Mnet's 'Boys Planet' is back for its second season after a two-year hiatus, featuring a significant increase in participants. This season, 160 contestants will compete, divided into 'Planet K' with 80 participants and 'Planet C' with another 80. The increase in participants is largely attributed to the influence of Zhang Hao, the first foreign winner from the previous season.
On the morning of the 16th, a production presentation for 'Boys 2 Planet' was held at The Saint in D-Cube City, Guro-gu, Seoul. Attendees included CP Kim Shin-young, PD Jung Woo-young, PD Go Jeong-gyeong, 'K Master' Lee Seok-hoon, Kinki, Kani, 'C Master' Kim Jae-joong, Xiaoting, Jaylick, and 'Common Master' Lim Han-byul, Hyolyn, Baek Goo-young, and Justhis.
The event saw extended photo sessions and lengthy introductions due to the presence of 13 production staff and masters. This left limited time for the press Q&A, restricting the exchange of questions and answers.
CP Kim Shin-young explained the reason for the increased number of participants: "The main reason for this project was to introduce more contestants to the viewers. In Season 1, 98 participants appeared, but many promising candidates were eliminated during the selection process, which was regrettable. This season, with a focus on 'Planet C', we aim to showcase a diverse range of captivating Chinese contestants."
She added, "Although Chinese contestants had a significant presence in Season 1, their potential and charm were not fully showcased due to the Korean language barrier. This time, we wanted to highlight Chinese contestants, which is why we started with 'Planet C'. Zhang Hao, the winner of Season 1, was also Chinese. We planned for greater expansion from the beginning, starting with 'Planet C', but future seasons may focus on other regions."
This season's broadcast schedule is also unique. The first episode of 'Planet K' will air on Thursday, the 17th, and 'Planet C' on Friday, the 18th, both at 9:20 PM. Kim CP stated, "Due to the limited number of participants in Season 1, many trainees were not featured. This time, we wanted to create an environment where more trainees could be highlighted."
A teaser video released on the 7th showed trainees packing and leaving before the broadcast, raising questions among viewers. Some scenes depicted Chinese contestants returning to their home country, leading to negative reactions about eliminations being decided solely by the production team without audience votes.
Regarding allegations of favoritism towards trainees from Wake One, a CJ ENM subsidiary, Kim CP firmly stated, "While Wake One is a subsidiary of CJ ENM, our program is a collaborative effort involving numerous participants and staff. Viewers will notice if we artificially highlight certain contestants or create narratives. Such actions would result in more losses than gains. As one of the long-standing audition brands, we will not make such choices."
On the topic of airtime, Kim CP emphasized, "Having directed 'Girls Planet', 'Boys Planet', and 'I-LAND', I've always stressed to participants that overwhelming talent, charm, or a distinct character increases their chances of being featured. I always encourage them to work hard, as it's not easy to appear on the show otherwise. That's my standard for airtime."
She continued, "Due to realistic constraints on airtime, we are striving to ensure that all participants are showcased through YouTube individual cuts and various content. We hope as many trainees as possible can be highlighted and display their unique charms."
ZeroBaseOne, who debuted in July 2023, has set a new milestone in K-pop history with five consecutive million-seller records, gaining explosive popularity both domestically and internationally. Naturally, there is growing interest in the next group. Regarding the direction of the next group, Kim CP stated, "Nothing has been decided yet regarding the contract period or the number of debut members. We will announce it once decisions are made."
Lee So-jung, TenAsia Reporter forusojung@tenasia.co.kr