MBN Cancels Premiere of Controversial Audition Show Under Fifteen Amid Backlash

MBN’s controversial girl group survival show Under Fifteen, which had drawn criticism for sexualizing minors, has officially canceled its first broadcast.

On March 28, the production team behind Under Fifteen released a statement saying,

“After deep deliberation and discussion, we have decided to cancel the scheduled broadcast on March 31. We believe it is best to pause and focus on protecting the participants and reorganizing the program.”

They added,

“Therefore, MBN will not air the program. We will ensure the essence of the program and the sincerity of the participants are not compromised. Thank you for your interest.”

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The announcement comes after growing public outrage surrounding the show’s casting criteria, which targeted female contestants aged 8 to 15. Critics accused the program of promoting the commodification of minors—especially in light of recent “minor grooming” controversies involving Kim Soo Hyun and the late Kim Sae Ron.

Despite a tearful apology from Seo Hye Jin, head of production company Crea Studio, during an emergency press briefing on March 25, public sentiment failed to shift.

MBN also released an official stance, confirming the cancellation and stating,

“We have been informed of Crea Studio’s decision to cancel the March 31 broadcast of Under Fifteen. Regardless of this cancellation, MBN will maintain a cooperative relationship with the production company moving forward.”

The program has now joined a growing list of entertainment projects reevaluated in the wake of increased scrutiny over the portrayal and treatment of minors in the Korean entertainment industry.