Boys Planet 2 Top 8 Under Fire for Their Pasts

On July 17th, the premiere of “Boys Planet 2” officially aired, featuring a special trainee evaluation session for Team K (Korea). During the broadcast, a real-time ranking of the TOP 8 contestants with the highest votes was also shown. The rankings included:

1. Lee Sangwon
2. Yoo Kangmin
3. Chung Sanghyeon
4. Chuei Liyu
5. Lee Leo
6. Masato
7. Kim Geonwoo
8. Kim Junseo

Seeing the rankings, Korean netizens on online forums were skeptical because among the eight trainees were trainees with pasts that were considered “red flags.” One netizen wrote, “Half of the top 8 trainees have had controversies in their pasts. Some have smoked on the street and in public, gone clubbing, written misogynistic song lyrics (degrading women), engaged in power struggles, and bullied.”

It is known that some of the contestants referred to by the OP were Lee Sangwon & Yoo Kangmin (smoking and clubbing issues), Lee Leo (releasing a song with misogynistic lyrics), and Kim Geonwoo (power struggle & bullying). Seeing the OP’s post, other netizens then chimed in with opinions such as:

1. This is why this show is hopeless…
2. Wow, this is truly hopeless…
3. Wow… Who are they??
4. Where did you read about the power struggle?
   • He bullied the other trainees and acted like a boss.
5. Didn’t Lee Sangwon say he never clubbed?
   • He smoked on the street.
6. If they debut, that will be a problem going forward…
7. So, aside from the problematic trainees, everyone is worthy of being voted for?
8. Lee Sangwon, Yoo Kangmin, Lee Leo, and Kim Geonwoo?
9. What’s wrong with Kim Geonwoo? Isn’t he the center?
   • He’s said to have bullied other trainees.
10. What’s wrong with Yoo Kangmin?
    • There’s photo evidence of him going to clubs and smoking too.

Despite the criticism, some fans argue that past mistakes shouldn’t define a trainee’s entire future. They emphasize the importance of growth, accountability, and second chances, especially for young people still facing the pressures of public life. As the program continues, viewers will likely closely monitor how Mnet addresses these concerns, whether through transparency or disciplinary action. This season may mark a turning point in how survival shows handle contestant vetting and viewer trust.

What do you guys think?

source