(Photo courtesy of Mnet's ‘WANNA ONE GO: Back to Base’)

[Hanteo News = Reporter KIM YEONWOO] Formed through Mnet's audition program ‘Produce 101 Season 2’ in 2017, Wanna One became one of K-POP's most iconic groups. The 11 young men, brought together by the votes of the nation's producers, sparked a sensation from the moment they debuted. After officially concluding their group activities in 2019 and pursuing separate paths, the members have reunited under one name for the first time in approximately seven years. Despite the passage of time, the memories they shared remain vivid, and seeing the members together again has rekindled the excitement fans felt back then.

Wanna One reunited with fans in April through the Mnet Plus original series ‘WANNA ONE GO: Back to Base’. The group subsequently took the stage at ‘KCON LA 2026’ in August, followed by the September release of ‘WANNA ONE GO in LA’, which featured behind-the-scenes stories from their Los Angeles performance and highlights from their trip.

But what have the members been up to since their reunion? Some have discovered career-defining roles as actors, others have developed their own musical identities as solo artists, and still others have ventured beyond familiar stages to pursue entirely new dreams. Here is a look at the paths the 11 members have taken since Wanna One and what they have been doing recently.
 

(Photo courtesy of YY ENTERTAINMENT, fantagio, PLEDIS ENTERTAINMENT, and BILLIONS)

Revealing New Sides of Themselves Through Acting

PARK JIHOON has steadily expanded his career as both a solo singer and actor. Following his solo debut with ‘L.O.V.E’ in 2019, he established himself as an actor through dramas including ‘Flower Crew: Joseon Marriage Agency’, ‘At a Distance, Spring Is Green’, and ‘Weak Hero Class 1’.

He delivered a particularly compelling performance as King Danjong in the film ‘The King's Warden’, which became a major box office success, attracting more than 10 million moviegoers. His performance earned him recognition at several award ceremonies, including the Best New Actor awards at the Baeksang Arts Awards and the Korean Association of Film Critics Awards. He also received a Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Commendation at the 17th Korea Popular Culture and Arts Awards. More recently, he was nominated for Best New Actor at the Blue Dragon Film Awards, further solidifying his presence in the film industry.

ONG SEONGWU has also broadened his career across music and acting. After releasing his solo album ‘LAYERS’, he appeared in dramas such as ‘At Eighteen’ and ‘More Than Friends’, as well as the film ‘Seoul Vibe’.

More recently, his film ‘Jeonggane’ was invited to the 31st Busan International Film Festival, marking his first appearance at a film festival since debut. In the film, he plays Kang Jung-hoon, a newly appointed veterinarian in Hoengsan County.

During the festival's Open Talk and audience discussion sessions, ONG explained that Jung-hoon's perspective as an outsider mirrors that of viewers encountering the film's village and characters for the first time. Describing ‘Jeonggane’ as a film filled with the earthy scents and warmth of rural life, he expressed his affection for the project. The film is scheduled for release on December 2.

HWANG MINHYUN has continued his career as a solo artist and actor following his activities with NU'EST and Wanna One. He released his first solo album ‘Truth or Lie’ in 2023 and gained attention as an actor through dramas including ‘Alchemy of Souls’ and ‘Study Group’.

On October 7, he released the digital single ‘OUR’ and held his fan meeting ‘도원경’ in Seoul later that month. Every Seoul performance sold out during fan club presales alone, with additional overseas stops scheduled in Tokyo, Macau, and Taipei.

On the acting front, MINHYUN is preparing for the second season of the TVING original series ‘Study Group’, raising anticipation for his continued activities in both music and acting.

YOON JISUNG made his solo debut in 2019 with ‘Aside’ and continued his musical career through releases including ‘Dear Diary’ and ‘Temperature of Love’.

He has also built extensive stage experience through musicals such as ‘The Days’, ‘Return’, ‘Something Rotten!’, and ‘Happy Oh! Happy!’. This year, he appeared as Jacopo in the musical ‘Portrait of a Boy’.

JISUNG has also announced his participation in the short-form drama ‘Adieu Solo’, in which he will portray Kim Kyung-dal, a Daehangno theater actor who joins a dating survival show in search of true love. The character is described as calm and warmhearted while harboring a secret, offering JISUNG another opportunity to showcase his acting abilities.

 

(Photo courtesy of ARA, WAKEONE, SW MUSIC, and PARA MUSIC)

Exploring Their Individual Musical Identities

KANG DANIEL began his solo career in 2019 with ‘What Are You Up To’ and went on to establish his own musical identity through the ‘COLOR’ series and his full-length album ‘The Story’.

After enlisting for active-duty military service in February, he surprised fans with the release of the digital single ‘Blue’ on October 21. The R&B track, which he wrote and composed himself before enlistment, was particularly meaningful as it demonstrated his continued passion for music even during his military service.

Fan-recorded footage of DANIEL performing with a military band also generated buzz online. Although his regular activities are temporarily on hold, he has continued connecting with fans through music and performances, maintaining his presence as a solo artist.

KIM JAEHWAN has steadily developed as a singer-songwriter since releasing his solo debut album ‘Another’ in 2019. Through numerous albums and drama soundtracks, along with his involvement in songwriting and composition, he has continued building his own musical world.

