On the 24th, the Korean Women's Political Network stated, "We condemn the inhumane actions of Crea Studio, which is recklessly promoting the sexualization of children," and added, "The fact that they plan to broadcast through a different network instead of MBN is a blatant disregard for the public criticism surrounding 'Under Fifteen.'" They further emphasized, "We denounce Crea Studio's obsession with lies, stubbornness, and profit-seeking," and highlighted, "The continuation of 'Under Fifteen' reveals Crea Studio as a company exploiting children's time and energy."
They also expressed hope that "no broadcaster will air 'Under Fifteen,' which sexualizes children," and urged the Korea Communications Commission to take regulatory action against audition programs targeting children and adolescents that promote sexualization, abuse, and exploitation.
According to an exclusive report by TenAsia on the 23rd, 'Under Fifteen' conducted its final filming on the 20th at the Bitmaru Broadcasting Support Center in Ilsan-dong, Goyang. A total of seven members made it to the final debut group. With the final filming completed, there are reports that they are in talks with another broadcaster to air the show, as it was canceled by MBN.
'Under Fifteen' is a global K-pop audition program that recruited female participants under the age of 15 from around the world. It has faced criticism for promoting child sexualization through teaser videos showing young participants in short clothing and makeup, as well as profile photos displaying barcodes and birth years.
Reported by Ryu Yeji, TenAsia ryuperstar@tenasia.co.kr