If Wanna One proved anything during their 1.5 year run as a K-pop group, it was the โPOWER OF DESTINY.โ Wanna One debuted in 2017 as the top eleven of the fierce competition program, PRODUCE 101 Season 2. Members Kang Daniel, Park JiHoon, Lee DaeHwi, Kim JaeHwan, Ong SeongWu, Park WooJin, Lai KuanLin, Yoon JiSung, Hwang MinHyun, Bae JinYoung, and Ha SungWoon left a legacy that still remains in K-pop.
When their activities halted in 2019, Wanna One made a promise to their fanbase, Wannable, to meet again. Seven years later, the eleven members of Wanna One are here to fulfill that very promise! Whether you are a Wannable wanting to brush up on your knowledge, or a new K-pop fan who has heard their name in passing, EnVi has you covered on what you need to know before their reunion.
Tonightโs Protagonist Is Me
For those unfamiliar with the format of PRODUCE 101, 101 trainees across numerous South Korean entertainment companies compete in a series of missions to earn a spot in the debut group. This was the second installment of the series, and the first iteration of the program to feature male trainees. Describing the hype during the seriesโ initial airing as simply โpopularโ would be a disservice โ PRODUCE 101 Season 2 was a craze that swept up South Korea and the globe.
The series consistently ranked first on real-time searches following each episode and averaged a nationwide viewership of approximately 3%. The original songs unveiled during episode nineโs โConcept Missionโ swept music charts like a highly anticipated project from a seasoned artist. Particularly, โNEVER,โ featuring Wanna One members Lee DaeHwi, Kim JaeHwan, Ong SeongWu, Park WooJin, Lai KuanLin, and Hwang MinHyun, achieved โall-kill statusโ as it ranked first place across major domestic charts. Various advertisements promoting the programโs trainees were inescapable around South Korea. From compilation videos screened at busy subway stations, to even cafรฉ buzzers โ fans got creative when it came to supporting their favorites.
The finale episode was live broadcasted with the total of pre-online voting and on-site text voting amounting to a whopping 16,121,922 votes (approximately 30% of South Koreaโs population at the time)! Kang Daniel and Park JiHoon battled it out for the first place spot, with each of them receiving over a million votes. Kang Daniel won with 1,578,837 votes โ earning him the coveted center position of Wanna One.
A Debut for the History Books
Wanna One made their official debut on August 7, 2017 with the EP, 1×1=1 (TO BE ONE) โ a little under two months since PRODUCE 101 Season 2โs finale on June 17. Their debut showcase, โWanna One Premier Show-Con,โ was hosted at the iconic Gocheok Sky Dome with over 16,000 fans. Despite the short preparation period, their debut became a historic moment in K-pop.
The debut title track, โEnergetic,โ was produced by HUI of PENTAGON who previously composed the chart-topping โNEVER.โ The song quickly became a hit in the K-pop sphere, as it achieved all-kill status and 15 music broadcast wins. โEnergeticโ remained on digital music charts until 2019 โ thatโs a total of 87 weeks!
Though โEnergeticโ is now nearly a decade old, its longevity can be attributed to its future-forward deep house influenced pop sound. Even if you werenโt a fan of K-pop in 2017, you have likely come across โEnergeticโ through recent covers from artists like ZEROBASEONE and survival programs like B:MY BOYZ.
Wanna One wrapped up their debut year activities with a long list of accolades ranging from brand endorsements to prestigious awards. Beyond winning the โBest New Artistโ award across multiple award ceremonies, Wanna One also beat out huge competition at the 2017 Mnet Asian Music Awards as the winner of โBest Male Group.โ
The Golden Age
The year 2018 marked a defining chapter for Wanna One as both the final year of their contract, and the dawn of what they refer to as their โGolden Age.โ Teased just before the new year on December 31, 2017; Wanna One released a cryptic clip narrated by center, Kang Daniel. He stated in the clip: โItโs not the beginning of the end. Itโs the beginning of the Golden Age.โ
Embracing this new age, Wanna One kicked off March 2018 with the release of a special fan-dedicated track, โI Promise You (I.P.U.).โ The sweet song was a pre-release to their upcoming EP, 0+1= 1 (I Promise You), set to release on March 19. The EP went on to surpass their own previous milestone, breaking their preorder record with over 700,000 copies sold, while its explosive EDM title track โBOOMERANGโ took home 10 music show wins in South Korea.
Coinciding with the release of their third EP, 1รทx=1 (UNDIVIDED), Wanna One embarked on their first world tour, โOne: The World.โ Running from June through September 2018, the tour spanned 20 shows across 14 countries. Fans were treated to performances of the groupโs biggest tracks, alongside special unit stages from Triple Position (Kim JaeHwan, Kang Daniel, Park WooJin), Lean On Me (Yoon JiSung, Hwang MinHyun, Ha SungWoon), The Heal (Ong SeongWu, Lee DaeHwi), and No.1 (Park JiHoon, Bae JinYoung, Lai KuanLin).
Wanna One Go
If youโre curious about Wanna Oneโs team dynamic and variety skills, Wanna One Go is a must-watch! Their reality program, Wanna One Go, aired shortly before their official debut and highlighted how the teamโs bond strengthened since Produce 101 Season 2.
