Mnet's 'Boys 2 Planet' Introduces 160 Trainees, Expanding Global Reach

In a surprising move, Mnet's survival show 'Boys 2 Planet' will feature 160 trainees this season, as revealed by producer Kim Shin-young. This decision comes after reports of multiple trainees being eliminated before the show's premiere.

The press conference for 'Boys 2 Planet' was held on the morning of the 16th at The Saint in D-Cube City, Sindorim, Guro-gu, Seoul. Attendees included Kim Shin-young CP, directors Jung Woo-young and Go Jung-kyung, 'K Masters' Lee Seok-hoon, Kinki, and Kani, 'C Masters' Kim Jae-joong, Xiaoting, and Jayrick, and 'Common Masters' Lim Han-byul, Hyolyn, Baek Goo-young, and Justhis.

Kim explained the rationale behind featuring 160 participants this season: "One of the main reasons for this decision was to introduce more trainees to the audience. In the previous season, we started with 98 participants, but there were many talented individuals who couldn't be featured due to the limitation. This season, we wanted to showcase a diverse range of captivating Chinese participants as part of 'Planet C.'"

He added, "In season 1, there was a significant presence of Chinese participants, but their vibrant charm and potential weren't fully showcased due to the Korean language barrier. This time, we decided to focus more on Chinese participants." Kim also noted, "The winner of season 1, Zhang Hao, was Chinese. This is why we are starting with 'Planet C.' While the future direction of the program is uncertain, we are considering expanding to other regions in future seasons."

A teaser video released on the 7th showed trainees leaving with their luggage before the first broadcast, sparking curiosity among viewers. Scenes of some Chinese participants returning to their home country led to negative reactions, with some questioning the fairness of eliminations made solely by the production team before audience voting.

The event saw the participation of 13 production staff and masters, which took considerable time for photo sessions and introductions. This left limited time for a Q&A session with the press, restricting the opportunity for in-depth questions and answers.

'Boys 2 Planet' will premiere on the 17th and 18th at 9:20 PM with 'Boys 2 Planet K' and 'Boys 2 Planet C,' respectively.

Lee So-jung, TenAsia Reporter forusojung@tenasia.co.kr