Wanna One’s Surprise Reunion Sparks Real-Time Showdown Between Ha Sung-woon and Kang Daniel

The Reunion Nobody Expected (But Everyone Wanted)

Stop scrolling—this is one of those K-pop moments that hits all at once. Nostalgia, tension, and timing. Seven years after their official goodbye in January 2019, Wanna One is back—this time through a reunion reality show. And Gen-Z fans are already deep in their feelings.

Here’s the twist that turned timelines upside down: two of the group’s most iconic members, Ha Sung-woon and Kang Daniel, are facing off right now in the same live ranking. The January TenAsia Artist Top Ten vote is open, and both artists are among 20 male K-pop acts competing for the top spot. Reunion energy meets real-time competition—and fans can’t look away.

The Timing Is Everything

Ha Sung-woon dropped a digital single called Tell The World just days before voting opened. It's an alternative pop track with moody piano lines and airy strings—the kind of sound that feels late-night, reflective, and quietly emotional. He even debuted it live during his December 30–31 fan meetings, a move that instantly shifted fan momentum.

Kang Daniel, meanwhile, is taking a different lane. In his fan community, he shared that he’ll only partially participate in the Wanna One project due to upcoming enlistment plans. He referenced “studying abroad,” a phrasing fans widely interpret as a careful nod to military service—transparent, restrained, and very Daniel.

Two members from the same group. Same moment. Different paths forward—and that contrast is exactly why fans are locked in.

What This Ranking Actually Means

The TenAsia Artist Top Ten isn’t a throwaway poll. Rankings reflect a mix of streaming performance and fan votes, and the top 10 receive tangible exposure—feature articles, homepage promotion, and an automatic slot in the next round if you hit number one. For soloists navigating long-term relevance, that visibility matters.

What makes this hit harder is history. These aren’t strangers or casual peers. Ha Sung-woon and Kang Daniel trained together, survived the elimination pressure of Produce 101 together, and built Wanna One’s legacy side by side. They know the same audience. They know what once worked—and what’s changed.

Why Fans Are Feeling This So Deeply

Reunions aren’t simple. There’s joy, yes—but also awareness. Both artists have grown since 2019. Their solo careers took different shapes. Their priorities shifted. And this vote turns that quiet divergence into something visible.

Fans aren’t just clicking hearts—they’re confronting questions. Why does one comeback feel active while the other feels transitional? Why does this reunion feel emotional instead of purely celebratory? The answers aren’t negative—but they are real.

This moment isn’t about choosing sides. It’s about acknowledging time, growth, and the fact that comebacks don’t rewind the clock—they show us how far everyone has come.

The Vote Opens Tomorrow

Voting runs from January 8 at midnight through January 21 at 11:59 PM via the TenAsia app. Daily check-ins reward fans with hearts, turning nostalgia into participation.

Who ranks higher may not change either artist’s long-term path. But it will capture something important about this moment—who fans are leaning toward, whose energy feels right now. In K-pop, those collective instincts often say more than numbers ever could.