Experienced idols are pausing their group activities to participate in Mnet’s survival show ‘Boys Planet 2’, which is aimed at launching the next top K-pop boy group. The show follows trainees from K and C teams through intense evaluations to form a final lineup. The first season of ‘Boys Planet’ produced ZEROBASEONE, a group that achieved rapid success with five consecutive million-selling albums and a strong global following.
The recent announcement of several idols taking a hiatus has generated speculation about their participation in the program. WHIB members Jayder, Leejeong, and Wonjun suspended their activities on April 30, with agency C-JeS Studio confirming that WHIB would continue as a five-member group for now.
On May 9, Heechan and Harry June from DKB, Dongheon, Gyehyeon, and Kangmin from VERIVERY, and Kim Junseo of WEi also announced similar pauses due to personal matters or unspecified solo activities.
Industry insiders view this shift as a strategic move, noting that contestants with existing fan bases could gain an edge through global fan votes. “Given ZEROBASEONE’s success, there’s high anticipation for the next group,” one source commented. Another industry expert observed that for artists from smaller agencies, this competition presents a rare opportunity to boost visibility.
However, some insiders voiced concerns about those who choose not to participate, suggesting they may feel sidelined. “Agencies need to ensure those members have solo activity opportunities,” the expert cautioned.
As the competition heats up, fans are eager to see if these seasoned idols can leverage their second chance for a breakthrough.
