ALPHA DRIVE ONE, the highly anticipated rookie group set to open the 2026 K-pop calendar, has entered the final phase of preparations with its official debut just days away.
According to WakeOne on January 2, ALPHA DRIVE ONE—comprised of Rio, Junseo, Arno, Gunwoo, Sangwon, Xinlong, Anxin, and Sanghyeon—was formed through the survival program Boys 2 Planet and is now fully focused on unveiling its true potential through its first mini album, EUPHORIA.
This debut carries significance beyond the launch of a typical rookie group. In just 100 days since formation, the team has demonstrated a level of momentum and polish rarely seen before debut, proving both its performance capabilities and the scale of its growing global fandom.
The group made notable appearances late last year at major global K-pop award ceremonies, including the 2025 MAMA Awards and the 2025 Melon Music Awards (MMA), delivering powerful performances and commanding stage presence well beyond rookie expectations. These stages underscored how the individual strengths cultivated during Boys 2 Planet have coalesced into solid teamwork, further heightening anticipation for their official debut.
Global metrics also point to a strong start. The pre-release track “FORMULA” (released on December 3) quickly climbed to No. 4 on Melon’s HOT100 chart, while also topping Japan’s Line Music Weekly Chart, entering the iTunes K-pop Top Songs chart, and ranking on the Billboard Japan Hot 100. These results indicate that a substantial global fanbase has already taken shape even before the group’s formal debut.
Set for release on January 12, the debut album EUPHORIA captures the exhilaration of eight boys who, after pursuing their individual dreams, finally come together as a single team. Recently unveiled trailers and concept films visually convey both the gravity and excitement of a long-awaited debut, reinforcing the group’s narrative with refined, cinematic imagery.
Carrying the title of “the first debut group of 2026,” ALPHA DRIVE ONE now stands at the starting line after 100 days of intense preparation. All eyes are on what new benchmark the group will set in the K-pop landscape with its first mini album, EUPHORIA, on January 12.
Reported by News Culture M.J._mj94070777@nc.press
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