Boys 2 Planet is an ongoing South Korean survival show on broadcasting channel MNET that airs weekly every Thursday, with its initial premier on the 17th July 2025.
Survival shows in the kpop sphere have a been a regular occurrence since 2015, with at least one airing yearly. These shows introduce what the trainee life is, however done at an accelerated rate. Typically, the trainee environment facilitates growth in dance, vocal, acting, language skills and also media training. Trainees are then put on trial and face either weekly or monthly evaluations of their picked skills, sometimes individually or sometimes with a prospective combination of group members. Once a group of trainees are deemed ready, they then debut under a label, which provides songs, choreography, styling and persona presentation that the artists follow.
Doing this, however, takes years, even decades and consumes high levels of resources. This is due to most companies taking on all the financials that a trainee requires such as rent, food and lessons.
To counter this and speed up the process survival shows were created. They take a large group of hopeful kpop trainees and put them together where they compete against one another in hopes of securing a spot in the next big thing, in what typically is a temporary group. These shows typically gather gender specific trainees, which rotates seasonally, and follows a framework of a singular audition round and three other performances followed by eliminations before the finale.
Boys 2 Planet succeeds Boys Planet and initially followed 80 “Chinese” and 80 “Korean” trainees (grouping was based on nationality but also on preferred language and other political situations), with the premise to have two separate groups. One to promote in South Korea and the other in China. However internal affairs occurred and both C and K teams were combined, with 180 trainees fighting for 8 spots.
The first four episodes introduced trainee auditions, where trainees performed 1-2min songs solo or in groups and be ranked from that. Trainees would receive between 1-3stars from the array of judges and the more they received the better their privileges, whilst those with 0stars faced automatic elimination. Whilst the next two episodes focus on the theme song, where one trainee is chosen to be centre and everyone else’s screentime is allocated on the number of stars they have. Which can change as an interim check is done to see progress. Once again trainees with 0stars are eliminated. Bringing the overall count to 80 trainees.
Which brings us to the first official round of performances, where the show presents songs that the trainees split into groups to compete against one another. The first round has 5 songs with 2 groups performing against one another for each of the songs. With eliminations bringing trainee count to 48. Whilst second became more niche and from this round onwards it becomes less of a 1v1 and starts the “who is the best in this position” and had contestants choose songs based off their positions – dance, vocal or rap. Once again eliminations bring overall trainee count to 24. Then the third and semi-final round presents them with new songs that are specifically written for the show, that viewers decide in which direction the leftover contestants perform. Which is what the show is currently at, an elimination is to determine which 16 trainees go on to the final, of which 8 members of the group will be selected.
The show although following a set out structure, is definitely showing cracks and the problem with both the industry and why these shows are not as fair as they claim. Already once having to rebrand to the “Planet” series, the broadcasting station itself faced rigging accusations which in turn forced them to bring in outside counting companies but evidently is working on rigging where it can.
With 160 contestants from the start, it was already difficult and impossible for every contestant to be fairly promoted or exposed, which is not the issue. Rather the issue begins with the obvious favouritism that aids in the same select contestants being panned over for reactions, getting asked questions or getting 10-20minutes of backstory in a 2.5hour episode. Which later on becomes worse as they are less contestants and even more time to focus on the same contestants to influence how and who.
Remember the eliminations, these are based off the viewers who vote once a day, with South Korean voters getting 50% power and the rest of the world fighting it out for the other 50%. Each round the number of contestants one can vote for decreased from 8 >5 >3 until voters can pick a singular contestant. Typically, all done in 2week frame before eliminations occur. Which is heavily reliant on exposure.
As the show also unfairly promotes its stages with them being split into two episodes, with those that have less support frequently saved for the second half. Giving them less exposure and hence less of a chance of being voted for.
Unfortunately, this circumstance is the harsh truth of what comes with the industry of kpop.
The trainee life does not fairly judge contestants but rather also places emphasis on favouritism and visuals of the trainees. Where the right reaction, or words can decide what future you have or for most hopefuls do not have.
Caitlin 
Clara 
Kath Smart