The group ZEROBASEONE is expected to conclude its activities due to the end of its contract. The end of the team's activities, which proved its achievements and potential as a project group, leaves fans with a sense of regret. ZEROBASEONE will release a special limited album titled "Reflow" on the 2nd. This album is their first new release in about five months since their first full-length album "Never Say Never" released last September, encapsulating their journey over the past two years and six months. The album includes a total of three tracks, such as the pre-release song "Running to Future" and the dedication track "Rosies" for their fandom Zeroes. This album is structured to connect the past, present, and future, carrying a meaning closer to the end of activities rather than a simple comeback.

ZEROBASEONE is a project group formed through the 2023 Mnet audition program "Boys Planet." They officially debuted in July 2023, with an originally planned activity period of two years and six months. However, at the end of last year, all members agreed to extend their activities by two months, allowing them to continue full-group activities until March. The release of this new album and the world tour encore concert will take place within the extended activity period.

In the music industry, it is widely expected that ZEROBASEONE will end their activities with this album. The members' future plans also support this expectation. YH Entertainment, the agency representing Jang Hao, Ricky, Kim Kyubin, and Han Yujin, recently stated in an official position, "Our company and Jang Hao, Ricky, Kim Kyubin, and Han Yujin wish to take time to calmly prepare for their future paths based on trust." This hints at plans following ZEROBASEONE's activities.

ZEROBASEONE is regarded as a representative case that transcends the limitations of project groups. They formed a strong fandom from debut and established themselves as a leading group of 5th generation K-pop. They proved their commercial viability by placing six consecutive albums in the million-seller category. Their cumulative album sales have surpassed 9 million copies, the fastest record among 5th generation K-pop groups. These achievements demonstrate that groups originating from survival programs can build a stable consumption structure beyond short-term hype.

Their global achievements are also remarkable. ZEROBASEONE's first full-length album "Never Say Never" was named one of Billboard's "Best K-pop Albums of 2025" in the United States. In Japan, several of their albums entered the Oricon and Billboard Japan annual charts, expanding their presence in the local market. They also consecutively received platinum certifications from the Japan Record Association.

ZEROBASEONE is evaluated as a successful project group of CJ ENM alongside Wanna One, a group formed through Mnet's "Produce 101" Season 2. Wanna One officially debuted in August 2017 and ended activities in 2019. While Wanna One was a so-called "public pick" based on broad popularity, ZEROBASEONE built a more solid and large-scale core fandom. Despite "Boys Planet" not gaining as much attention as "Produce 101" Season 2, ZEROBASEONE demonstrated the power of their fandom from the start by recording about four times the initial album sales of Wanna One.

However, the end of ZEROBASEONE's activities reveals the limitations of project groups, as it is not much different from Wanna One. Although they established a team identity, organized their fandom, and achieved sustainable results in domestic and international markets within a limited activity period, their activities are ultimately coming to an end. Regardless of their achievements, the structural reality of project groups—where contract structures and the interests of individual agencies determine the team's continuation—has been revealed once again.

Popular culture critic Ha Jae-geun said, "ZEROBASEONE is the most convincing example of a 'sustainable project group,' having started as an audition group and simultaneously secured achievements and fandom in a short time." He added, "However, if the team's activities end with this promotion, it will again show a structure where achievements do not lead to long-term activities. Since they have achieved enough success, this is a more regrettable conclusion in the K-pop scene."