Lai Kuanlin Reunites With Wanna One Years After Quitting The Industry And Career Change

In 2017, the second season of Produce 101 aired, showing the selection process for the boy group WANNA ONE.

WANNA ONE | Mnet

Like the previous season’s winners, I.O.I., WANNA ONE saw significant popularity before the group’s disbandment in 2019. Afterward, the members began other activities, with some debuting in new groups or as solo artists.

Earlier this year, it was announced that the members would reunite for a special program titled Wanna One Go: Back to Base. 

| Mnet

However, only nine out of the original eleven members were present for filming, with the show’s number one pick, Kang Daniel, currently serving out his mandatory enlistment.

The other missing member, Lai Kuanlin, debuted in a duo with PENTAGON‘s Wooseok, Wooseok x Kuanlin, before he requested the termination of his contract with Cube Entertainment. After this, he focused his career in China, where he worked as an actor until 2024, when he announced his retirement to “switch careers” and now focuses on directing off-camera.

Lai Kuanlin | Weibo

In the episode released on April 21, it was hinted that member Sungwoon had traveled to China to meet with Kuanlin, a claim confirmed in the latest episode. Sungwoon is shown walking through the airport after his flight, where he is met by Kuanlin, with captions confirming that the reunion will be shown in detail in the following episode.

워너원고 미리보기 | 성운 & 관린의 재회

성운이가 관린아! 외치는데 눈물날 것 같애…#하성운 #HASUNGWOON pic.twitter.com/LSBgR9UWfu

— 큐미 (@qmcloud0322) April 28, 2026

Fans were thrilled by the unexpected reunion and are hopeful about upcoming content featuring Guanlin!

REALLY IT'S KUANLIN!!!! SUNGWOON FINALLY MET THE MAKNAE, LOVELY LITTLE BROTHER KUANLIN 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭 https://t.co/2sgwQKk8a0 pic.twitter.com/GMf4ueGIuH

— am¹¹🍉 (@amwoojinie) April 28, 2026

a disbanded group… and Kuanlin is not even active as an idol yet the members have included him
when there are group activities. 🥹❤️ you deserve all the support in the world guys https://t.co/gvj00vjMm3

— ⋆✧ ωαƖe ✧⋆🌻🦊 (@candiesandsun) April 28, 2026

this scene made me cry instantly 😭😭 seeing guanlin with wanna one member again, with his hyung sungwoon 😭
cmiiw this is guanlin's first public appearance in a long while after 🥹

it's been a long time, guanlin…. pic.twitter.com/UTQdIOy3H0

— 𝐟𝐢𝐭. (@guanlincu) April 28, 2026

The former boy group member gave an interview last year in which he spoke about his reasons for leaving the industry, which you can read more about below.

“…Have Casual Sex…” — Missing K-Pop Idol Finally Reveals Why He Quit The Industry At The Height Of Popularity