Boys II Planet Contestant Kim Geon Woo Apologizes for Past Bullying Allegations While Agency WAKEONE Ends Trainee Contracts
Kim Geon Woo, a contestant on Mnet’s survival show Boys II Planet, has publicly addressed accusations of bullying during his trainee days. The controversy began on July 16, 2025, when an anonymous post accused him of mistreating fellow trainees at a company referred to as “Company B.” The allegations included claims of favoritism, verbal abuse, and misuse of company funds.
WAKEONE, the agency linked to Kim Geon Woo and fellow contestant Kang Woo Jin, released a statement confirming the termination of their trainee contracts. Both will continue on the show as independent trainees.
Kim Geon Woo’s Handwritten Apology
On July 21, 2025, Kim Geon Woo shared a handwritten letter apologizing for his past actions. He admitted to causing harm while serving as a leader among trainees but denied some parts of the accusations.
As controversy continued to grow, on July 21, Kim Geon Woo released the following handwritten apology:
Hello. This is trainee Kim Geon Woo, currently participating on “BOYS II PLANET.”
First, I would like to sincerely apologize to everyone for having to write this letter due to an unfortunate incident.
I honestly do not know where or how to begin.
As this is my first time experiencing something like this, I needed time to think about how to respond, so I ask for your understanding regarding the delay in sharing my position.
First of all, regardless of the reasons, I want to sincerely apologize and say that I am truly sorry for the words and actions that hurt and troubled many people, as described in the post that became the subject of controversy.
At that time, I was going through a difficult period as the leader who had to guide the team, and in the process of leading my fellow trainees, I was inexperienced and clumsy due to the sense of responsibility and pressure to do well.
In that process, I ended up hurting many people, and I sincerely apologize and am reflecting deeply on this.
Although there are a considerable number of parts in the post that are distorted or not true, after much consideration, I have decided that rather than explaining what is true and what is not, it is right for me to sincerely apologize for what I did wrong, and so I am writing this letter of reflection.
Once again, I apologize to the public who had to see negative attention and posts because of me, and I will take this incident as a lesson and do my best to become a better and more mature person in the future.
Thank you.
The apology has sparked mixed reactions. Some fans accepted his remorse, while others criticized it as insincere.
“This is the kind of apology you give when saving face matters more than anything else. Refusing to clarify the truth when a victim has come forward is cowardly.”
“At the end, Geon Woo is a victim too. People harassed him so much that he couldn’t even respond properly. I hope he debuts to prove himself.”
WAKEONE’s Statement on Contract Termination
WAKEONE clarified that Kim Geon Woo had applied for Boys II Planet before signing with them, leading to his participation as an independent trainee. Kang Woo Jin, another contestant, was also under WAKEONE but appeared separately due to musical differences.
The agency stated:
“We apologize for the confusion caused. After discussions, we have mutually terminated contracts with both trainees. They will continue on the show as individual contestants.”
Fans expressed frustration over WAKEONE’s handling of the situation, particularly regarding Kang Woo Jin.
“Wakeone threw Woojin under the bus for no reason. Now he has to deal with this mess alone. He deserves better.”
Read the full statement from wakeone below.
Hello, this is WAKEONE.
We are releasing this statement in response to a series of posts circulating on online communities regarding our company and our trainees.
Kim Geon Woo and Kang Woo Jin, who are currently appearing on “BOYS II PLANET” as individual trainees, are trainees under WAKEONE.
Trainee Kim Geon Woo was in the process of applying and being screened for the program before signing a trainee contract with WAKEONE.
Since he had already been preparing to appear on the program as an individual trainee, it was difficult for him to participate as part of a team with the existing WAKEONE trainees due to scheduling conflicts. After discussing with Kim Geon Woo, we decided that he would appear on the program as an individual trainee.
Trainee Kang Woo Jin had been developing his skills at WAKEONE with the goal of becoming a singer-songwriter.
There were differences in musical concepts between him and the existing trainees who were preparing for the program, and he also did not have professional idol training experience. Therefore, we determined that it would be more appropriate for him to appear as an individual trainee rather than as part of the WAKEONE team.
These decisions were made with consideration for each trainee’s individuality and musical concept, but we sincerely apologize for causing confusion and concern to the program’s production team, viewers, and fans as a result.
We take full responsibility for this matter, and we believe that the challenges taken on by both trainees deserve respect.
After lengthy and careful discussions to make a responsible decision, WAKEONE has agreed with trainees Kim Geon Woo and Kang Woo Jin to terminate their trainee contracts. Both participants will continue to appear on the program as individual trainees, just as they did when they first applied.
However, we deeply reflect on the fact that, as Kim Geon Woo is now participating on the program as an individual trainee, we were not able to fully fulfill our duty of care as his agency. Accordingly, while the trainee contract has been terminated, we will actively respond to any false claims related to Kim Geon Woo.
Once again, we sincerely apologize for the disappointment and concern this matter has caused.
We will do our utmost to act with greater caution and responsibility in the future, so that we can maintain the trust of our artists and fans.
Allegations Against Kim Geon Woo
The original post accused Kim Geon Woo of:
- Receiving special treatment from high-ranking staff at “Company B.”
- Bullying other trainees, leading some to seek psychiatric treatment.
- Using company funds for personal trips and drinking.
Additional alleged victims later came forward, sharing therapy notes as evidence.
“The patient feels stressed about Kim Geon Woo… They suffer from severe anxiety and insomnia due to past trauma.”
Boys II Planet’s Response
The show’s producers confirmed they are investigating the claims. Kim Geon Woo remains on the program, but public backlash could affect his ranking.
What Happens Next?
With WAKEONE no longer managing Kim Geon Woo and Kang Woo Jin, their future on Boys II Planet depends on audience votes. The controversy has raised questions about fairness, given Mnet’s past scandals involving vote manipulation.
Also read: Boys II Planet Announces First Voting Rankings With Surprising Eliminations and New Format
