BABYMONSTER’s Asa Clarifies Kindergarten Education Remark, But Questions Remain
During a recent episode of “Running Man“, Asa shocked viewers when she said, “I only graduated from kindergarten. I started training while still in elementary school.”
The comment quickly went viral and sparked intense debate online. Many netizens expressed concern over Asa’s early departure from formal education and questioned the role of YG Entertainment in managing the educational development of their young trainees.
While it’s common in K-pop for idols to begin training in elementary school, most are still encouraged to complete their studies — either through regular schooling, online education, or homeschooling. Therefore, Asa’s remark that she only completed kindergarten — especially as a trainee from a major company like YG — struck many as unusual. Some even labeled her “the idol with the lowest academic background in K-pop.”
On the evening of July 7, Asa took to Weverse to clarify her statement, explaining that she was extremely nervous since it was her first time appearing on a variety show alone.
“A lot of people were surprised when I said I graduated kindergarten. I had dreamed of becoming an artist since elementary school and started training then. I kept moving between school and practice, so it felt like the only time I had proper schooling was back in kindergarten.”
She added, “I meant it as a joke but didn’t explain it well due to how briefly I spoke. I still have a lot to learn and I’m reminding myself to work even harder.”
However, fans remained divided. While some appreciated her honesty, others criticized the “vague explanation.” According to Asa, she was still attending elementary school during training, but she did not confirm whether she actually graduated.
In a previous YG-released video, Asa introduced herself by saying, “I’m 12 years old and in sixth grade,” indicating she was still enrolled in elementary school at the time — as both Japan and Korea have six grades in elementary education.
Given that Asa joined YG Entertainment as a trainee in 2018, when she was just 12, many speculate she may have left school in Japan to train in Korea, never completing her primary education.
Born in 2006, Asa isn’t even the youngest member of BABYMONSTER. That title goes to Chiquita, born in 2009 in Thailand, who debuted in 2023 at age 14. Like Asa, Chiquita joined YG at 12 and is reportedly continuing her middle school studies through online education.
As the debate around young K-pop idols and their education continues, Asa’s case has reignited questions about how early training systems can conflict with academic development — especially within the pressures of the entertainment industry.