K-Audition Program “UNDER FIFTEEN” With Child Trainees Sparks Immense Backlash

“Just look at the title and the timing…”

K-Audition program UNDER FIFTEEN is set to air on March 31st, but viewers aren’t having it.

| @crea_under15_official/Instagram

The show was created to form a young 5th generation K-Pop group and capitalize on the trend of debuting young idols.

UNDER FIFTEEN is the world’s first audition to discover K-pop prodigies under the age of 15. Among the girls from over 70 countries worldwide, 59 talented participants have been selected, showcasing a variety of races, nationalities, and genres. These young stars will captivate audiences with their “hexagonal charm”—a combination of visuals, performance, and vocal talent—creating a new history for K-pop and thrilling fans around the world.

— Naver

Contestant Kim Gayoon was born in 2016 | @crea_under15_official/Instagram

However, it quickly received backlash for its “creepy” and exploitive nature of underage children.

• “Stop it already, ffs.”
• “Seriously, STOP IT!!!”
• “Doing this at this point in time is just insane.”
• “In times like these, ffs lol… Just cut it out already.”
• “Since it’s ‘Under Fifteen,’ they’ll probably have 13-year-olds doing sexy dances. Just imagining it makes me want to throw up.”
• “This is harmful.”
• “Are they out of their minds?”
• “Shouldn’t this be reported to the police?”

| theqoo

Many netizens also felt the timing is problematic as actor Kim Soo Hyun‘s relationship with underage Kim Sae Ron was recently exposed, as well as his other comments concerning minors.

• “Please, let’s not do things like this.”
• “Are they insane? Freaking perverts.”
• “Ffs, stop doing this disgusting stuff.”
• “Look at the title and the timing… It reminds me of Sae Ron. Just let kids be kids.”
• “They’re way too young.”

| theqoo