8-member boy group ALD1 born from Mnet audition show 'Boys 2 Planet'

▲ This composite still from Mnet’s survival audition program "Boys 2 Planet" is provided by the broadcaster on Sept. 26, 2025. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

SEOUL, Sept. 26 (Yonhap) – Eight members have been selected to debut as idols through Mnet’s survival audition program "Boys 2 Planet," the broadcaster said Thursday.

The new boy band, named ALD1 (short for Alpha Drive One), will consist of Lee Sang-won, Zhou Anxin, Heo Xinlong, Kim Geon-woo, Zhang Zihao, Iriyo, Jung Sang-hyun and Kim Jun-seo, according to Mnet.

They were chosen through global votes from viewers in 223 countries, emerging from among 160 contestants with a competition rate of 20 to 1.

The program enjoyed wide popularity at home and abroad among K-pop fans. The final round of global voting drew a total of 26,569,300 ballots, while streaming service Tving logged a peak real-time market share of over 95 percent.

"Boys 2 Planet" also ranked No. 1 for nine consecutive weeks in the non-drama TV-OTT buzz index compiled by Good Data Corporation’s Fundex.

The show is designed to create global K-pop idols. Season 1 produced Zerobaseone, while the latest edition featured 80 Korean-speaking and 80 Chinese-speaking contestants, with both Korean and Chinese versions of the program produced simultaneously.

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