Controversy over child sexual objectification… MBN “Concerns about ‘Under Fifteen’ acknowledged, comprehensive review” [Official position]

MBN announced that it will comprehensively review its new program ‘Under Fifteen’.

‘Under Fifteen’, which will premiere on the 31st, is a K-pop prodigy discovery project and a 5th generation girl group training audition program comprised of participants under the age of 15, as the name suggests.

However, pre-released photos and videos of ‘Under Fifteen’ showed some of the young participants wearing heavy makeup or revealing outfits, giving mature performances that did not match their age. Five of the participants were born in 2016 and are known to be 8 or 9 years old. There were growing criticisms that this was targeting minors and ‘sexualizing’ them, as if they were products, because their photos had barcodes printed underneath them. It has been receiving even greater criticism in conjunction with the recent controversy surrounding actor Kim Soo-hyun, who has been embroiled in allegations of dating a minor.

In relation to this, MBN stated on the 21st, “Regarding the new program ‘Under Fifteen, we are taking the concerns of all walks of life in our society very seriously,” and “After comprehensively reexamining the details of the program, as well as whether or not to air it, we will announce our position as soon as possible.”


MBN‘s full position on ‘Under Fifteen

MBN is taking the concerns of all walks of life in our society as well as the new program ‘Under Fifteen.
Regarding this, MBN will comprehensively reexamine the details of the program, as well as whether or not to air it, and we will announce our position as soon as possible.

Jeong Hee-yeon, Donga.com reporter shine2562@donga.com

This article is automatically translated using Google AI. If you notice any inaccuracies, please let us know at allkstar@donga.com.