ZEROBASEONE, K-Pop’s 5th Gen It Boys, understand your love for the Mother pose.

ZEROBASEONE, K-Pop's 5th Gen It Boys, understand your love for the Mother pose.

There was a moment during KCON LA’s Day Two concert this past weekend when the already-loud crowd screamed even louder. And no, it wasn’t because ZEROBASEONE, or ZB1, was delivering an electrifying performance. Instead, the spotlight fell on one fan who struck a pose so fabulous that the entire crowd erupted in cheers. With a hand on their waist, a tilted head, and a mischievous smirk, this fan paid homage to ZEROBASEONE leader Sung Hanbin’s iconic dance that earned him the nickname “mother.” Yes, you heard that right – mother!

Let me fill you in on the backstory: When ZEROBASEONE members competed on the reality show Boys Planet, a clip of Sung Hanbin’s fierce waacking to RuPaul’s “Call Me Mother” went viral. Fans across the globe couldn’t resist joining in and showcasing their best “mother” moves. It became a phenomenon, and even the members of ZEROBASEONE couldn’t help but burst into laughter when asked about this endearing tribute from their fans.

But Sung Hanbin took it all in stride. With a smile, he proudly admitted, “I’m never ashamed of the performances I’ve done in the past. It just proves that I gave my all, worked hard, and made it to where I am today – so I’m actually proud!” And rightfully so, because since their debut, ZEROBASEONE has soared to new heights in the K-pop industry. Their debut album, “Youth in the Shade,” made history by selling over a million copies in a single day, and their Instagram page gained a million followers in just six days. Talk about smashing records!

From their first concert at Seoul’s Gocheok Sky Dome stadium, where 18,000 fans filled the venue, to their electrifying performance at KCON LA, ZEROBASEONE has had a whirlwind of first-time experiences. But they remain humble and grateful for the journey. In a recent interview, the members opened up about their unforgettable moments, the Dream Stage at KCON, and their upcoming album, set to drop in November.

You’ve done so much in the last few days. Do you consider this the biggest week of your career so far?

• Ricky: This has definitely been one of the biggest and busiest weeks for us. We’ve been preparing for these events for a while, and seeing so many ZEROSE (our fans) waiting for us makes it all worthwhile. They show us so much love and support, which helps us get through these busy schedules.

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• Seok Matthew: Performing at Gocheok Dome and here in LA, we never imagined we would have these opportunities. It feels like a dream come true, and after each stage, we can’t help but think, “Did we really just do that?” The memories we’ve made at Gocheok Dome will stay with us forever, all thanks to our amazing ZEROSE.

How did you feel when you landed in the U.S.? Can you walk me through your thoughts?

• Zhang Hao: We were all excited because, except for Ricky, none of us had been to LA before. We were curious about how our performances would be received by LA ZEROSE. With different cultures and expressions of love, we wondered how they would react. As soon as we landed, we were thrilled to start building new memories and joy with our fans. And seeing the Hollywood sign from our hotel window? It felt like a scene from a movie, something we never thought we would experience. It truly shows how far we’ve come as ZB1.

What was your favorite part about the Dream Stage?

• Han Yujin: We performed “Here I Am” from Boys Planet on the Dream Stage, and it brought back so many memories. It was amazing to see our fans dancing to that song alongside us, creating a unique and special moment.

• Kim Taerae: We were blown away by the incredible dancers among the fans. While performing, we made eye contact and saw smiles on their faces. It truly felt like we were building precious memories together.

I saw that one of the fans did the signature “Call Me Mother” move for his ending pose. Hanbin, how does it feel to have your pre-debut dance go viral?

• Sung Hanbin: I can’t stop laughing whenever I see those moments on the internet. It’s amazing to see fans having fun and even showing me their versions of the dance. As long as everyone is enjoying it, I’m grateful.

That’s awesome. I also wanted to ask, with such a busy week, how do you take care of your mental health while you’re traveling?

• Kim Gyuvin: This being our first time traveling so far, adjusting to the new time zone was quite challenging. Our biorhythms got a little out of whack with all the jet lag. To overcome it, I’ve been drinking plenty of water, getting as much sleep as possible, taking vitamins, and not neglecting my physical health while prioritizing my mental well-being.

• Seok Matthew: We have these fun moments at night when we all ask each other, “Are you hungry?” Then we just look at the menu, order a bunch of food, and eat together. These moments really contribute to our mental health. In LA, we indulged in a lot of room service.

What was the best thing you had in room service?

• Kim Gyuvin: This morning, we had avocado toast, and it was absolutely heavenly.

Ah yes, that’s very popular. I’m also curious, did you feel a different kind of pressure for your KCON performance?

• Park Gunwook: We’ve had the chance to meet our existing fans before, including at our recent fan concert. But performing at KCON was unique because we had the opportunity to reach a wider audience of K-pop fans who might not be familiar with us. It was exciting to show them different aspects of the K-pop genre through our performance.

• Kim Jiwoong: I want to express my gratitude to everyone who came out to see us. It’s been a pleasure to meet so many new people throughout this week. I feel like my life was ordinary before meeting ZEROSE (our fans). Their love and support have added so much quality to my life, and I can see the difference within myself. I hope they can also experience this growth and improvement in their own lives through our music.

How does performing in front of existing fans compare to performing in front of K-pop fans who may not be familiar with you yet?

• Zhang Hao: When we perform in front of our existing fans, it’s a way of reciprocating their love and support. However, events like KCON allow us to showcase the diverse charms of K-pop to a wider audience. We want to share the experience and excitement of K-pop with all fans, regardless of their familiarity with us.

• Park Gunwook: Our fan concerts are like a gift to our fans, a way of saying thank you. But at KCON, we all come together under the umbrella of K-pop, united by our love for the genre. We want to share that experience with fans who may not know us yet, creating new connections and expanding our family.

• Kim Jiwoong: Personally, I approach every performance with the same mindset. It may sound cliché, but flowers don’t bloom in just one place – they can bloom anywhere. So, wherever we go, we strive to give our best and make each show unforgettable.

I love that analogy. And finally, you’ve accomplished so much since your debut. What are your goals both professionally and personally for the rest of this year?

• Sung Hanbin: Our second album is on the horizon, and we’re working incredibly hard on it. That’s our biggest goal for the remainder of the year. As for personal goals, we all have different ones, but our universal goal is to continue promoting in a healthy environment. We want to cherish every moment and capture all the different experiences. Thankfully, we’ve had countless amazing opportunities to perform and interact with our fans. Each moment is precious, and we aim to preserve them in our hearts and memories.