crisp and refreshing sound, your latest release [MELTING POINT] is distinguished by its robust beats and a cozy musical vibe. It seems like each album fits perfectly with the season of its release, summer and winter respectively. What are your thoughts on this?

PARK GUNWOOK: Just as you pointed out, each of our albums is ideally suited for the season it represents - summer for [YOUTH IN THE SHADE] and winter for [MELTING POINT]. Particularly with [MELTING POINT], we created it while envisioning the winter we'll be sharing with ZEROSE.
 

Above all, what do you consider to be the most charming aspect of your latest title track ‘CRUSH,’ known for its powerful energy?

KIM TAERAE: The main attractions are our energetic performance, the powerful vocals, and the visual appeal of each member!

The music video for ‘CRUSH’ is notably captivating, with its journey through several fantasy-like locations. Is there a particular scene that stands out to you?

RICKY: I really like the scene where I’m riding a bike during the line “If you want me I’ll be there”.

HAN YUJIN: My favorite part is in the second verse where I sing “Woeo”. I think I look great in that shot.. haha.

KIM GYUVIN: I personally favor the scene where I’m chewing candy in the “Now I'll protect you” segment.
 

Additionally, there’s a challenge contest for ‘CRUSH’, isn’t there? Could you share some insights into the key dance moves and offer some tips for ZEROSE who want to join in?

PARK GUNWOOK: There’s a moment in our dance routine where we create a shield, thorns, and a crown with our arms. The trick is to smoothly connect these motions while emphasizing each key point.
 

You each must have your own favorite track from this album. Excluding the title song ‘CRUSH,’ could you name one track from the album that you particularly like?

SUNG HANBIN, ZHANG HAO, SEOK MATTHEW, RICKY, PARK GUNWOOK: We like ‘Take My Hand’.

KIM JIWOONG, KIM TAERAE, KIM GYUVIN, HAN YUJIN: We prefer ‘Good Night’. 
 

Not long ago, the VOD of the ‘2023 ZEROBASEONE Fan-Con’ held this summer was released. Watching ZEROBASEONE's performance on a screen must feel different from the live experience. What are your thoughts?

SUNG HANBIN: Watching it on VOD brings back the excitement we felt on stage. It’s one of those unforgettable and grateful experiences for us. It’s truly precious.

It seems like just yesterday when ZEROBASEONE's final lineup was determined on the last live broadcast of ＜BOYS PLANET＞, yet it's already been 200 days since the group was formed. How do you feel you have changed or grown since your initial debut?

ZHANG HAO: At the beginning, everything was so new and somewhat overwhelming, but over time, as we lived and performed together, our cohesion and abilities have noticeably improved. All of us in the group are striving towards our best selves.

Leader SUNG HANBIN recently took over from Jooheon (MONSTA X) as the MC of ＜M Countdown＞, earning the affectionate nickname ‘National Ham-ssi(MC)’ from many ZEROSE. What are your thoughts on this new role?

SUNG HANBIN: This role as MC of ＜M Countdown＞ has been a long-held dream from my days as a trainee, making it all the more special. I hope it will serve as an opportunity to further promote ZEROBASEONE to a wider audience.

You recently delivered an impressive special performance with TAEYEON's song ‘INVU’. Did you face any particular challenges while preparing for this?

SUNG HANBIN: Since it was an opportunity to cover a song by a respected senior artist, I focused more on responsibility rather than worry, aiming to deliver an exceptional performance. I worked hard to add a touch of SUNG HANBIN’s charm to TAEYEON’s original performance.

You mentioned in a previous interview that one of your goals was to ‘achieve first place on a music broadcast,’ and you did just that with ‘In Bloom’. What was going through your mind when you won?

KIM JIWOONG: It was surreal for us, like living a dream. Perhaps it was the love from ZEROSE that made it feel like touching soft clouds, more serene than soaring in the sky.
 

You've been actively communicating with your fandom 'ZEROSE' through MnetPlus recently. Is there any particular comment or post from ZEROSE that left an impression on you?

HAN YUJIN: One comment that really resonated with me was, “Yujin, you need to sleep early if you want to grow taller”.

Finally, could you tell us about your goals and aspirations for this comeback?

SUNG HANBIN: We aim to continually be the best version of ZEROBASEONE, always putting forth our utmost effort. We're committed to dedicating ourselves sincerely in all our future endeavors!!