Kim Ji-woong Opens Up About Emotional Farewell with Zerobaseone Members

Kim Ji-woong candidly shared his feelings about parting ways with his fellow members.

Zerobaseone held their encore concert '2026 ZEROBASEONE World Tour 'HERE & NOW' Encore' from the 13th to the 15th at KSPO DOME in Olympic Park, Songpa-gu, Seoul, meeting with fans. The concert marked the grand finale of their world tour, which began in Seoul, creating unforgettable memories. All three performances sold out immediately, including seats with restricted views.

This concert marked the end of the journey for the nine-member Zerobaseone. Born from the audition program 'Boys Planet,' the group created a significant buzz. Although their activity period was extended by two months, the team is now entering a new phase after this concert. Members Sung Han-bin, Kim Ji-woong, Seok Matthew, Kim Tae-rae, and Park Gun-wook will continue their activities as a team, while Zhang Hao, Ricky, Kim Kyu-bin, and Han Yu-jin will return to their original agency, YH Entertainment, to pursue new paths.

Kim Ji-woong began by saying, "I realized I'm a man who cries a lot." He continued, "I wrote down what I wanted to say before going to bed last night. I used to think that farewells come suddenly, but I found myself wondering why we have to face this kind of farewell." He added, "The thought of why I have to endure this farewell felt cruel, and I couldn't sleep. I felt that if I didn't write it down in advance, I wouldn't be able to say a word, overwhelmed by emotions."

He also expressed, "Knowing how sad it is to send someone precious away and not being able to see them anymore made today very daunting. Trying to understand this situation only made my heart heavier. Instead of trying to understand, I had to rely on the passing time, thinking 'It was like that, wasn't it?'"

Kim Ji-woong reflected, "We shone like one star, but now we remain as small scattered twinkles." Yet, he reassured, "Even if we don't understand anything, we will still look at each other and shine close by, recalling the same memories." He added, "We will be stars that never leave the side of Zeros," expressing gratitude and love to the fans.

He further shared, "I was crying from the start of the 'I Shine' stage. I've cried so much that I can't shed any more tears now. It will be an unforgettable day because I cried from start to finish." He continued, "I still can't believe it. It feels like tomorrow, the nine of us will sit together, laughing and chatting again," but acknowledged, "I know it's inevitable. I believe you will support us as we work hard in our respective places. I will protect and love Zeros forever."

Lee So-jung, Ten Asia Reporter forusojung@tenasia.co.kr