ZEROBASEONE‘s dorm setup recently became a hot topic online after two of the group’s managers revealed the members’ living conditions. During a variety show appearance, the managers shared that the group is currently split into four dorms, but the details have left fans with mixed feelings.
According to the managers, the dorms are arranged as follows: Jiwoong shares a dorm with a manager, Taerae, Gunwook, and Yujin share a dorm with another manager, Matthew and Ricky share theirs with a manager, and Hanbin, Hao, and Gyuvin live together without a manager.
The managers explained that the arrangement was decided through a “ladder game,” with Jiwoong ending up in a one-on-one dorm situation with a manager. Meanwhile, Hanbin reportedly takes on a leadership role in Dorm 4, making a manager’s presence there unnecessary.
zerobaseone’s dorm setup is divided into 4!
dorm 1: jiwoong with another manager
dorm 2: taerae, gunwook, yujin with a manager
dorm 3: matthew and ricky with a manager
dorm 4: hanbin, hao, gyuvinone of the managers said the setup was decided through the ladder game, and one… pic.twitter.com/s4ciQ1h0ge
— ♫ (@taeraesque) April 25, 2025
While long-time K-Pop fans noted that it’s fairly common for rookie idols to live alongside their managers, especially early in their careers, others expressed discomfort at the idea. Some questioned why managers couldn’t simply share their own dorm instead of rooming with the members.
Bro?? The qrts are… something… Isn’t it normal for every kpop idol especially newly debuted groups to live in the same dorm as their manager? I believe this has been a thing since the horrific DBSK era. Y’all need to chill a bit https://t.co/CbDsArGVfW pic.twitter.com/iWvUiKmVNr
— dorime 💦 (@psyfebaseone) April 25, 2025
LITERALLY!! they have 4 dorms- the members shoulda lived together and the managers live together like tftffrfffff
— shen(rui) 🩶🤎 (@taerae_yaki) April 25, 2025
Others were particularly unsettled by Jiwoong’s living arrangement, feeling that a 27-year-old idol shouldn’t need such close supervision.
it’s not that uncommon that idols dorm with managers but jiwoong being 1+1 with a manager is devious WHAT is the grown ass 27yo gonna do on his own that needs to be supervised 😭😭 https://t.co/RtD6AFLjwz
— 𑄽୧ yuyu。🐾 (@gyubberrik) April 25, 2025
A group of fans also had a heated reaction after recalling a past controversy related to Ricky in which one of the group’s managers was involved.
ZEROBASEONE’s Ricky Is Harshly Scolded By A Manager On Camera, Angering Fans
On the other hand, some defended the setup, pointing out that living with managers has been a standard practice for years, particularly to ensure the members’ schedules, safety, and overall management.
I’ve been a kpop stan for 2 years now but I’m only now realizing how new zeroses truly are bc managers living in the dorms is pretty standard, I thought we all knew this https://t.co/tOERD2pgbr
— dr. blue 🩺 (@shbzh01) April 25, 2025
As the heated debate continues across social media, it’s clear that even something as routine as dorm arrangements can spark strong opinions when it comes to fans’ favorite groups.