Choi Lip-woo, a trainee who captured fans' hearts with his striking visuals and passionate performances on Mnet's Boys Planet 2, has shared a handwritten letter following the show's finale.
Despite finishing in 10th place and narrowly missing out on debuting with the final lineup, Choi took to Instagram on September 28 to thank fans and reflect on his journey.
Honest Reflections on the Journey
In his letter, he admitted to moments of doubt: "Even before joining, I wondered, 'Is this really the right path for me? Can I do well enough?' From the beginning of the broadcast, I received so much attention and love that I also felt fear."
He confessed to struggling with self-worth: "I kept asking myself every day, 'Why do people like me? Am I really worth it?' But when I saw people shouting my name and cheering for me on stage, I couldn't hold back my emotions."
On Elimination and Moving Forward
Addressing his elimination, he wrote: "I feel deeply sorry. I get angry at myself, wondering why things always seem to end with regret. I couldn't keep the promises I made to myself night after night, and it hurt so much I felt like I was dying inside."
Still, he promised not to give up on his dream: "I am Choi Lip-woo, someone who will not fear but search for light each day. I am a 'rose of perseverance' that will bloom no matter what. We will definitely meet again."
He encouraged fans not to be disheartened, adding, "I will work so hard to protect and repay all of you. Please don't be too sad."
Gratitude to Fans
Looking back on his time on Boys Planet 2, he wrote: "The past four months felt like a beautiful dream. I was always thankful, but now that Boys Planet 2 has ended, I want to say thank you the most. Please continue to support me moving forward."
Background
Choi Lip-woo, a Taiwanese trainee under FNC Entertainment, trained for two years and five months before appearing on the show. He first drew attention as the face of the program's mood poster ahead of its premiere.
Meanwhile, Boys Planet 2 officially concluded on September 25. The final eight members—Lee Sang-won, Zhou Anxin, He Xinlong, Kim Geon-woo, Zhang Jiahao, Iriyo, Jung Sang-hyun, and Kim Jun-seo—will debut as the group Alpha Drive One.
Would you like me to adapt this into a more emotional, fan-letter–style article for global K-pop fans, highlighting the bittersweet tone of his message?