K-pop survival reality shows are often intense, but the upcoming program Under Fifteen has taken the controversy to another level. As the name suggests, all participants are below the age of fifteen, but what has shocked fans is the revelation that some contestants could be as young as five. The show basically seeks to find the next generation of K-pop idols and has drawn heavy criticism of its extreme age range and concerns about child exploitation.
Producer’s Statement Fuels Backlash
While initial reports indicated that contestants would be between 13 and 15 years old, a statement from producer PD Lee Kook Yon has only intensified the outrage. As per media reports, in a recent interview he has confirmed that some participants are very young by stating “Some participants are as young as 5 years old. Our audition itself is a verification process. There are many kids who shine in 10 to 30-second short videos, but we want to find the real talents among them.”
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Fans Speak Out
Soon after the posters were revealed, social media has been flooded with criticism, with fans voicing concerns over the potential psychological and physical toll on the young contestants. Even experts have chipped in by warning long term consequences of subjecting children to the demanding K-pop training system at such an early age. A user wrote ” This is not okay! let them go to school and actually have a degree what’s going on now!” Another wrote “With the bad reputation of the korean entertainment industry, it is really worrying to see trainees that young !! Korean government should edit more laws to protect these children!”