Following his discharge from military service, JAEHWAN reunited with fans through his first solo concert in approximately three years. Held from October 31 to November 1 at the Woori WON Banking Hall in Blue Square, Seoul, ‘2026 KIM JAEHWAN CONCERT [여백:餘白]’ marked a meaningful return to the stage.

Throughout the concert, he performed every song with a live band and showcased his guitar-playing skills. He also unveiled his unreleased self-composed track ‘다음 생에도’ for the first time.

Notably, fellow Wanna One members PARK WOOJIN, LEE DAEHWI, YOON JISUNG, and HWANG MINHYUN attended the concert to show their support, demonstrating their enduring friendship. JAEHWAN also recently contributed ‘더 짙어져 가’ to the soundtrack of the drama ‘Merry Berry Love’.

HA SUNGWOON began his solo career in 2019 with ‘My Moment’ after his activities with HOTSHOT. He has since continued releasing albums and drama soundtracks, and is now preparing to take on a new challenge in musical theater.

On November 3, SUNGWOON appeared on the Mnet Plus program ‘Idol's Table’, where he joined various artists in conversations centered around cooking. The episode also featured a surprise appearance by fellow Wanna One member YOON JISUNG, adding to the excitement.

SUNGWOON has also been cast as Romeo in the French musical ‘Romeo and Juliet’. The production is scheduled to open at KEPCO Art Center on December 1, offering fans an opportunity to see a different side of him on stage.

PARK WOOJIN debuted as a member of AB6IX before expanding into individual activities with his first solo EP ‘oWn’.

On September 13, he released his second EP ‘SOLSTICE’, showcasing a new musical direction. The title track ‘STAMINA’ is rooted in tech house and delivers a message of confidence and bold ambition.

WOOJIN also participated in creating the B-side tracks ‘SYNCOPATION’, ‘돌아와’, and ‘C-119 (feat. TWLV)’. In particular, he wrote the lyrics for ‘돌아와’ entirely on his own and contributed to its composition, demonstrating his musical capabilities.

Through his solo releases and activities with AB6IX, WOOJIN continues showcasing his versatility across rap, performance, songwriting, and composition.

 

(Photo courtesy of WAKEONE, AURA ENTERTAINMENT, and Mancheonheyi)

Taking on New Challenges Along Different Paths

LEE DAEHWI has established himself as both a member of AB6IX and a producer behind the group's music. Since debuting with AB6IX in 2019, he has participated in writing, composing, and producing numerous songs, steadily strengthening his musical expertise.

Following its seventh-anniversary concert ‘6IX TO SEVEN’ in May, AB6IX entered a hiatus from group activities. DAEHWI subsequently joined OFF THE RECORD, a label under WAKEONE, and unveiled new profile photos, signaling a fresh start as a solo artist.

He is also scheduled to serve as a red-carpet MC for the ‘2026 MAMA AWARDS’ in November, continuing to expand his presence in broadcasting.

BAE JINYOUNG released the solo single ‘Hard to Say Goodbye’ after Wanna One's activities ended before debuting with CIX in 2019. He subsequently promoted songs including ‘Movie Star’ as a member of the group.

After leaving CIX and concluding his exclusive contract with C9 ENTERTAINMENT in 2024, JINYOUNG began exploring a new path as a solo artist.

Through events including his solo fan concert ‘BEGIN, YOUNG’, he has continued meeting fans and laying the groundwork for his individual activities.

Having been recognized for his expressive performances and delicate stage presence since his Wanna One days, anticipation is growing over the music and new sides of himself he will reveal in the future.

LAI KUANLIN pursued an acting career in China following Wanna One's activities, appearing in television dramas and films.

In 2024, however, he announced his retirement from the entertainment industry and began pursuing a new dream in filmmaking.

He has reportedly been working at a Chinese film production company, learning about screenwriting and script development while also participating in short-film production.

Through ‘WANNA ONE GO: Back to Base’, KUANLIN reunited with his former members and shared updates on his life. He also revealed a tattoo of the number "807", commemorating Wanna One's debut date and expressing his continued affection for the group.

Having stepped away from the familiar stage, he is now writing a new chapter of his life in an entirely different field.

 

(Photo courtesy of YMC ENTERTAINMENT)

Different Paths, One Continuing Wanna One Story

The moment the members reunited under the name Wanna One seemed to bridge the seven years they had spent apart.

Yet what made this reunion particularly special was not simply the chance to revisit cherished memories. It was the opportunity for members who had accumulated countless experiences and grown into different versions of themselves to come together once again.

Some are bringing new characters to life on screen and stage, while others are creating their own music and connecting with fans through performances. Still others have stepped beyond their familiar careers to pursue entirely new dreams.

Although the paths they have taken and the places they now stand are different, their desire to support one another's growth remains unchanged.

Once, 11 young men shared the same dream and stood together under a single name. Today, each is writing his own story, yet those individual journeys continue to form another chapter in the larger story of Wanna One.

As the group begins writing a new page together, anticipation remains for the moments Wanna One will create next and the individual chapters still waiting to unfold for all 11 members.

 yeonwoo38@hanteo.com