October 26, 2026 | KWaveScope · KPOP-NEW
ALPHA DRIVE ONE will continue its scheduled activities with seven members while a legal dispute involving Kim Geonwoo remains unresolved, the group’s agency WAKEONE said on October 25. For fans waiting to hear whether Geonwoo might return, the statement clarified the group’s immediate plans but left his longer-term future unanswered.
The two issues are related, but they are not the same. WAKEONE has explained how ALPHA DRIVE ONE will work for now. The dispute over Geonwoo’s contractual status is still a separate, unresolved matter.
What WAKEONE said on October 25
WAKEONE said it had held discussions about Geonwoo’s future activities, including possible schedules and content. According to the agency, disagreements over those plans led to the legal proceedings. That is WAKEONE’s account of how the dispute arose, not a finding by the court.
The agency apologized for the uncertainty and urged people not to spread unverified claims. It said it would address the legal issue through formal procedures while continuing discussions with Geonwoo about his activities.
For the group, the immediate plan is unchanged: the seven currently active members are expected to keep their scheduled commitments. WAKEONE said it would support those activities.
How the dispute reached this point
Geonwoo has been absent from group activities since April 2026, following a controversy over remarks made during a pre-debut recording. He apologized at the time, and WAKEONE released its own statement about the incident. Those events help explain the months leading up to the dispute, but they do not determine its legal outcome.
Media reports on October 25 and 26 described a lawsuit filed by Geonwoo concerning his status under his exclusive contract with WAKEONE. The reports also connected the case to his hopes of resuming activities. The legal filing, as reported, seeks a determination of his contractual position; it does not announce the result.
The distinction matters. Asking a court to clarify contractual rights is not necessarily the same as asking to terminate an agreement. Neither side’s position should be treated as established fact before the evidence is examined and a decision is made.
The group moves forward as seven
ALPHA DRIVE ONE began as an eight-member group after the survival programme BOYS II PLANET and debuted on January 12, 2026, with Euphoria. The group has performed with seven active members during Geonwoo’s hiatus. It released its second EP, Unbreakable: Beast, in August, followed by the digital single “Talk to Me” on October 22.
The timing is difficult for fans to ignore. “Talk to Me” arrived just days before the agency’s statement, and the group is continuing its promotions without a decision on Geonwoo’s future. There is new music to follow, but also a question the agency cannot yet close.
WAKEONE has not announced a permanent departure or a date for Geonwoo’s return. The October 25 statement also did not report a court ruling in either party’s favor.
What happens next
The next update could come through the court, further talks between the parties or a new statement from WAKEONE. For now, fans attending events should check the latest official lineup notices rather than assume Geonwoo will appear.
What is clear is limited but important: WAKEONE intends to continue ALPHA DRIVE ONE’s activities with seven members, while the contractual dispute remains open. Whether the parties reach an agreement or the court decides the issue, the outcome has yet to be established.
Source: WAKEONE — Official ALPHA DRIVE ONE Activities Statement, October 25, 2026.