WAKEONE has issued a full official statement on ALPHA DRIVE ONE member Geonwoo's lawsuit, confirming that the dispute has moved into legal proceedings while the group will continue promoting as seven members.
According to Ilgan Sports, which reported the statement on October 25, WAKEONE said it had prepared various plans for Geonwoo's future activities and continued discussions with him. The agency said the two sides differed over the direction of his future activities, and the matter therefore entered legal proceedings. WAKEONE said it would respond sincerely, and apologized to fans for the worry caused.
The lawsuit was reported on October 25. Geonwoo, on hiatus since April, is seeking a court ruling confirming the validity of his exclusive contract and his status as an artist. Reports have said he hopes to return to the group. WAKEONE had earlier said only that it could not comment on specifics while proceedings were ongoing.
On the group's immediate future, WAKEONE was clear: ALPHA DRIVE ONE's activities will proceed as planned. The agency said it will support the seven currently active members so they can focus on their music and stages, and will work to ensure scheduled activities go ahead without disruption. It also said it will continue communicating about Geonwoo's future activities. No return date, contract termination, or solo plan was announced.
The dispute traces back to before the group's debut. ALPHA DRIVE ONE, formed through Mnet's Boys II Planet, debuted in January 2026 as an eight-member group. Geonwoo stepped back in April after a pre-debut shoot controversy, in which he used inappropriate language with his microphone on. WAKEONE said the remark was not directed at a specific person, but acknowledged the language was inappropriate. Geonwoo apologized, and the group has promoted as seven members since then.
In April, the story was a hiatus for self-reflection. Now, it is a legal question about contract status and future direction. A lawsuit seeking confirmation of a contract does not by itself settle whether Geonwoo returns or leaves. No court, case number, or hearing date was disclosed, so the outcome and timeline remain open.
For now, the two tracks run separately. The legal process will determine Geonwoo's contractual position, while ALPHA DRIVE ONE's seven-member activities continue as scheduled. The next development is likely to come from the court process or a new joint announcement, neither dated yet.
