Yumeki Surprises Everyone with Appearance on Boys Planet 2

On July 17, 2025, the highly anticipated survival show Boys Planet 2 (보이즈 2 플래닛) premiered on Mnet, featuring intense competition between two teams, Planet K and Planet C. Only participants who prove their worth will qualify to continue the journey towards debuting in Boys Planet.

During the first episode, the ranking battle for Planet K contestants was showcased, where participants are categorized into All-Star, Two-Star, and One-Star ranks. Those deemed unworthy by the judges are immediately eliminated as 'No-Star'.

Among the contestants, Yumeki (유메키), a dancer and choreographer from Yokohama, made a surprising entrance, quickly becoming a dark horse in the competition. Known for his work in both Korea and Japan, Yumeki has choreographed for numerous famous K-pop idols and gained recognition for his participation in the 2022 show Street Man Fighter (스트릿 맨 파이터) as a member of the One Million (원밀리언) crew. He also served as a dance trainer on the 2023 show Produce 101 Japan The Girls (프로듀스 101 JAPAN THE GIRLS).

His unexpected appearance left fellow contestants questioning, "Why is someone who should be a master here as a participant?" During the ranking battle, contestant Kinky expressed surprise at meeting such a renowned dancer, asking Yumeki about his motivations for joining the show.

In his pre-audition, Yumeki shared, "I have been dancing for over ten years and have worked as a choreographer and dancer for five years. I have contributed to the choreography of groups like The Boyz (더보이즈), SHINee (샤이니), ITZY (있지), and TWICE (트와이스). Currently, I am working on choreography for TXT (투모로우바이투게더) and ILY:1 (아일릿)." He also mentioned his close relationship with dance master Baek Gu-young (백구영), stating, "We spent almost every day together during Street Man Fighter, and he provided me with valuable feedback about my future. It was a great help."

Despite his extensive experience, Yumeki revealed his childhood dream of becoming an idol, saying, "I felt envious of the singers I worked with and wondered why I couldn't be one. Is this what I truly want?" He admitted that singing was new to him and that he struggled with it, stating, "I realized that singing while dancing is challenging. I had never sung before, but I wanted to show my best side during the audition, so I learned to sing for the first time. I believe this opportunity is significant, and I want to seize it without regrets."

Baek Gu-young expressed his admiration for Yumeki, saying, "I really respect him as my younger brother. If he survives and continues in the competition, I would feel happy for him." Interestingly, Baek was unaware of Yumeki's participation in Boys Planet 2 until he arrived. Kinky also noted that they had worked together recently without any mention of this show.

Vocal master Lim Han-byeol (임한별) pointed out the importance of vocal skills, stating, "Here, we are selecting singers, so singing ability is crucial." Yumeki chose to perform Rainism (레인니즘) by Rain (비) for his stage, but after receiving the results, he expressed disappointment, saying, "My pride was hurt. I realized how lacking I am and questioned why I came here." His emotional response left viewers curious about his journey ahead.