“Under Fifteen” CEO Accused Of Mistreating Members And Abuse

Seo Hye Jin, CEO of CREA Studio and producer of Under Fifteen, a program that sparked controversy over the sexual objectification of minors, is now being sued by contestants. After broadcasts were blocked in both Korea and Japan, Seo reportedly sought to push the program into Southeast Asia, including Thailand, encouraging the minors’ overseas activities.

On September 15, 2025, it was confirmed that contestants A and B appointed legal representatives and filed for an injunction to suspend their exclusive contracts with CREA Entertainment (run by Seo Hye Jin) at the Seoul Western District Court.

According to the filing, A and B were selected as members of the Under Fifteen final debut group. They signed participation contracts with CREA in October and November of last year for the purposes of the show’s finale and a girl group debut, and then exclusive contracts this past January.

However, the contracts began to fracture after Under Fifteen became a subject of social outrage for sexualizing minors, leading to the collapse of its domestic broadcast plans. The show’s concept involved selecting 59 girls under the age of 15 to form a girl group. Critics condemned the program for putting heavy makeup and mature styling on minors and demanding performances modeled after adult K-pop stages.

Originally set to premiere on March 31 via MBN, the program faced heated backlash. On March 25, Seo held an emergency press conference that only worsened the controversy. With 129 civic groups releasing a joint statement, MBN canceled the broadcast on March 28, just days before the scheduled premiere.

Seo also attempted to rebrand the show in Japan as A Star is Born – Girls Chasing Dreams to air on KBS Japan on April 11, but was accused of trying to “sneakily bypass” criticism. That broadcast, too, was ultimately scrapped. A and B stated that after broadcasts collapsed, they expressed their intent to withdraw from the program. Instead, Seo’s side allegedly pressured and criticized them, even pushing for continued dormitory training despite their refusal—at the heart of their injunction request.

The filing further claims Seo deflected responsibility, asking the girls, “Tell me what promises were not kept”, and reacted with anger to their withdrawal request, declaring “I won’t let you go easily” — attempting to force the contracts to continue.

Even after the Korean broadcast was canceled, Seo allegedly made irresponsible remarks and unrealistic promises, eroding trust further. A and B also claim that Seo provided no explanation or announcement when the Japanese broadcast fell through.

Despite losing the Korean and Japanese markets, Seo did not stop. She reportedly informed contestants—including A and B—that the program would move forward with broadcast plans in Thailand and Southeast Asia, with contestants expected to pursue activities there. A and B’s legal representative spoke up, accusing Seo of emotional abuse and prioritizing commercial interest in her quest.

“Changing the country of activity is not a minor adjustment but a major alteration that makes the ultimate goal of ‘debuting as a K-pop idol’ impossible. Forcing long-term overseas stays and activities robs the contestants of their right to education and attempts to shift the burden of massive production losses from the failed domestic broadcast onto the participants. Article 3 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) stipulates that in all policies, programs, and processes concerning children, the best interests of the child must be the primary consideration. In the case of Under Fifteen, the production company prioritized commercial interests over the well-being of minors, sexualizing child participants and subjecting them to emotional abuse. This is a clear breach of their duty of care.”

Previously, the show faced harsh criticism and was canceled. You can read more about it below.

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