By Maladubu 
The K-pop world is known for its relentless pursuit of perfection and youth, but just when you thought it couldn’t push the envelope any further, here comes Under 15—a new audition program that’s stirring up controversy for its focus on underaged girls. Is it the next big thing in discovering fresh talent, or has the industry finally lost its collective mind?
What is “Under 15”?
Set to premiere on March 31, 2025, Under 15 aims to unearth K-pop prodigies from a staggering pool of talent—59 contestants representing over 70 countries. Yes, you read that right. The program is designed to launch the next generation of K-pop superstars. The concept is simple: find those rare young diamonds in the rough and polish them up for the glitzy, competitive world of K-pop.
But here’s the kicker: while the idea of scouting talent isn’t new, the focus on children under the age of 15 takes things to a whole new level. With major production teams backing the show, one must wonder if the real agenda is innovation or simply exploiting every possible angle for ratings.
The problem with the show
K-pop’s obsession with youth has always been intense, but Under 15 takes it to another level. To me, the show almost feels like child labor. Debuting is already grueling for teenage trainees, and now kids under 15 will face extreme training, competition, and public scrutiny before they’ve even hit high school. If full-grown idols struggle with burnout, anxiety, and mental health crises, how will preteens handle it? The risk of exhaustion, unrealistic body expectations, and emotional distress is dangerously high.
Then there’s the issue of image. K-pop has a history of placing young idols in mature or even suggestive concepts, and fans are rightfully uneasy about how Under Fifteen will handle its contestants. While agencies claim to focus on raw talent, the industry’s track record suggests otherwise. At best, this show is an unnecessary pressure cooker for kids. At worst, it could set a new precedent for exploitation in the industry.
Remember the scandals that rocked previous shows like Produce 101 and the controversy over debuting very young idols in groups like Baby Monster? This isn’t the first time the industry has flirted with risky territory, but with Under 15, it feels like the stakes have been raised to a whole new, deeply problematic level.