WANNA ONE
The wind of renewal blew over the Korean capital, erasing seven years of absence in a single collective greeting.
On April 6, 2026, neither the nocturnal thunder nor the persistent rain could discourage the immense crowd that came to witness the return of WANNA ONE in front of the CJ ENM headquarters in Mapo District. This gathering marked the group’s first public event since its separation in 2019, on the occasion of the launch of their new reality TV show “WANNA ONE GO : BACK TO BASE”. For many fans, like Ryu, a young woman present from 8 a.m., the wait was worth it despite the weather conditions. She confided with emotion:
“It was totally rewarding. I hadn’t really followed K-pop since their separation because life became hectic, but I had to be here”.
Dressed in outfits reminiscent of the school uniforms from their debut in “PRODUCE 101”, nine of the eleven original members walked onto the stage under cheers. If KANG DANIEL, currently under the colors for his military service, and LAI KUANLIN, now a filmmaker in China, were physically absent, their presence was symbolized by life-size panels. This attention allowed for the visual reconstruction of the full lineup that had dominated the industry between 2017 and 2019 with hits such as “Energetic” or “Beautiful”.
The emotion was at its peak when YOON JISUNG, HA SUNGWOON, HWANG MINHYUN, ONG SEONGWU, KIM JAEHWAN, PARK JIHOON, PARK WOOJIN, BAE JINYOUNG, and LEE DAEHWI intoned the first notes of “It’s me (pick me)”. This moment of pure nostalgia proved that the group’s alchemy remained intact despite the solo careers and acting paths of each. HWANG MINHYUN moreover highlighted this immediate unity during his speech:
“While each of us has been busy, some filming dramas, others pursuing group or solo activities, we reunited instantly to become WANNA ONE again.”
The ceremony was also punctuated by light moments, where the members amused themselves by reciting iconic lines from PARK JIHOON‘s recent film, “THE KING’S WARDEN”. Between laughter and contained tears, the artists multiplied interactions with a public that, for some, had camped on site since the day before. HWANG MINHYUN added, visibly touched by the scale of the mobilization:
“I was so nervous because it had been a long time. I didn’t expect so many people to show up, I am truly grateful to everyone”.
(video produced by the media Dispatch)
This “meet-and-greet” was only a foretaste of what awaits the WANNABLE (fans of WANNA ONE). The agency CJ ENM confirmed that the show “WANNA ONE GO : BACK TO BASE” will be broadcast this coming April 28 on MNET and MNET PLUS. This program promises to plunge spectators into the behind-the-scenes of this unhoped-for reunion, filmed in the heart of Seoul. To seal these reunions, the members took the time to pose for collective photos and selfies with the crowd, transforming a rainy morning into a bright and indelible memory.
Seven years after promising to meet again when the “Spring Breeze” would blow once more, WANNA ONE proved that certain promises are eternal. The group, born from a program that mobilized 16 million votes, thus begins a new chapter of its history, carried by a community of fans whose loyalty seems to have no time limit. The appointment is now set for the end of the month, in order to discover the rest of this digital and human epic.
An unforgettable encounter that confirms that the story between WANNA ONE and the WANNABLE is far from having said its last word.
Journalist: Shawn
Translator : Shawn
Source: SNS WANNA ONE
