“Please look forward to the synergy of a simultaneous audition held in Korea and China.”
The survival audition format has taken another leap forward, starting with the largest contestant pool ever. A total of 160 participants will compete toward the shared goal of debuting, with a special version tailored for the Chinese-speaking world.
'Boys II Planet' continues the storyline of its predecessor but expands to include two separate “planets”: Planet K (Korean participants) and Planet C (Chinese-speaking participants).
Chief Producer Kim Shin Young explained, “From the early planning stage, global scalability was a key priority. We introduced Planet C, which is produced in Chinese. We’re confident the project has evolved both in freshness and scope.”
On July 16, the production team of Mnet’s 'Boys II Planet' held a press conference at The Saint, attended by CP Kim Shin Young, PDs Jung Woo Young and Ko Jung Kyung, along with mentors Lee Seok Hoon, Kinki, Kani, Kim Jae Joong, Shen Xiaoting, Jayric, Lim Han Byul, Hyolyn, Baek Goo Young, and JUSTHIS, totaling 13 participants.
'Boys II Planet' is a global K-pop boy group project, featuring 80 contestants from each of the K and C planets. All 160 contestants will ultimately compete to join a single final group.
Once again, viewers, called “Star Creators,” will play a central role, determining contestant rankings and selecting the final debut team, the “Alpha Group,” through their votes.
Originally, two separate programs were going to select separate debut groups. However, producers later revised the format to create one unified debut group.
CP Kim stated, “The K and C participants have completely different personalities and potential. I was curious about the synergy that would emerge when they share the same stage. I felt combining them into one group would create an even better outcome.”
He also explained why China was chosen as the second “planet.” He said, “In Season 1, there was a strong presence of Chinese-speaking participants, but since the program was in Korean, their full charms and talents weren’t fully conveyed.”
He added, “While planning this twin-planet structure, we chose to start with the Chinese-speaking region. In future seasons, we are open to expanding into other regions as well.”
The production team highlighted the “synergy between the two planets” as a key point of interest. Viewers are encouraged to pay attention to the dynamic interactions between the participants from different cultural and training backgrounds.
Kim CP said, “We wanted to provide a new kind of entertainment through unexpected combinations and developments. Planet K participants are already familiar with the K-pop system, while Planet C participants bring a more free-spirited charm as they encounter it for the first time.” He added, “Although the show started as two separate programs, it ultimately converges into one, creating a new kind of narrative immersion. We hope viewers will enjoy following that transformation.”
Mentor Lim Han Byul also noted differences between the two groups: “Planet K and C have distinctly different atmospheres. The K contestants resemble styles we’ve seen in previous auditions, while C contestants are much more bold and candid, even to the point of thinking, ‘Can they really air that?’”
2nd-generation idol Kim Jae Joong joins the show as a mentor. He shared, “Many of the C contestants had no prior audition experience. Most had practiced alone and hadn’t yet realized their full potential.” He added, “Their talent is absolutely there. It’s just expressed differently. It’s our job as mentors to help draw out that potential.”
Some concerns were raised during the event, particularly about fairness, which often accompanies survival formats. The potential for favoritism toward trainees from Wake One, a CJ ENM subsidiary, was mentioned.
CP Kim responded, “We’re fully aware of how sharp viewers are and have no intention of doing that. The Planet series will continue as a long-term project, and such favoritism would only harm the brand.”
Given the large number of participants, viewers also wondered about how airtime would be distributed.
Kim said, “We constantly remind contestants they must find ways to express their charm, whatever it takes. Airtime is limited, but we are preparing a wide range of promotional and PR content, including fancams and individual videos, so that every trainee has a chance to shine.”
Regarding past cases where Chinese-speaking idols faced disputes with their agencies and left groups during promotions in Korea, CP Kim said, “We’re proactively preparing strategies that consider global marketing, to avoid cultural clashes or conflicts.”
Lee Seok Hoon shared his impressions: “Watching these talented contestants made me realize how far K-pop has come. I now think global viewers are just as skilled as the mentors at spotting talent. I hope they’ll make great choices once again.”
Finally, Kim Jae Joong concluded, “Though K and C begin as separate channels, they ultimately come together into a single story. I hope viewers will follow that journey from start to finish.”
Boys Planet 2 will premiere on July 17 at 9:20 PM KST with the “K” version. The “C” version will air the following day, July 18, at the same time. The show will be available on Mnet, as well as global OTT platforms such as TVING, Abema, Viu, Viki, and iQIYI.
SHARE
