Boys II Planet Winners ALPHA DRIVE ONE Launch K-Pop Careers with EUPHORIA Debut
ALPHA DRIVE ONE officially entered the K-pop industry on January 12, 2026, releasing their debut mini-album "EUPHORIA" with title track "FREAK ALARM." The eight-member group held a showcase at Blue Square SOL Travel Hall in Seoul's Yongsan District, though member Arno appeared on crutches due to a recent bone fracture and couldn't perform.
Most Fan-Voted Mnet Group in History
The group emerged from Mnet's Boys II Planet after receiving approximately 26.6 million votes across 223 countries during the show's September 25, 2025 finale. This makes them the most fan-voted project group in Mnet history, surpassing previous survival show groups.
ALPHA DRIVE ONE consists of leader Leo, Junseo, Arno, Geonwoo, center Sangwon, Xinlong, Anxin, and Sanghyeon. Their fandom name is ALLYZ, announced in November 2025.
Debut Showcase Highlights Member Aspirations
At the showcase, center Sangwon reflected on the moment: "I'm happy and deeply moved to be able to debut. This moment feels incredibly precious. Right now truly feels like a moment of euphoria, just like our album title."
When asked about their group name's meaning, Geonwoo explained: "I liked the meaning of the name as it seemed to express 'driving toward the top.' Our members thought that we should live up to the name and truly work to drive to the top."
The group name breaks down as "ALPHA" (pursuing excellence), "DRIVE" (passion and momentum), and "ONE" (unity as a team).
Arno addressed his injury: "It is upsetting that I cannot perform as we practiced so hard. I feel sorry to the members and fans. I will recover quickly to show our performance as eight members."
Three Members Re-Debut After Previous Groups
Three members bring prior idol experience. Leo previously debuted as a soloist and was part of pre-debut group Trainee A. Junseo debuted with WONDER NINE and currently promotes with WEi, making this his third debut. Xinlong is an active member of BOY STORY under JYP Entertainment.
Junseo shared his perspective: "Being able to challenge my dream once again was such a valuable moment. I'm happy I can try again."
Pre-Debut Performances Built Momentum
Before their official debut, ALPHA DRIVE ONE performed at two major Korean award shows. They unveiled pre-release single "FORMULA" at the 2025 MAMA Awards on November 28, 2025. On December 20, 2025, they opened the Melon Music Awards with an arrangement of Boys II Planet theme song "HOLA SOLAR" followed by "FORMULA."
"FORMULA" was officially released on December 3, 2025, and appears as the first track on "EUPHORIA."
EUPHORIA Album Details
The six-track mini-album "EUPHORIA" dropped at 6 PM KST on January 12, 2026, across all streaming platforms. Title track "FREAK ALARM" is a hip-hop dance song expressing the moment the group's name first rings out to the world.
The physical album comes in 11 versions: Freak Alarm, Star Road, Coin Chain (QR), and eight individual jewel case versions for each member.
Following Survival Show Predecessors
ALPHA DRIVE ONE joins Wanna One and ZEROBASEONE as Mnet survival show success stories. Sangwon acknowledged their predecessors: "We deeply respect our seniors like Wanna One and ZEROBASEONE. We want to grow while developing our own color so we don't become a burden on the path they paved."
Xinlong emphasized their unique identity: "Our charm comes from the different personalities coming together. We'll continue with a rookie mindset while doing our best."
The group will promote under a five-year contract with WAKEONE, with a potential sixth year for special activities including one album promotion and one concert tour.
Member Goals and Musical Direction
Members shared individual visions for what ALPHA DRIVE ONE represents in K-pop:
- Junseo: "I want ALD1 to be called the icon of K-pop's drive."
- Anxin: "I want to be a turning point in K-pop."
- Sangwon: "I want to be K-pop's standard."
- Xinlong: "I want to be K-pop's new formula. I hope when people think of K-pop, ALPHA DRIVE ONE comes to mind."
Leader Leo described their musical approach as "romantic energetic core" - pursuing the top with passionate energy even if imperfect.
Geonwoo emphasized building trust: "I want to plant the perception that we're a team you can trust and watch. I want to become an artist our fans can be proud of."
The group aims to deliver what they call "killing performances" that showcase their synchronized choreography and powerful stage presence.
