On March 25, 2025, News1 reported that the production team of the upcoming show Under Fifteen convened an emergency press conference at the Stanford Hotel in Seoul. This meeting aimed to address serious concerns regarding allegations of child sexualization linked to the show’s concept.
Designed as an audition program to uncover K-pop talent among individuals under 15, Under Fifteen has sparked controversy even before its official premiere due to its inclusion of underage girls. This backlash was ignited when a teaser revealed young contestants in outfits deemed inappropriate by many viewers, raising alarms about the potential exploitation of minors.
The controversy was further fueled by social media posts featuring contestant profiles with barcodes, which many observers interpreted as a commodification of the children involved. The situation escalated upon reports that some participants are as young as five years. Such revelations heightened public unease regarding the show’s concept.
Seo Hye-jin, one of the show’s producers, expressed her astonishment at the public’s association of the show’s themes with sexual exploitation. As translated by @kchartsmaster on X, she stated:
“I was shocked to see people associate the theme with s*x, even pr*stitu*ion. The bar codes were meant to look like student ID cards, which usually have bar codes on them. How could people link the bar code to se*uality? We took the photos down because we didn’t want to hurt the children, but we were genuinely shocked at how people could think.”
Despite the criticism, the production team contends that regulatory bodies, including MBN, reviewed the first episode and found no issues. Seo Hye-jin clarified that, while MBN serves as the broadcasting entity, the show’s production costs are entirely covered by Crea Studio, absolving the network of direct responsibility for the content.
A Closer Look at the Under Fifteen Controversy
During the press conference, Crea Studio executives, including co-CEOs Seo Hye-jin and Hwang In-young, alongside PD Yong Seok-in, took a stand in defense of the show. An emotional Hwang expressed her frustrations regarding the widespread backlash when questioned about the show’s future.
Echoing her sentiments, Yong Seok-in emphasized the emotional toll the controversy has taken on young contestants, stating that the production team never intended to spark such upheaval and maintained there is no valid reason for cancellation. He added:
“They (the cast) are hurting a lot about the distortion. It’s very unfortunate that it shouldn’t be aired. The hurt that children and parents will receive from this will be very great.”
In response to the growing wave of criticism, MBN initially declared a reevaluation process for Under Fifteen. However, the production team defended their creative choices and insisted that all styling decisions were made with the complete approval of the contestants’ guardians, and filming adhered to strict guidelines to safeguard minors.
They maintained:
“I think the problem becomes clear when you see it from a different perspective. Do you really think that the 100 staff members of ‘Under 15′ are working to se*ualize children? Are they making se*ual exploitation content of children? I think not.”
Despite these reassurances, skepticism among the public persists. Many netizens have drawn parallels between Under Fifteen and previous instances of young performers being exploited within the entertainment industry, adding to the program’s contentious nature.
However, the producers reiterate that their primary objective is to offer a legitimate platform for showcasing young talent rather than to incite controversy. They expressed disappointment that the ongoing dialogue has overshadowed the dedication and efforts of the contestants and their families.
As the premiere date of Under Fifteen approaches on March 31, 2025, the ethical implications surrounding the show remain deeply debated within the community.
For more insights, you can visit the full report here.