Mnet has always played a dangerous game with its survival shows. Between “evil editing,” favoritism, and full-on vote rigging, it’s no surprise longtime fans are skeptical of anything under the CJ ENM umbrella. With Boys 2 Planet (also called Boys II Planet), the suspicion came early.
This new season hadn’t even aired its second episode before viewers were already crying foul over a now-familiar accusation: that the show is rigged to protect CJ’s favorites.
What’s the Scandal?
On July 21, WakeOne Entertainment admitted that two “independent” contestants on Boys 2 Planet, Kim Geonwoo and Kang Woojin, were actually signed to the company as trainees.
WakeOne is a subsidiary of CJ ENM, the same parent company that owns Mnet, which produces Boys 2 Planet. The winner of any survival show that airs on Mnet is managed by Wakeaone.
It doesn’t help that WakeOne already manages Zerobaseone and Kep1er, the winning groups from Boys Planet and Girls Planet 999. Some of the most successful and most heavily promoted contestants from those shows were WakeOne trainees. It’s a pattern fans are now watching closely, and this latest “independent trainee” controversy only fuels the fire.
Why Fans Feel Lied To
The “Independent Trainee” Illusion
When contestants are framed as independent, it often builds viewer sympathy. The idea is they’re underdogs, unsigned, raw talent going up against the industry machine. But Geonwoo and Woojin were already represented by an agency. Presenting them otherwise felt manipulative, even if technically true when they applied.
WakeOne’s Influence
Because WakeOne and Mnet are part of the same corporate family, fans worry about behind-the-scenes interference. This could include favorable editing, extra screen time, or even help surviving eliminations. In a system built on fan voting, even the appearance of bias can destroy trust.
A History of Manipulation
CJ ENM’s survival shows have a long, history of manipulating voters to pick certain trainees:
- Produce 101 had confirmed vote rigging.
- Idol School was accused of hiding contestant affiliations and giving certain trainees unfair advantages.
- Even in the post-scandal era, shows like Girls Planet 999 and Boys Planet have been dogged by rumors of favoritism, usually tied to WakeOne.
WakeOne’s Response
To the credit of their crisis PR team, WakeOne quickly offered an explanation. They said Kim Geonwoo applied before signing, and that Kang Woojin wasn’t training as an idol at the time. Still, they admitted their communication caused confusion and apologized publicly.
Then they announced that both trainees’ contracts were terminated by mutual agreement. The agency promised to support them “as individuals” and protect them from further rumors. Damage control? Sure, but it wasn’t enough to calm fans.
The Kim Geonwoo Situation
Unfortunately, the agency ties weren’t the only controversy following Kim Geonwoo. Allegations quickly surfaced accusing him of bullying, favoritism, and even embezzlement during his previous agency training days. These accusations gained traction online just as the show began airing and Geonwoo was already the center of the K-group.
Geonwoo posted a handwritten apology admitting to past mistakes, while also suggesting some claims were exaggerated. Mnet has launched an internal review. For many fans, it’s déjà vu: the same playbook of scandal, apology, and business-as-usual.
What’s at Stake for Boys II Planet?
This scandal could potentially impact the trajectory of the show and the group it creates.
- Loss of Viewer Trust: When viewers feel lied to, they check out. When a scandal hits before the show has even built momentum, it’s harder to win them back. The trust Mnet already struggled to maintain is now eroding even faster.
- Fragmented Fanbase: Fanbases for survival show groups rely on emotional unity with everyone rooting for the final lineup together. With Kim Geonwoo’s presence now deeply polarizing, that cohesion is already splintering. Some fans are calling for his removal while others want to give him a second chance. That tension could follow the group long after the finale.
Can the Show Still Recover?
It’s not impossible. K-pop fans are resilient, and controversy does bring attention. Some shows bounce back when scandal leads to redemptive arcs or unexpected underdog victories. Mnet could steer the editing toward a “growth and healing” storyline, using the backlash to reframe Geonwoo’s journey and boost sympathy.
But there’s a limit. If fans feel the entire process is rigged, no amount of editing can salvage the show’s credibility. And if too much attention stays on damage control, the other trainees, many of whom are genuinely talented and hardworking, will be buried beneath the drama.
WakeOne and Mnet’s shared ownership creates an obvious conflict of interest. Masking agency trainees as independents is just the latest tactic in a system that increasingly feels rigged from the start. Until the industry reforms its structures and builds genuine transparency into the process, scandals like this will keep happening and fans will keep walking away.
Boys 2 Planet may weather the storm, but unless Mnet commits to genuine transparency and reform, the shadow of manipulation will never go away. It’ll be the trainees who will pay the price.
