Some of what they went through was televised.
Koreaboo
10 minutes ago
In 2024, the survival series Starlight Boys aired, showing the selection of a new boy group. It featured a star-studded judges’ line-up, along with many familiar faces in the trainee line-up.
However, from the first episode, many were concerned about the trainees, as it appeared the show was putting them at risk. Aside from behind-the-scenes accounts, one of the first episodes featured some of the trainees literally dancing for over an hour straight.
there are a total of 68 trainees across 3 floors, but with only 7 guiders, how can they ensure that all trainees are observed? Some trainees are bound to be overlooked, and those who are have to dance repeatedly, exhausting their energy. this is a stupid mission!! #StarlightBoys pic.twitter.com/xW8ViR0fkb
— 한결’s 𝘨𝘰𝘮 🧸💤 VOTE FOR HANGYUL (@gyuldenage) November 2, 2024
Rumors also alleged that trainees visited the hospital and multiple dropped out of the show as it progressed.
Top Survival Show Trainees Seemingly Tell Fans To Stop Voting For Them, Sparking Concerns
The top nine trainees ultimately debuted as POLARIX in May 2025 with the mini album Freefall.
However, after this release, the group all but disappeared, remaining active for just three months. For many of these idols, it was their second or third, or chance to find success making the lack of activities even more disheartening.
Recently, their current status has been discussed, reflecting on the treatment they faced, just to not have any activities.
they put these boys through a dehumanizing survival show only for the debut group to not even be active for 3 months…
starlight boys was such a scam 😭 pic.twitter.com/Eumxy8Z4PG
— ✶ (@daeulworld) June 23, 2026
cant get over how these svs shows just make trainees go through hell just to not debut or to debut in a company with shitty management https://t.co/Ew5G4YFKZv
— ₅♟️i, fawn🦈⁷ loves juho (@CameoHyun) June 23, 2026
i actually want to cry
my boys did not deserve any of this at all.
they just wanted to live their dreams & these sickos took that away from them https://t.co/4ittPfUfwO
— mary ⋆.°🧸๋ྀི࣭⭑ ∞ missing ampies :,c (@junseosluv) June 23, 2026