Allegations of toxic behavior surrounding Kim Gun-woo, a contestant on Mnet’s audition program 'Boys II Planet', are causing a stir just as the show premiered. In response to the controversy, the production team has acknowledged the seriousness of the issue and launched an internal investigation.
On the 17th, the 'Boys II Planet' production team released an official statement, saying, “We are currently verifying the facts regarding the allegations that have surfaced on social media. We are in the process of speaking with not only the individuals mentioned in the post, but also former employees of B Entertainment and others who were involved at the time.” They added that they are also carefully examining whether there are any potential legal implications.
The controversy began when a post was uploaded to an online community alleging that Kim displayed problematic behavior during his time as a trainee. The poster claimed that Kim, favored by senior executives at B Entertainment, was referred to as the "king" of the company and allegedly mistreated fellow trainees and staff.
Specific allegations included verbal abuse such as “Who do you think you are, you f***ing bastard?” and “You're useless, you’re going to be kicked out soon.” The post also accused Kim of skipping dance classes to go drinking, using company funds for personal travel, including a trip to Japan, and generally abusing his position. To support the claims, the poster shared documents including mental health treatment records and contract-related paperwork.
Two additional individuals have since come forward with similar accusations and posted evidence of their former contracts with B Entertainment, further fueling the controversy.
As the issue escalated, viewers voiced concern, with many saying, “If the claims are true, he should leave the show,” and “Mnet needs to conduct a thorough background check.” Others urged caution, noting that the investigation is still underway.
Kim Gun-woo had drawn attention even before the show aired, having been selected as the “signal song center” for the K-Planet team. Last season’s signal song center, SUNG HANBIN, debuted as the leader of ZEROBASEONE — which led many to consider Kim a potential breakout star. However, this controversy may significantly damage his public image and future prospects.
'Boys II Planet' is Mnet’s global boy group project and the follow-up to 'Boys Planet'. It airs both the Korean version, 'K Planet,' and the Chinese version, 'C Planet,' aiming to capture the hearts of global fans.
(SBS Entertainment News | Kang Kyung-youn)