Former 'Produce X 101' Contestant Kim Kookheon Criticizes 'Boys Planet 2' Producers

Kim Kookheon, a former contestant from Mnet's 'Produce X 101', has publicly criticized the producers of 'Boys Planet 2'.

On the 27th, Kim shared a short video on his social media story, stating, "There's no one who hits high notes as cleanly as Lee Hyub. How is this talent considered 'no star'? A legendary performance was completely edited out."

Following the video, he expressed his frustration, writing, "Please don't exploit the hopes of those who are desperate. You don't know how they practice every day with their hearts on the line."

The video featured Lee Hyub and Kim Dongyun from the group DRIPPIN under Woollim Entertainment, both of whom also participated in 'Produce X 101'. Lee Hyub performed INFINITE's 'Be Mine' on 'Boys Planet 2', but the scene was edited out of the broadcast. Despite receiving praise for his unique and powerful high notes, he was given a 'no star' rating and was eliminated in the second episode aired on the 24th.

Born in 1997, Kim Kookheon debuted with the group MYTEEN in 2017 and sought a second chance through 'Produce'. He was eliminated during the third ranking announcement in 2019, missing the opportunity to debut. The program later faced allegations of vote manipulation, which were confirmed, leading to the disbandment of the group X1.

Last year, Kim appeared on ENA's 'Baek Jong-won's Les Miserables', where he introduced himself as a 'failed idol'. He confessed, "I once opened the car door on the highway, contemplating a bad decision. It was a foolish choice at the time, driven by painful memories."