Objectifying Korean Minors For Japanese Audiences— KBS Cancels “UNDER FIFTEEN” Broadcast Amid Fierce Criticism

The controversial K-Pop survival show, UNDER FIFTEEN, has been dropped yet again from broadcasting plans, briefly after it was reported that KBS was going to air it in Japan instead of Korea.

The show, which was initially produced by MBN, was eventually dropped by the network due to rising concerns about the possible sexualization of the extremely young participants, some of whom were reportedly under 10 years old.

Recently, TenAsia reported that KBS Japan was going to air the show under a new name: Star Is Born. The network even promoted the upcoming premiere with YouTube teaser ads.

Previously Canceled Idol Debut Show “UNDER FIFTEEN” Set To Premiere Again, But Not In Korea

However, on August 9, KST, KBS announced that it had decided to exclude the show from the channel’s lineup after considering public opinion in Korea and abroad. The network also clarified that KBS Japan was a separate corporation that KBS Media was just a shareholder in and that programming decisions were made independently.

Given the serious accusations of child exploitation and sexualization against the show, it was already outrageous for domestic viewers that a taxpayer-funded public broadcaster like KBS had picked up the program for a Japanese audience. Critics argued that the decision reflected a lack of moral standards and put young Korean contestants at risk of objectification by Japanese viewers.

The timing also added to the backlash, given that the program was set to be aired for Japanese audiences on August 11, close to the Liberation Day (the day of Korea’s independence from Japan).

Overall, KBS’s decision to air the controversial show has sparked fierce discourse about the network’s moral standing, ethics, and the general lack of protection for minors in the industry.