A new report has revealed the strict contract terms for trainees on the survival show Boys II Planet, sparking strong reactions from fans online. The investigation shows the winning group, ALD1, is bound to a six-year contract, while even eliminated contestants face restrictions on their careers.
What the Contract Says
On September 30, 2025, a report by Dispatch detailed the contract between CJ ENM and the trainees of Boys II Planet. The deal for the winning group, ALD1, is a “5+1” year commitment. This means the eight members must work only as a group for the first five years. After that, they are required to release one more single and do at least one performance in their sixth year.
One part of the contract states:
“Group activities shall last until the fifth anniversary of the debut album release, and final members may only perform as part of the group during this period.”
Another section requires:
“Within one year of the promotional period ending, the group must participate in one single album release and one performance.”
This is a longer commitment than previous groups from similar Mnet shows. Wanna One promoted for about 1.5 years, and ZEROBASEONE is active for 2.5 years.
Control Over Eliminated Trainees
The contract terms that surprised many people also apply to trainees who did not make the final group. The report states that CJ ENM keeps the right to manage these contestants. They cannot sign with other agencies or debut in other groups unless CJ ENM allows it.
The contract explains:
“Even if a contestant is not selected as a final member, CJ ENM retains exclusive management rights and may form another group with them.”
This means both the winning and eliminated trainees remain under the company’s control. Many fans online described this situation as the trainees being held “hostage.”
Fan Reactions to the News
The news quickly spread on social media, where fans shared their frustration and worry. Many are concerned that a six-year group-only contract could limit the members’ personal growth and future opportunities.
One social media user wrote:
“the whole contract is so confusing. Does that mean the company is basically holding the trainees hostage????”
Another fan expressed concern for the artists’ futures, pointing out: “atp they are forcing the members into becoming a permanent grp. after 5 yrs, the oldest member is 29 + public perception has alr solidified + members going to military. to redebut in a new grp or solo is hard.”
People also compared the situation to past issues with WakeOne, the agency managing the group. One comment mentioned: “Wakeone blocking Sangwon and Leo offers as we speak 😭😭😭😭 That’s exactly what they did to Huening Bahiyyih- they refused all solo deals for brands that wanted to work with her.”
Meet the Group ALD1
ALD1, or Alpha Drive One, is the new group formed from the show. The eight members were chosen by fans from 160 contestants. The final lineup includes Lee Sang-won, Zhou An Xin, He Xin Long, Kim Geon-woo, Zhang Jia Hao, Lee Leo, Chung Sang-hyeon, and Kim Jun-seo.
The show ended on September 25, 2025, after 11 weeks. The finale received over 26 million votes from 223 countries. The group is expected to debut in early 2026.
Also Read: Boys II Planet Finale: Lee Sang-won Leads Alpha Drive One to Debut
Some members were already known before the show. Lee Sang-won and Lee Leo were a pre-debut duo under GRID Entertainment. He Xin Long is part of the Chinese boy group BOY STORY. Kim Jun-seo is a member of the active Korean boy group WEi.
Past Controversies on the Show
Even before the contract news, Boys II Planet faced several controversies involving some of its final members.
Lee Leo faced criticism for past misogynistic lyrics that included mentions of assault. He had previously apologized for these lyrics, which were also linked to his departure from BIGHIT Music’s pre-debut group, Trainee A.
Kim Geon-woo was the subject of bullying allegations. An online post accused him of mistreating other trainees at a company, leading some to seek treatment for depression and anxiety. Geon-woo apologized for the allegations.
Another former contestant, Peng Jinyu, who was eliminated earlier, issued a handwritten apology letter on September 29, 2025, for past hate comments he made about BTS’s Jungkook and the girl groups aespa and TWICE.
A Fan-Made Runner-Up Group
Meanwhile, fans of the show have started a project to create a runner-up group made of eliminated contestants. The proposed group is called F1ARE and would include 11 popular trainees who did not make the final cut, such as Jang Han Eum, Chuei Li Yu, and Yoo Kang Min.
Fans have already created a page for the group on Namu Wiki, a Korean online encyclopedia. The page suggested a debut in January 2026, though it was later deleted for having unverified information. This follows a history of fan-made groups from survival shows, like JBJ from Produce 101 Season 2.
As of now, CJ ENM has not made a public statement about the backlash from the contract revelations.
Also Read: Boys II Planet Finale: Top 16 Contestants, Voting Guide, and Eliminations Revealed
