Mnet’s popular survival program Boys Planet Season II aired its first episode on July 17 and just wrapped up on September 25 after selecting the final eight trainees to debut in a new group named ALD1. From start to finish, both the contestants and the show itself were embroiled in numerous controversies, to the point where many netizens mockingly referred to it as a circus.

One of the contestants who became the center of the biggest controversy was Peng Jin Yu. Although he was eliminated during the second survivor announcement on September 4, 2025, he remained the target of a strong boycott until the very end of the program due to his past disrespectful remarks about many K-pop artists, especially Jungkook.

As early as Episode 2 of Boys Planet, Peng Jin Yu’s problematic past was exposed online: he had been an anti-fan of BTS and made several posts on Weibo containing extremely offensive comments toward Jungkook before becoming a trainee. 

One of his posts even included content like this: "Jeon Jungkook is dating again. What kind of ‘top’ is he? Top at cheating on his girlfriend? Top at scoring 7 in English and 4 in Math? Top at manipulating YouTube comments and likes? Top at reckless driving? Top at being lovey-dovey with Mijoo and getting matching tattoos? Top at charging headfirst like a wild boar without using his brain? Top at being violent? I heard people say Jungkook is like a wild boar. And DY? DY is a poor ghost who refuses to accept a loss even in games, but still buys gifts. I heard Jungkook is stingy and broke."

Additionally, he went so far as to make and take part in insulting Weibo polls aimed at aespa and TWICE—one of which singled out aespa members by name and attached degrading choices.

From the perspectives of morality, senior-junior relationships in the industry, and even the law, such malicious remarks are unacceptable. At the time, the ARMY community quickly voiced their protest and urged Mnet to reconsider Peng Jin Yu’s qualifications to participate in the program. Heated discussions criticizing his character also became a major topic on online forums.

However, both Peng Jin Yu and Mnet remained silent until September 26—one day after the show ended—when the trainee finally issued an official apology. He wrote: "Hi everyone, I am Peng Jinyu. Because of my past remarks, I have hurt many people. I sincerely apologize to everyone who got hurt due to this.

For the words I wrote rashly when I was young, I admit that it was my fault. I feel ashamed even until now.At that time, I was just watching my sunbaes on TV, and ended up following the wrong aspect of fan culture and writing those words rashly. I completely ignored the tremendous harm that would bring to the sunbaes’ fans as well as the sunbaes themselves. Because of this, I still feel deep regret and guilt for those words I said in the past.

In order to become a worthy artist, I participated in Boys Planet and experienced first hand how much hard work and time one needs to put in to stand on stage. I also realized how remarkable it was. After standing on stage, I felt even more deeply about how careless my words were.

Additionally, I gained a lot of love from others through the show. I deeply understood how precious ‘liking someone’ is.

From the past to this very moment, I’ve always been deeply reflecting on my wrong behavior.I understand very well that, even after writing an apology letter, the harm I caused can’t be erased. It’s not possible to pretend nothing has happened. But I still hope to convey my apology with the most sincere attitude.Going forward, I will treat this matter as the most important lesson learned in my life. I will respect all relationships, and face everything with modesty and kindness. Once again, I sincerely apologize to those who got hurt by my words.

I promise that nothing similar will happen again. I will work hard to become someone who only shows the best to my fans.

Thank you, everyone. Peng Jinyu."

What was thought to be the end of the matter turned out not to be! The apology only fueled even greater outrage from netizens. They argued that his statement came far too late. Moreover, the content of the apology was overly wordy and failed to demonstrate genuine remorse toward the artists he had insulted so severely in the past.

While it is undeniable that anyone can make mistakes, what truly matters is how one chooses to confront those mistakes. Netizens have since left a flood of comments discussing Peng’s latest apology:

- girl fυ¢к him nothing could justify his past actions

- If a 14-year-old can already spew such vile words, what do you think he’s got in his head now as an adult? Nothing’s changed

- He’s not sorry, he’s just pretending to apologize so he can wнιтewash his image and sneak back into showbiz

- nothing a** apology, next! He only opened his mouth after two months, hoping to find a way back into the entertainment industry

- It’s been two months and this is the best apology he could come up with? Just beating around the bush with no real sincerity

- Two months late, vague, and pointless. That ‘apology’ holds zero value.

- He waited two whole months only to give a half-baked, roundabout apology? That doesn’t count as taking responsibility

- Those disgusting comments at 14 show his true character. This ‘apology’ is nothing but a desperate rebrand attempt

- and the funniest part of this story is that this blink fanboy was hating on jungkook but now he’s listening and dancing to his songs .. I love jungkook’s karma

- If you look at his weibo he is like donda of twitter .its way severe than just few comments .his hate campaign has done viral on weibo ..he is like donda on twitter