MNet's girl group surival show "Produce 101" will soon reduce their candidate pool by getting rid of 40 trainees in the first elimination round. 

According to Korean news outlet Daily Sports, a broadcast insider informed the mass elimination will take place on the third week of February, based on the results from a vote on the Feb. 13 episode.

Although 40 trainees will be eliminated off the show, 60 girls will be left to compete.

Since this is the first elimination round, it is likely to be biggest one than all other future eliminations. 

The members who manage to survive and continue on to the next round are chosen based on a vote by 1000 audience members who select their favorite candidate through their smartphones. The 40 trainees with the least amount of points are the ones who will be cut. 

101 trainees from 46 different entertainment agencies are participating in the program. In the end, the 11 remaining candidates are said to form a girl group, where an album will be released under the group and promote for a year while being co-managed by CJ E&M and YMC Entertainment.