The rising stars ZEROBASEONE (Sung Han Bin, Kim Ji Woong, Zhang Hao, Seok Matthew, Kim Tae Rae, Ricky, Kim Gyu Bin, Park Geon Wook, Han Yujin) are celebrating a huge win in Japan, achieving a double victory on the Oricon Weekly Chart!

On February 6, Oricon News revealed that ZEROBASEONE’s first Japanese EP, PREZENT, earned an impressive 258,100 points, securing the number one spot on the Oricon Weekly Combined Album Ranking from January 27 to February 2. This ranking will officially appear on the February 10 chart.

The Oricon Weekly Combined Album Ranking takes into account CD sales, digital downloads, and streaming numbers, and combines them into points to determine the album rankings.

This marks the group's second time reaching the top of the Oricon chart, following their success with their South Korean mini-album You had me at HELLO.

Not only did PREZENT top the Oricon Weekly Album Ranking, but it also dominated the Weekly Combined Album Ranking, making ZEROBASEONE double champions! Their record-breaking sales in just the first week prove they’re truly becoming the 5th-generation icons of K-pop.

Their popularity in Japan is undeniable. PREZENT didn’t just top Oricon; it also claimed the number one spot on Billboard Japan’s Top Album Sales, marking another major achievement.

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PREZENT is a special album that ZEROBASEONE dedicated to their fans, Zeroz, featuring four original Japanese songs and Japanese versions of two tracks from their Korean releases, highlighting their versatility across multiple genres.

And the excitement isn’t over yet! ZEROBASEONE is gearing up to release their mini-album BLUE PARADISE on February 24 at 6 PM on various music streaming platforms. Fans can’t wait to see what’s next for these rising stars!

Director Kim Hyung Joo of The Match has finally shared his thoughts on Yoo Ah In’s involvement in a drug scandal, calling it a major disappointment, especially considering the actor’s role as the lead in the film.

On March 19th, the director attended a press screening and briefing for The Match at CGV Yongsan I'Park Mall in Seoul. Alongside Kim, actors Lee Byung Hun, Ko Chang Seok, Hyun Bong Sik, Moon Jung Hee, and Jo Woo Jin were present to discuss the film.

The Match revolves around the legendary Go player Cho Hun Hyun (played by Lee Byung Hun), who, after a loss to his disciple, decides to challenge the top players again, driven by his competitive spirit. The movie is directed by Kim Hyung Joo.

Lee Byung Hun plays the iconic Go champion Cho Hun Hyun, while Yoo Ah In portrays his disciple, Lee Chang Ho.

During the event, Kim recalled the casting process, saying, "When we were casting, Lee Byung Hun was cast first. Just having him felt like we had the world, and then, getting Yoo Ah In as a bonus made me even happier."

Although filming wrapped up in 2021, Yoo Ah In's drug scandal led to the indefinite postponement of the film’s release. Now, nearly four years later, The Match is finally set to hit theaters on March 26th.

Reflecting on Yoo Ah In's scandal, Director Kim openly shared his frustration, calling it "irresponsible and disappointing" for the actor to make such a mistake as the lead.

He added, “Before being an actor, he made a mistake as a member of society and was punished, so I don’t think there’s much more to say.” Kim smiled bitterly as he spoke.

Describing the challenges he faced due to the scandal, Kim compared the experience to being trapped in "a hellish tunnel."

He said, "There was nothing I could do inside, so it was overwhelming. But now that we have the light of release, it feels like I can breathe. I’m deeply moved."

The director also shared that because Yoo Ah In was the lead actor, the film had to be released as it was, without editing. This has led some people to feel uneasy about watching the film, given the actor’s scandal.

When asked about this, Director Kim said, "Choosing and judging is up to the audience, so I can't force anything. But I hope they watch the movie as it is. I unintentionally got hurt before the release, so I hope people watch the movie warmly, as if applying ointment to a wound."

The Match will officially be released on March 26th.

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