Mnet's survival show 'Boys Planet 2' has found itself embroiled in controversy following the airing of its first episode. The issue arose when it was revealed that two trainees from CJ ENM's subsidiary agency, Wake One, appeared on the show as independent contestants. Despite apologies and explanations from the network, skepticism remains, drawing comparisons to the manipulation scandal of 'Produce X 101' six years ago.
At the center of the controversy are trainees Kim Gun-woo and Kang Woo-jin. They were introduced as independent trainees in the first episode aired on the 17th. However, it was soon discovered that both were affiliated with Wake One. On the 21st, Wake One issued an apology via their official social media, stating that they had decided to terminate the trainees' contracts after thorough discussions.
Kim Gun-woo, who was previously embroiled in a character issue scandal, apologized on the same day, saying, "I sincerely apologize for my actions that hurt and troubled many people." Kang Woo-jin was known to have trained at Wake One for a considerable time. Wake One's explanation that the trainees had different musical concepts and lacked professional idol training was seen as irresponsible by many.
The controversy was somewhat anticipated before the show aired. Rumors circulated in online communities about Wake One trainees receiving preferential treatment from the production team, leading to suspicion among fans.
During the 'Boys Planet 2' press conference on the 16th, CP Kim Shin-young stated, "While Wake One is a subsidiary of CJ ENM, our program involves many participants and staff. When the show airs, viewers will see and feel everything, so we cannot and will not manipulate the narrative." However, the broadcast content only fueled viewers' distrust.
This season saw a significant increase in participants, from 98 to 160. The production team claimed they wanted to highlight each contestant's charm, but many trainees were edited out entirely, with some being eliminated immediately. In contrast, Kim Gun-woo and Kang Woo-jin received significant screen time, sparking accusations of biased editing.
Viewers' dissatisfaction extended beyond screen time. Questions were raised about the two trainees' skills, as their performances were not particularly impressive, yet judges gave them high praise. Some viewers speculated that their abilities were exaggerated through editing and reactions.
This controversy is reminiscent of the 2019 'Produce X 101' manipulation scandal, where some contestants were pre-selected for debut, leading to the disbandment of X1 shortly after their debut. With only one episode aired, 'Boys Planet 2' has already rekindled memories of that scandal.
Critics argue that CJ ENM is once again pushing its trainees to the forefront, possibly hoping for a similar success to the previous season's debut group, Zerobaseone, which achieved five consecutive million-seller records. CP Kim emphasized during the press conference that creating forced narratives would result in more losses than gains. However, fans' reactions post-broadcast have been negative, with many saying, "They said we'd notice if they pushed them, and we did."
The issue is that all this controversy erupted after just one episode. With fairness and editing concerns already raised, there are fears that dissatisfaction will grow as the show progresses. As many trainees participate with dreams of debuting, the production team's responsible approach is more crucial than ever. Whether 'Boys Planet 2' can overcome this controversy and regain viewers' trust remains to be seen.