On March 15, 2026, the K-pop world witnessed the emotional end of an era as ZEROBASEONE (ZB1) concluded their journey as a nine-member group at the “2026 ZEROBASEONE World Tour HERE&NOW Encore” at the KSPO Dome in Seoul.
However, the historic night was marred by a surge of online criticism directed at member Kim Gyuvin.
Despite the overwhelming sentiment of grief from fans (ZEROSE) over the departure of four members, a controversial clip from the final performance went viral, sparking a heated debate regarding Gyuvin’s live vocal stability during such a critical milestone.
The Performance and the Viral Backlash
The controversy centers on a specific segment of the concert where Gyuvin was performing as part of a trio alongside members Kim Jiwoong and Zhang Hao for the high-energy unit track “Out of Love.”
While the performance was initially praised for its intense choreography and the members’ charismatic entrance through the audience, netizens quickly isolated a clip of Gyuvin’s live vocals.
Critics “bashed” the idol on various online community portals and social media platforms, alleging that his singing was “unstable” and “off-key” compared to his studio recordings.
Some went as far as to label the performance “disappointing” for a final concert of this magnitude.
One critical comment that gained traction stated:
“It is heartbreaking that this is their last stage together, but the vocal delivery during the unit song felt rushed and lacked the support we’ve seen in previous stops.
In a venue like the KSPO Dome, the flaws are unfortunately amplified.”
The backlash was particularly sharp because it occurred during the group’s final three nights as a full unit.
Critics argued that after two and a half years of global activities, the expectations for vocal growth were high, leading to a “harsh reality check” for the idol during what should have been a purely celebratory moment.
Fans Defend Gyuvin Amid Emotional Toll
In response to the bashing, the ZEROSE fandom immediately mobilized to defend Gyuvin, citing the immense emotional and physical toll of the three-day encore.
Fans pointed out that the members were visibly struggling to hold back tears throughout the entire setlist, which featured nostalgic tracks like “Here I Am” and “Not Alone.”
Supporters argued that the “vocal instability” was a direct result of the intense emotions associated with the group’s disbandment and the departure of the four members (Zhang Hao, Ricky, Gyuvin, and Yujin) who are returning to their original agency, Yuehua Entertainment.
A fan defending Gyuvin remarked:
“People are being unnecessarily cruel. Gyuvin was crying for half the concert.
How can anyone expect perfect pitch when you are saying goodbye to the brothers you’ve lived with for three years? He gave his heart to the fans, and that’s what matters.”
During the final talk segment, Gyuvin himself spoke of the overwhelming weight of the moment, stating:
“Performing ‘Not Alone’ at the concert for the first time brought back so many memories…
Even when we were exhausted, seeing the blue lights from the stage gave us strength.”
Despite the vocal controversy, the concert ended with the members and 15,000 fans in tears.
While the “Out of Love” clip continues to circulate among critics, the prevailing narrative remains one of a “brilliant moment that will never come again,” as the group now prepares to move forward as a five-member quintet.
The incident serves as a stark reminder of the intense scrutiny K-pop idols face, even during their most vulnerable and final moments on stage.
