© Instagram @ald1.official

After months of intense competition, emotional eliminations, and viral performances, the final lineup of the new boy group conceived through Mnet’s Boys II Planet has officially been announced. On September 25, 2025, the live finale revealed the eight members who will launch as Alpha Drive One (abbreviated ALD1). This moment marks the culmination of the show’s mission: to form a next-generation K-pop group with both domestic and global appeal.

Who Are the Final Eight Members?

© Mnet

The grand finale aired live, building suspense around each rank. First, all remaining contestants performed together, after which the host Kim Jae-joong announced the official group name. Then, one by one, the eight members were called in ascending order of rank:

7th place: Chung Sang-hyeon — first to be named for ALD1, earning 3,862,466 points.

6th place: Lee Leo (Lee Ri-o) — securing 4,147,134 points.

5th place: Zhang Jiahao — with 4,238,175 votes.

4th place: Kim Geon-woo — 4,854,331 votes.

3rd place: He Xinlong — 5,731,887 votes.

Then the tension built around the top two and final member. On screen, Lee Sang-won and Zhou Anxin were shown as the two finalists for 1st place.

1st place: Lee Sang-won, with 7,293,777 points, clinched the top spot, having held first place from early rounds.

2nd place: Zhou Anxin, at 5,950,137 points.

The final member to be called for 8th place was Kim Jun-seo, who earned 3,856,677 points.

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As each name appeared, the stage and viewer votes were pooled: the final result combined earlier global voting (from Sept 18 to Sept 25) with the live votes cast during the finale (weighted double), in a 50% domestic / 50% global split.

Throughout the ceremony, the trainees delivered emotional thank-you remarks, many shedding tears, expressing gratitude to fans (“Star Creators”) and promising to repay the love with their future work.

These eight will form the core of ALD1, representing a mix of domestic (Korean) and international (especially Chinese) trainees. 

Alpha Drive One: Group Name & Netizen Reaction

The name Alpha Drive One (ALD1) was unveiled early in the broadcast. Kim Jae-joong explained its meaning: “one official team with the drive, passion, and determination to become the very best.”

© Instagram @ald1.official

Netizens quickly chimed in. While many praised the ambition embedded in “Alpha Drive One,” some poked fun, comparing ALD1 to the European supermarket chain “Aldi.”

Still, critics and fans alike recognized that the name emphasizes a forward-momentum concept — “drive,” “alpha,” “one” — underscoring the group’s competitive and unity-oriented identity.

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Overall, fandoms across multiple countries began mobilizing immediately, setting up social media accounts, trending hashtags #ALD1 and #ALPHA_DRIVE_ONE, and speculating about concept styles, distribution of parts, and debut timing.

When to Expect Their Debut

While no exact date has been set yet, multiple reports indicate the debut will happen in early 2026.

In the weeks ahead, we can expect teaser photo drops, music video snippets, concept reveals, and perhaps a debut showcase or performance at a major K-pop event. Given the global fan interest generated by Boys II Planet, ALD1’s debut could make a strong splash on domestic charts and international streaming platforms alike.

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Alpha Drive One enters the K-pop scene carrying significant expectations. The formation via a global survival show already gives them a built-in, international fanbase hungry for content. Their name, full of ambition and energy, signals a group poised to compete at the highest level.

Of course, survival show rookies face challenges — consistency, musical identity, and carving out space in an already crowded market. But with their collective talent, the emotional stakes of their journey, and the fervor of supporters (Star Creators worldwide), ALD1 has momentum on their side.

© Mnet

For foreigners eager to follow Korea’s freshest K-pop idol train, now’s the moment to plug in. Watch for their debut teasers, streaming preorders, and social media campaigns. Alpha Drive One is officially here — and their story is just beginning.