International Criticism Surrounds ‘UNDER15’ Amidst Kim Soo-hyun Grooming Allegations: “Born in 2016?”

Debating the Ethics of MBN’s “UNDER15” K-Pop Audition Show

On March 31, MBN is set to unveil “UNDER15, ” a groundbreaking K-pop audition show tailored for young talents aged 15 and younger. This innovative program is helmed by Seo Hye-jin, the CEO of CReA Studio and known for popular productions like “Miss Trot, ” “Mr. Trot, ” “Burning Trotman, ” and “King of Singers.”

Recently, the official account for “UNDER15” shared profiles of the 59 contestants involved in the competition. These bios detailed each participant’s name, age, nationality, and designated roles within teams. However, the revelation that the youngest contestant was born in 2016—making her merely 8 years old—has sparked a wave of controversy. Notably, five participants share this birth year.

The conversation intensified on March 13 when a concerned K-pop fan took to X (formerly Twitter) to express discomfort, stating, “She was literally born yesterday, ” a sentiment that resonated widely and garnered support from over 17, 000 international users.

By the same date, this critical post had amassed an astonishing 4.7 million views. International fans flooded the “UNDER15” official account with reactions, voicing their worries with comments such as “This is child abuse, ” “Multi-position? Her position should be in school, ” and “Stop this immediately.”

The discourse surrounding “UNDER15” has drawn parallels to recent allegations involving actor Kim Soo-hyun. Reports surfaced on March 10 from the family of the late Kim Sae-ron, claiming that she was in a relationship with Kim Soo-hyun from the age of 15 until she was 21, spanning six years (2015-2021).

Controversy escalated as leaked messages from Kim Sae-ron to Kim Soo-hyun, along with photos showing him affectionately interacting with her and a letter he sent during his military service emerged, feeding into public concern regarding the nature of their relationship.

Initially, Kim Soo-hyun’s agency, Gold Medalist, categorically denied the allegations, labeling them as “blatantly false.” Nevertheless, as more claims surfaced, the agency’s silence raised additional questions, leading critics to assert that, if substantiated, the nature of his relationship with Kim Sae-ron might fit the definition of grooming.

In response to the uproar surrounding “UNDER15, ” CReA Studio issued an official statement on March 11, asserting, “The intense debut battle of the new Alpha Generation has begun. We invite viewers to witness the raw, energetic performances of these fresh new faces who will lead the future of K-pop. These contestants have such a strong will and conviction for their dreams that they will completely shatter any concerns or prejudices from adults who think they are too young to start an idol career.”

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