Applications for 'GIRLS PLANET 2' exceed expectations, with 30% from the Americas, showcasing global interest in K-POP.
May/14/2026 12:03
Interest in Mnet's 'GIRLS PLANET 2' is rising. 'GIRLS PLANET 2', which is set to broadcast in Korea in 2027, is a project depicting a new journey of the 'PLANET' series that produced Kep1er, ZEROBASEONE, and ALPHA DRIVE ONE. With the launch announcement on the 1st, full-scale application acceptance has begun. Notably, the number of applicants gathered for 'GIRLS PLANET 2' in about 10 days has surpassed the total number of applicants during the 7 months of the global recruitment for 'BOYS II PLANET', attracting attention. Additionally, applicants from North and South America account for about 30% of the total. Currently, over 130 planning companies in Korea have expressed their intention to participate in 'GIRLS PLANET 2', showing high interest. As expectations for the 'PLANET' series rise, global interest in K-POP is increasing daily, and the excitement at offline venues is also heating up. The local auditions held during 'KCON JAPAN 2026' from May 8 to 10 saw an influx of applicants far exceeding expectations, prompting the expansion of the judging space. Furthermore, a special audition is also anticipated at 'KCON LA 2026', raising expectations for the talents and charms of the applicants. The production team stated, 'We are sincerely grateful for the overwhelming interest and applications that continue to exceed expectations. Given the diverse participants gathering from around the world, we are excited to see what kind of synergy and new stories will emerge.'
Related Articles
The 2026 MAMA AWARDS will take place over two days in Osaka under the concept “A MUSIC INTERSTELLAR.” Organizers announced a 360-degree stage, the largest performer lineup in a single region, Park Bo-gum as host, chapter-based awards, and collaborations with artists, films, anime, and AI. They also outlined safety measures and a global fan festival.
ZEROBASEONE’s Seok Matthew and Park Gunwook unit EMP will unveil new music in November. They released the poster and promotion schedule for their first digital single, “OFF script,” due out on November 10 at 6 p.m. Before that, they will drop “RUN (with Dynamic Duo)” on November 4.
U-NEXT has announced exclusive Japanese livestreaming of the 2026 MAMA AWARDS, held at Kyocera Dome Osaka on November 20 and 21, 2026. The stream will include the red carpet and awards ceremony for unlimited viewing by U-NEXT monthly members, with a giveaway campaign also planned.
MBC MUSIC’s live broadcast of “Show Champion” was held on the afternoon of the 21st at MBC Dream Center in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province. A2O LITE won first place, and the show featured performances by ZEROBASEONE’s Son Han-bin, former GFRIEND member Yuju, A2O SOUL, KickFlip, FLARE U, MODYSSEY, X:IN, DAILY:DIRECTION, YS Block, V01D, SEVENUS’s Hiee, and HAENA.
On the afternoon of the 21st, A2O LITE won first place on the live broadcast of MBC MUSIC’s “Show Champion” at MBC Dream Center in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province. The episode also featured Son Han-bin of ZEROBASEONE, former GFRIEND member Yuju, A2O SOUL, KickFlip, FLARE U, MODYSSEY, X:IN, DAILY:DIRECTION, YS Block, V01D, Hije of SEVENUS, and HAENA.
Kang Ki-young and ZEROBASEONE’s Kim Ji-woong have been cast in the film Siren. The movie follows a detective and a police university student from a chaebol family who clash, then end up working together on an unpredictable investigation. It is aiming for a 2027 release.
ABEMA will broadcast the live finale of Mnet’s STREET WORLD FIGHTER: Directors' War exclusively in Japan and simultaneously with Korea for free tonight. The show spotlights performance directors who create every aspect of a stage, and four finalists—KASPER, BABYZOO, BADA, and kooyoung back—will compete in a cheer performance mission. ZEROBASEONE’s Sung Hanbin will MC, and a related special program featuring YUMEKI and JO1’s Ren Kawashiri is also streaming free.
ZEROBASEONE’s Sung Hanbin revealed on Hye-ri’s YouTube show why he does not usually drink alcohol. He said he used to drink more in college, but gained a lot of weight from drinking and eating snacks, so he decided to stay away from alcohol to keep pursuing his idol career. He added that he recently became interested in Japanese draft beer.
On the morning of the 19th, ZEROBASEONE’s Sung Han-bin, former IZ*ONE member Choi Ye-na, THE BOYZ’s Sunwoo and Q, and fromis_9’s Baek Ji-heon and Lee Chae-young attended a brand event for COACH held in Seongsu-dong, Seongdong-gu, Seoul.
The 2026 Music Bank Global Festival in Japan will be held on December 12 and 13, 2026 at MUFG Stadium (National Stadium). New artists announced include NiziU, INI, xikers, ZEROBASEONE, TWS, NEXZ, KickFlip, AEN, and TUIDE, with performance dates revealed. Tickets and premium lounge options are on sale.
