In February 2026, the K-POP market experienced another seismic shift. The debut of the 8-member boy group ALPHA DRIVE ONE (hereafter ALD1), formed through Mnet's survival program 'Boys II Planet', went beyond the mere birth of a project group, raising a new discourse on 'sustainability' within the entertainment industry. Unlike previous survival groups that faced limitations in fandom cohesion and IP (intellectual property) expansion due to a short activity period of 2 years and 6 months, ALD1 established a foundation for long-term growth through a remarkable contract period of 5 years.
The formation process of ALD1 followed a different trajectory from existing survival formats. The prequel project 'Planet B', which began in the second half of 2024, was transparently publicised from the participant recruitment stage, allowing the fandom to immerse themselves in the trainees' narratives early on. This contributed to the formation of a strong core fandom even before the main broadcast of 'Boys II Planet', and the pre-release single 'FORMULA' achieved the remarkable feat of topping global charts in Thailand, Indonesia, and more. This is seen as a successful case of 'skill-based fandom formation', securing an initial fandom based on the artist's own charm and talent, rather than relying on the show's buzz. The primary reason industry insiders are paying attention to ALD1 is the structural innovation of the '5-year contract'. The typical contract period for survival groups (e.g., Kep1er, ZEROBASEONE) is 2 years and 6 months, which is physically insufficient to manage global tours and regular album release cycles. However, ALD1's 5-year activity guarantee provides stability to design the group's worldview in the long term and build long-term tour infrastructure in the Americas and Europe. This is interpreted as a strategic intent by their agency, Wake One, to strengthen its position as a sustainable IP holder beyond mere management representation.
ALD1 consists of 'all-rounder' members with blurred boundaries between vocal, rap, and dance positions, and they are referred to as a "hexagonal group without holes" among domestic fans. Each member's narrative is dramatic, forming a core element of the group's identity. The essence of domestic fandom culture is the consumption of the relationships between members, known as 'chemistry'. The main chemistry names and their origins, which are less known to international fans, are as follows.
Makmakz (Junseo & Sanghyeon): The combination of the eldest (Junseo) and the youngest (Sanghyeon). The moments where the youngest, Sanghyeon, adores or teases the eldest, Junseo, are often captured, and their relationship, where Junseo graciously accepts this, is a popular factor.
02z (Arno & Rio): A combination of the two members born in 2002 and foreign members. Their mutual reliance based on shared experiences as trainees in a foreign country is often visible, and scenes of them communicating in their own language (a mix of English, Korean, and body language) stimulate fans' protective instincts.
Nyangz (Cat Line): Refers to the members with cat-like features (Rio, Anxin, Sangwon, etc.). Among fans, discussions often arise about who is the 'leader cat', and it is used to describe the members' personalities, which are quite cute despite their chic appearances.
Ssing Ssingz (Xinlong & Anxin): A combination of the two members whose names contain 'Ssing' (Xin) and 'Shin'. They are the most active and energetic combination in the team, often being the culprits of keeping the audio on during reality filming.
The core narrative that runs through ALD1's debut album 《EUPHORIA》 and the pre-release track 'FORMULA', as well as the title track 'FREAK ALARM', is "Breaking the Set Formula to Awaken the True Self with an Alarm".
FORMULA: Symbolises the structured life and pressures the members experienced on their individual paths before their debut. This track carries a declarative meaning of the 8 members coming together to create their own new formula.
FREAK ALARM: The title track of the album, likening the massive waves that break the world's mould to the sound of an 'alarm'. The mechanical and intricate choreography visualises the members working together like a massive engine, audibly embodying the dynamism of the group name 'DRIVE'.
Raw Flame: The most supported track among fans, expressing the inner burning desire as 'unrefined flame'. This is interpreted as a song symbolising the urgency and passion the members felt during the survival process.
International fans tend to focus on the intuitive meanings of the lyrics, such as 'love' or 'breakup', while domestic fandom interprets them in connection with the members' 'survival narratives'. In particular, the moment in the lyrics of 'FREAK ALARM' when the alarm rings and awakens is analysed as a dual expression of the realistic relief and joy (Euphoria) the members felt when they escaped the uncertain status of being trainees and gained a definite sense of belonging to 'ALPHA DRIVE ONE'.
