ZEROBASEONE Unleashed: Junji Ito Collab, KENZIE Reunion, and a New Album Drops Today!

Ahead of their highly anticipated comeback, ZEROBASEONE has made K-pop history by collaborating with legendary Japanese horror manga artist Junji Ito. The group recently shared their thoughts on this groundbreaking partnership, which has taken fans by surprise with its eerie yet captivating artistic direction.

In January, ZEROBASEONE (Sung Han-bin, Kim Ji-woong, Zhang Hao, Seok Matthew, Kim Tae-rae, Ricky, Kim Gyu-vin, Park Gun-wook, Han Yu-jin) unveiled the digital cover for ‘Doctor! Doctor!’, a track from their upcoming fifth mini-album ‘BLUE PARADISE’. The fact that Junji Ito, one of the most celebrated names in Japanese horror manga, personally illustrated the cover immediately sent waves through both K-pop and anime communities.

The cover’s hauntingly detailed illustration perfectly captures the song’s themes of love addiction, with Junji Ito’s signature touch bringing out the intensity of the emotions. The imagery of a boy clutching his heart, gazing at a mysterious doctor, adds an unsettling yet intriguing atmosphere, aligning seamlessly with ZEROBASEONE’s bold artistic vision.

Members Share Their Thoughts on the Collaboration

At their showcase for ‘BLUE PARADISE’, held on February 24 at Blue Square Mastercard Hall in Seoul, the members expressed their excitement over working with Junji Ito.

"I’m a huge manga fan, so when I heard Junji Ito would be drawing the digital cover, I was beyond thrilled and deeply touched," said Seok Matthew according to News1. Han Yu-jin also added, "We’re incredibly grateful that Junji Ito was able to capture our concept so perfectly."

They also mentioned another surprise for fans—actor Jung Kyung-ho appears in the music video for ‘Doctor! Doctor!’. Reflecting on his involvement, Seok Matthew and Han Yu-jin shared, "We’ve always admired Jung Kyung-ho as an actor, and seeing him perform on set was an amazing experience. The final result turned out even more incredible than we imagined."

Set for release on February 24 at 6 PM KST, ‘BLUE PARADISE’ serves as the second part of the group’s Paradise series. The album carries a deep, introspective message—“Even sad moments are part of life, and our efforts to keep moving forward make us shine beautifully.” It emphasizes the idea that paradise is not a distant dream but something we carry within ourselves.

Consisting of six tracks, the album blends mystery and freshness, with the title track ‘BLUE’ offering an alternative pop dance sound. The song features a striking contrast between cool synth instrumentals and emotional vocals, creating a mysterious yet refreshing atmosphere. The track is further heightened by the involvement of renowned producer KENZIE, known for crafting some of K-pop’s most memorable hits.

With an unprecedented artistic collaboration, a compelling storytelling approach, and a powerhouse production team, ZEROBASEONE is set to deliver one of their most ambitious comebacks yet.