The program returned for a second season in November 2017 titled, Wanna One Go Season 2: ZERO BASE. Now that audiences were familiar with their team dynamic, this season focused on granting the busy starlets a well deserved break from the spotlight. Wanna One entered a space known as โZERO BASE,โ where each member had their own rooms catered to their interests in addition to self-authorized free time. Many clips from this season would exceed well over a million views on YouTube thanks to their comedic charm โ such as their chaotic encounter with โvolcano ramyunโ and hilarious attempt at a Zumba routine.
The third iteration of Wanna One Go was a special online spin-off in Jeju where the team worked together to self-direct and film an Innisfree advertisement. The program made its televised comeback three months later in May 2018 with Wanna One Go Season 3: X-CON. This season carried more stakes than its previous seasons as Wanna One split into units with renowned South Korean producers to collaborate on new songs for their upcoming album. Wanna One Go Season 3: X-CON led to the creation of their third EP, 1รทx=1 (UNDIVIDED).
To the excitement of many, Wanna One Go is coming back this April! Its sentimental teaser is sure to tug at the heartstrings of longtime fans with its callbacks.
Burn it Up (Again)
Wanna One Goโs return this April isnโt their first reunion since disbandment. In 2021, the group reunited as 10, with Lai KuanLin absent, for a special stage at the Mnet Asian Music Awards. Dressed in all white, the members gave a powerful performance of their dual-debut tracks โ โEnergeticโ and โBurn It Up.โ
Following their official disbandment, each member of Wanna One had either returned to their original entertainment label or explored new ventures. Yoon JiSung, the oldest and leader, made his debut as a musical actor in the South Korean production of The Days, then later enlisted for his mandatory military service. Ha SungWoon, Ong SeongWu, Kang Daniel, Park JiHoon, and Lai KuanLin debuted as soloists, with the latter four later branching out into acting. Bae JinYoung debuted in the five-member boy group CIX, while Lee DaeHwi and Park WooJin joined forces in debuting as part of the now-quartet AB6IX. Meanwhile, Hwang MinHyun returned to his original group NUโEST.
Given the two years spent apart, it was no doubt a pleasant surprise when, on November 15, 2021, Wanna One was announced to reunite on stage. With each member juggling busy schedules and the tail end of the COVID-19 pandemic limiting rehearsal time, the group only had a brief window to practice together. Yet despite these challenges, Wanna Oneโs reunion stage proved that they will always, and forever be, one team.
A โBeautifulโ Saga
Have you ever heard a song that scratches the itch in your ear just right and wanted more? Well, Wanna One knows a remedy to that fixation.
โBeautiful,โ the title track of 1-1=0 (NOTHING WITHOUT YOU), came with an 8-minute cinematic music video, showcasing the hidden acting skills of all the members. Ong SeongWu and Kang Daniel took center stage as two brothers separated by an unfortunate circumstance. With the help of the other members, they slowly found their way back to one another through tear-jerking moments that mirrored the high emotions of the ballad. We wonโt spoil exactly what happens at the end, but thereโs definitely an unexpected plot twist and a cliffhanger once you hear that cassette click.
The saga continued with โBeautiful (Part II),โ which was released as the last track to conclude their final album, 1ยนยน=1 (Power of Destiny). With newly written lyrics that reaffirmed their love and devotion to their fans on a softer, acoustic melody, โBeautiful (Part II)โ served as a bittersweet (momentary) farewell. The song ends the same way as the first โBeautiful,โ with a loud cassette click and a muffled verse by Kang Daniel.
However, for Wannables, that familiar click wouldnโt be the last. As part of their 2021 MAMA Award reunion, Wanna One released โBeautiful (Part.3)โ, debuting the track on an elevated stage. Unlike its predecessors, this new version is noticeably more upbeat, layered with choir-like harmonies and interwoven with traces of the original lyrics over a remixed version of the iconic melody.
A Spring Breeze
Spring has always been a special season for Wanna One โ a time of new beginnings. In the spring of 2017, the eleven members not only met each other on Produce 101 Season 2, but also global audiences that would soon become Wannables. From there, spring and promise rings became a constant motif in their music, appearing in lyrics, concepts, and performances.
In the final months of their โGolden Age,โ the group unveiled their first studio album, 1ยนยน=1 (Power of Destiny). Rather than being a hard goodbye, the title track โ๋ด๋ฐ๋ (Spring Breeze),โ was their final declaration and fierce promise: โWeโll meet again when the spring breeze passes by.โ
Now, five years after their first reunion, Wanna One will return together this April to fulfill that promise through the newest season of Wanna One Go. Though Kang Daniel and Lai KuanLin are noted to be absent from the programโs filming, all eleven members released handwritten messages for Wannables in preparation for this brand new chapter.
Nothing has been announced yet for a physical performance or upcoming group music releases, but we sure do have our fingers crossed for their next meeting on stage. With Wanna One, endings are not always fully defined โ who knows what 2026โs โSpring Breezeโ has in store?
Keep your eyes peeled for their next move by following them on Instagram, X, and YouTube!
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