ALD1's own reality content, 'Dream Forever', shows the members' true personalities outside the stage without any filters, serving as a key channel for fandom influx.
Sanghyeon's English Meme: The phenomenon of the youngest, Sanghyeon, using English more than the only native speaker, Rio, has become a meme among fans. According to fan statistics, during reality episodes 4 to 6, Sanghyeon exclaimed short interjections like "Let's Go!" and "Crazy!" 11 times, while Rio only did so 5 times. Domestic fans affectionately refer to Sanghyeon as "honorary Korean-American".
The Triplets' Antics: Xinlong, Anxin, and Sangwon often get caught wrestling or making loud noises in their dorm due to their overflowing energy, earning them the nickname 'the triplets'. This is noted as a stark contrast to their charismatic appearances on stage.
Cooking King Arno: Despite his clumsy Korean skills, Arno's efforts to teach the members how to cook using body language have stimulated fans' maternal instincts. In particular, the scene where he struggles to explain a complicated cooking process with gestures is highlighted as a key moment of the episode.
ALD1 is aggressively appearing not only on music shows but also on major domestic entertainment programs to secure popularity.
'The Return of Superman' & 'Gag Concert': They appeared on family entertainment and public comedy programs to introduce themselves to the general public beyond idol fandom. This is a strategic decision by Wake One to secure recognition across all age groups, not limited to the 10-20 age range.
Entertainment Characters: Junseo is noted as a promising MC due to his calm hosting abilities, while Xinlong displayed his comedic sense with an eccentric character who believes, "If I don't get the quiz right, I can't appear on Inkigayo."
ALD1 recorded initial sales of 1.45 million copies with their debut album 《EUPHORIA》, achieving the second-highest initial sales for a K-POP group's debut album in history. Notably, they achieved a 'grand slam' by topping all three major terrestrial music broadcasts (KBS Music Bank, MBC Music Core, SBS Inkigayo). This is a record that has not been seen in 9 years for a rookie boy group, proving that ALD1 possesses a public impact beyond just being a fandom-based idol.
Their agency, Wake One, has formalised a 'two-track' strategy in its 2026 business plan, centring on ZEROBASEONE (ZB1) and ALD1 as the two pillars.
Complementary Growth: While the existing ZB1 generates revenue as a stable top-tier group of the 5th generation, ALD1 is responsible for aggressive new fandom influx and global expansion. They are maximising market share by adjusting the activity periods of the two groups to avoid overlap (ZB1's comeback in February, ALD1's debut in January).
Targeting the Global Market: ALD1 confirmed immediate success potential in the Japanese market by topping the Oricon chart and the iTunes Japan K-POP chart. Based on this, a showcase tour in major Japanese cities (Tokyo, Osaka, Fukuoka) is expected in the second half of 2026.
Industry insiders both domestically and internationally are highly optimistic about ALD1's potential to enter North American festivals in the summer of 2026. In particular, rumours about lineups for major music festivals in the US, such as Lollapalooza and Coachella, are spreading in communities like Reddit. This aligns with the recent trend of K-POP groups rapidly increasing local recognition through North American festivals shortly after their debut, and ALD1's 5-year contract period is a key driving force enabling such long-term overseas promotions.
ALPHA DRIVE ONE (ALD1) was born through the proven platform of 'Boys II Planet', but its operational methods and vision are distinctly different from existing temporary project groups. The stable contract period of 5 years, the million-seller record achieved simultaneously with their debut, and the organic narratives and characters among the members suggest that they will be a 'game changer' in the K-POP market in 2026.
For the global fandom ALLYZ, ALD1 is not just an idol group but a partner in writing the growth narratives of the members together. Detailed elements like the chemistry of 'Makmakz' or 'Sanghyeon's English meme', discovered by domestic fans, will serve as catalysts to strengthen the cohesion of the global fandom beyond language barriers. Under Wake One's strategic support, the next 5 years that ALD1 will sketch out are expected to present a new success formula for the K-POP idol training system.
