Yang Hyun Suk, the CEO and co-founder of K-pop record label YG Entertainment and creator of the TV reality show boy band competition "Who Is Next: WIN" and its follow-up program "Mix & Match" had some encouraging words this week for those contestants that do not make the final cut.

"Today is really the last day, I don't know who will be eliminated yet," Yang said at Thursday's taping of the "Mix & Match" finale, according to eNEWS.

"But even if you don't become a member of iKON, I'm sure there will be a new beginning for you. Since you've gone through so many experiences and [so much] growth through several survivals, I am confident that you will become a great group in Asia and throughout the world. I will also help you out from the side."

It was a little over a year ago when Yang's first foray into reality television voted the five-member Team A (over the six-member Team B) as the YG Entertainment's next boy band, WINNER, on "Who Is Next: WIN." 

The resulting outcry began even before the winning team had been announced, with even Team B's Jin Hwan telling the other contestants in one episode that he wished Yang could simply join the two teams together, no matter who was voted by fans as the winner.

"I wish all 11 contestants could go to [Yang's office] together, kneel in front of him and beg him to let us all debut together," he said.

There is no way to know what kind of begging went on after the cameras were turned off, but the K-pop mogul seems to have softened his hardline stance on disbanding, or at the very least replacing members of, the losing team.

Though Team B has yet to debut with the same lineup as was featured on "WIN," three members, B.I, Bobby and Jinhwan, formed iKON, with the remaining three members currently competing with the three additional surviving contestants on "Mix & Match" for a shot to rejoin their former bandmates.

And though Yang is hopeful all six members of Team B are reunited in iKON, he admits that once again, it's up to the fans.

"The survival program, which began with 'WIN,' has been continuing for two years," he said.

"I hope that the members who started off as Team B will debut [in iKON] through 'Mix & Match' and become a good group like Big Bang, gaining popularity from Korea and all over the world."

The finale of "Mix & Match" airs on Nov. 6.