The audition show UNDER15, set to premiere on March 31, aims to discover K-pop talents under the age of 15 and train them to become the next generation of idols. The show features 59 girls from over 70 countries, selected regardless of nationality, race, or musical genre.
However, after the participants' profiles and teaser videos were released, the show faced heavy criticism. Many are concerned about the young age of the contestants and their revealing outfits.
The youngest participant is just eight years old, born in 2016. Many K-pop fans are questioning whether it is appropriate to hold a girl group audition featuring children this young.
In recent years, the debut age for K-pop idols has continued to drop. Experts warn that commercially exploiting underage idols without adequate protective measures could cause significant problems.
Viewer Comments:
I think it’s a pretty sexy costume to have a child wear.
Maybe it’s a little too young to market them as idols.
It’s true that some children may be appearing because of their parents’ egoism.
Source:K-Audition Program “UNDER FIFTEEN” With Child Trainees Sparks Immense Backlash – Koreaboo
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