Boys II Planet Faces Backlash Over Alleged Xenophobic Treatment of Chinese Trainee He Zhongxing

Boys II Planet Faces Backlash Over Alleged Xenophobic Treatment of Chinese Trainee He Zhongxing

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Mnet’s survival show Boys II Planet is under fire after a preview clip showed Chinese trainee He Zhongxing being criticized for not speaking Korean. Global fans accuse the show of xenophobia, while Korean netizens defend the mentors’ actions as addressing attitude, not language.

A preview clip from Mnet’s idol survival show Boys II Planet has sparked a heated debate online. The video shows He Zhongxing, a Chinese trainee, being scolded by fellow contestants and mentors for not understanding Korean. The clip quickly went viral, with over 6.6 million views on X (formerly Twitter), leading to accusations of xenophobia against the show.

He Zhongxing Criticized for Not Speaking Korean

In the preview, Zhongxing is seen struggling to follow a conversation in Korean. A fellow trainee, later identified as Japanese, tells him,

“Even if you don’t know Korean, shouldn’t you at least pretend to listen?”

Later, a vocal mentor snaps at him after he nods instead of verbally responding, saying,

“‘Yes.’ You should say ‘yes.’”

Another mentor then asks Zhongxing to leave, appearing visibly frustrated.

Fans were shocked by the harsh treatment, especially since Zhongxing originally signed up for Planet C, a segment meant for trainees who primarily speak Chinese. The show was initially supposed to debut two separate groups—one Korean (Planet K) and one Chinese (Planet C). However, Mnet later merged the two, requiring all contestants to compete in Korean.

Global Fans Call Out Xenophobia

International viewers expressed outrage, arguing that Zhongxing was unfairly targeted. Many pointed out that he never hid his lack of Korean fluency and that the show’s structure changed after he joined.

“If the show was supposed to have a Chinese version, why punish him for not knowing Korean?” – @KpopGlobalFan

“This is pure xenophobia. They knew he wasn’t fluent, yet they humiliated him on camera.” – @CpopUpdates

Some fans compared the situation to past controversies in K-pop survival shows, where foreign contestants faced similar criticism.

Korean Netizens Defend the Show’s Mentors

While international fans condemned the clip, Korean netizens had a different take. Many argued that the criticism was about attitude, not language.

“The person who scolded him was Japanese, not Korean. How is this xenophobia?” – Instiz user

“If a Korean went abroad for a job and said, ‘I don’t know the language,’ they’d get the same reaction.” – Korean forum comment

Others felt that Zhongxing’s lack of effort to engage, even non-verbally, was the real issue.

Mnet’s History of Controversies

This isn’t the first time Mnet has faced backlash over its treatment of foreign contestants. Past survival shows like Produce 101 and Girls Planet 999 were also accused of unfair editing and bias against non-Korean trainees.

The controversy comes just weeks before the show’s finale, raising concerns about how the incident might affect voting. Some fans are now calling for a boycott, while others hope Mnet will address the issue in the next episode.

What’s Next for He Zhongxing?

As of now, Mnet has not released an official statement. However, insiders suggest that the full episode may provide more context. Meanwhile, Zhongxing’s supporters have launched hashtags like #JusticeForZhongxing to rally behind him.

The incident highlights ongoing tensions in K-pop survival shows, where cultural and language barriers often lead to misunderstandings. Whether Mnet will respond to the backlash remains to be seen.

Also read: Kim Geon Woo Faces Bullying Controversy on Boys II Planet as WAKEONE Terminates His and Kang Woo Jin’s Trainee Contracts

Source: Instiz


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