Mnet's survival audition program Boys 2 Planet debut team AlphaDriveOne will enter the scene on the 12th with their first mini album 'EUPHORIA'. Meanwhile, project group Wanna One, who received tremendous love as the debut lineup from PRODUCE 101 Season 2 in 2017, has teased a reunion this year. The news of them getting back together is more than enough to send K-pop fans into a frenzy.
And it's not just Wanna One making a comeback. The top boy groups once dubbed the 'EXO-BTS-Wanna One' trifecta are all signaling returns, putting K-pop fans on high alert.
The first group to officially confirm a comeback is EXO. Debuting in 2012 as a 12-member act, EXO rocketed to the top with a string of hits including 'Growl', 'Wolf', 'Call Me Baby', and 'Monster'. However, they faced hurdles such as the consecutive departures of Chinese members Kris, Luhan, and Tao, and a contract dispute between CBX (Chen, Baekhyun, Xiumin) and their agency SM Entertainment.
Even so, Suho, Kai, D.O., Chanyeol, and Sehun took the stage at the 'Melon Music Awards 2025' (MMA 2025) on December 21 and delivered a powerhouse performance, proving EXO's staying power. When the intro to 'Growl' hit, fans answered with louder cheers than ever.
EXO's 8th full album 'REVERXE' features nine tracks, including 'Moonlight Shadows', 'Crazy', and 'Suffocate'. The new album promises a dramatic arc, from the romantic highs of love to all-consuming passion and the pain of farewell. 'REVERXE' drops at 6 p.m. on the 19th across major music platforms.
BTS, whose popularity stretches far beyond Korea, are also coming back to their fans. They will release their 5th full-length album on March 20 and embark on a massive world tour.
This will be BTS's first full-group activity in about three years and nine months, since their June 2022 anthology album 'Proof'. With all members completing their military service last year, they are officially firing up their comeback.
The upcoming 5th studio album, set for a spring release, includes 14 tracks, each capturing the emotions and reflections amassed over their journey. Ahead of the album, they also tucked in a message to fans who have steadfastly stayed by their side. On the 1st, the members shared handwritten letters, further stoking anticipation.
Wanna One completes the final piece of the 'EXO-BTS-WANNA ONE' puzzle by teasing a reality show. They are a project group that debuted through Mnet's audition program PRODUCE 101 Season 2 in 2017. At the time, Wanna One enjoyed explosive, syndrome-level popularity, fueled by the love of 'national producers'.
After making a massive impact with hits like 'Spring Breeze', 'Energetic', 'BOOMERANG', and 'Beautiful', Wanna One disbanded in January 2019. In the first half of this year, they're set to return to fans with the Mnet reality program WANNA ONE GO : ZERO BASE (WANNA ONE GO : ZERO BASE). According to Mnet, while considering how to meet Wannable (their official fandom name), the members decided to revive the reality format fans loved most. Specific scheduling and details are not yet confirmed.
Earlier, on the 1st, Mnet sparked buzz by posting a video titled '2026 Coming Soon We'll Meet Again' on its official YouTube channel. The clip featured part of Wanna One's hit 'Spring Breeze', ramping up expectations for their return.
However, as Kang Daniel is set to enlist, he is expected to participate only partially in this reunion.