Exciting Start for 'Boys Planet 2' as Contestants Showcase Their Talents

The highly anticipated survival program 'Boys Planet 2' premiered on July 17, 2025, on Mnet, featuring a lineup of impressive contestants. The show divides participants into two teams, Planet K and Planet C, where they will compete fiercely to prove their worth and earn a chance to debut.

The first episode focused on the ranking battles for the Planet K contestants, categorized into All-Star, Two-Star, and One-Star ranks. After each mission, the lowest-ranked contestant is immediately eliminated. During the ranking battles, contestants performed in teams, and those deemed unqualified by the judges were labeled as 'No-Star' and eliminated on the spot.

As contestants were introduced, excitement grew when Lee Rio (이리오) and Lee Sang-won (이상원) from the Grid team appeared, both of whom had previously been part of the Big Hit Music debut group Trainee A. Additionally, choreographer and dancer Yumeki (유메키), known for his participation in 'Street Man Fighter' with 1MILLION, surprised everyone with his appearance. Contestants expressed their admiration, stating, "Yumeki's videos are a must-watch for any idol trainee, and we all strive to emulate his moves."

The episode also showcased seasoned participants from groups like VERIVERY, DARKBEE, and MCND, alongside a panel of esteemed judges including vocal masters Lee Seok-hoon (이석훈), Lim Han-byeol (임한별), and Hyolyn (효린), as well as dance masters Baek Gu-young (백구영), Kinky, and rap master Justhis (저스디스).

The first performance featured the IST Entertainment trainee team (Park Dong-kyu (박동규), Ren Sho (렌쇼), Arctic (아틱), and Kim Si-hwan (김시환)). Team leader Park Dong-kyu expressed confidence in their skills, stating, "I believe we can impress everyone with our performance. Momentum is key." They performed NCT U's 'Misfit' and all received All-Star rankings.

Next, the six-year debut group MCND, consisting of Song Min-jae (송민재), Noh Hwi-jun (노휘준), and Bang Jun-hyuk (방준혁), took the stage. Despite their enthusiasm, they fell short of expectations, with Min-jae and Hwi-jun earning Two-Star rankings, while Jun-hyuk received a One-Star due to a rap mistake. Justhis commented, "Honestly, I wanted to give them a zero star. They didn't show much for seasoned performers."

The episode also highlighted Kim Gun-woo (김건우), a non-celebrity contestant from Jeonju, who expressed his determination to seize this opportunity for debut. He shared his past experiences with Source Music and Cube Entertainment, revealing his struggles and aspirations. After his performance, judge Lim Han-byeol praised him, saying, "Where have you been?" and awarded him an All-Star ranking.

As the ranking battles continued, several contestants were eliminated as No-Stars. The episode featured veteran performers from VERIVERY, including Jo Gye-hyun (조계현), Yoo Gang-min (유강민), and Lee Dong-heon (이동헌), who expressed their desire to showcase their growth and experience. They all received All-Star rankings for their impressive performance.

The episode concluded with Yumeki's performance of Rain's 'Rainism.' Afterward, he expressed disappointment in his performance, questioning his abilities and why he was there. The live voting results revealed that Lee Sang-won topped the rankings, followed by Yoo Gang-min, Jung Sang-hyun, Choi Rip-woo, Lee Rio, Masato, Kim Gun-woo, and Kim Jun-seo in the Top 8.