“Under15” Cancels Broadcast Despite Denying Child Sexualization Allegations
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1st broadcast cancelled
On March 28, the production team of “Under Fifteen” (also known as “Under 15“), released an official statement, saying, “After much deliberation and discussion, we decided that the best way to proceed was to cancel the broadcast scheduled for March 31st and to protect the cast and reorganize the content.”
They also continued, “We will not be programming this on MBN,” and added, “We will produce it in a way that the essence of the program and the sincerity of the participants will not be damaged in the future. Thank you for your interest.”
Criticism from Women’s Organization
On March 26, the Korean Women’s Political Network issued a statement condemning the response of producers to accusations that “Under Fifteen” was sexualizing minors. “Seo (the producer) denied the allegations and claimed that ‘turning student ID barcodes into something with sexual meaning’ was an exaggeration by viewers, thus shifting the responsibility onto them,” the statement read.
The organization further criticized, “The promotional poster featured young girls wearing heavy makeup, along with their age, name, and position displayed alongside a barcode. Instead of acknowledging the issue, Seo blamed viewers for misinterpreting the ‘student ID barcode,’ showing a complete lack of accountability.”
Additionally, they pointed out, “Seo mentioned that the person who designed the poster was a woman, implying that female workers in the media industry lack gender sensitivity. This, in itself, is a demeaning remark towards women working in media.”
The statement argued that Seo’s comments deflected from the core issue and unfairly placed responsibility on female workers. “Could the female designer have created and released the poster without the producer’s approval?” they questioned, adding, “A thorough investigation is needed to determine whether there was a deliberate attempt to obscure the sexualization and exploitation of minors by cleverly combining student ID imagery with product branding.”
Tearful Statement from Producers
On March 25, the producers of “Under Fifteen” – Crea Studio CEOs Seo Hye-jin and Hwang In-young, along with PD Yong Seok-in, held a press conference at Stanford Hotel in Sangam, Mapo District, Seoul, to address the growing controversy surrounding the program.
Promoted as the first global audition show to discover K-pop prodigies under 15, “Under Fifteen” aims to nurture a new-generation girl group with exceptional talent and stage presence. However, ahead of its premiere, the show faced backlash over concerns about the potential exploitation of minors. Pre-released images and footage showed contestants wearing heavy makeup and revealing outfits, and profile pictures featuring barcode-like markings further fueled allegations of sexualization. As public criticism mounted, MBN announced that they were reconsidering whether to broadcast the program. Meanwhile, the production team pushed back against these claims, asserting that they had adhered to strict recording guidelines to protect participants and that they intended to move forward with the show.
At the press conference, Crea Studio CEO Hwang In-young acknowledged the controversy, saying, “There have been various allegations and concerns, and we deeply regret and apologize for any distress this has caused.”
She further explained, “In television production, unforeseen controversies can arise. In this case, completely unexpected accusations have spread as though they were factual, causing significant harm to not only us but also to many people involved. We wanted to address this issue and seek fair judgment through the content itself, which is why we arranged this event today.”
Seo Hye-jin, another CEO of Crea Studio, clarified their position and addressed their differing stance from MBN. “We have previously collaborated with MBN on ‘Burning Trotman’ (tentative title)’ and ‘The Best K-Trot Singer’ (tentative title). However, all production costs for this program are covered by Crea Studio, not MBN. MBN merely serves as a broadcasting platform. While they have a responsibility as the platform provider, our program has already been reviewed by the Korea Communications Standards Commission and the Broadcasting Standards Commission, and no issues were found.”
Seo also responded to the backlash regarding the barcode imagery, stating, “This is a huge misunderstanding. The barcode was simply part of a student ID concept. We were shocked that people interpreted it as something sexual. The idea that a student ID theme would be linked to child exploitation is appalling. Furthermore, the production team consists of 90% women. Assuming that female producers lack gender awareness is incorrect. I hope people acknowledge that women were behind the making of this show.”
During the press conference, CEO Hwang In-young became emotional, breaking into tears as she said, “This is not that kind of program…”
PD Yong Seok-in also weighed in on the possibility of cancellation, expressing concern for the young contestants. “The contestants never even considered the possibility of the show not airing. Even now, they are practicing somewhere, eager to showcase their talents. It is heartbreaking that these children are being hurt by such misinterpretations.”
