South Korea’s “Under15” K-Pop audition show was canceled by the producers shortly before its scheduled premiere on Monday evening, following intense criticism for what was perceived as the sexualization of children in their early teens.

In a March 28th statement, Crea Studio production company acknowledged the controversy and decided to focus on protecting the participants and reorganizing the “K-Pop prodigy discovery initiative” in which 59 young girls all aged 15 or younger, were to compete for the industry’s next star.

Assistant Professor of dance theory at San Diego State University, Chuyun Oh, noted that although promoting younger artists within the entertainment industry is common, the explicit advocacy of the girls’ age for marketing purposes sparked controversy. Furthermore, concerns were raised regarding the nature of the content and the adult themes that the minors were portraying in their performances.

David Tizzard, an assistant professor of education at Seoul Women’s University and a social affairs columnist, also commented on the issue, suggesting that while the sexualization of young, prepubescent girls was what ignited many individuals’ ire, the core issue was the commodification of the girls and the idea of them as products being packaged and sold for the entertainment industry.

Tizzard added that this approach is not new in South Korea, nor anywhere else, as many celebrities have begun their careers at a young age. However, the hyper-moralistic society has a paradoxical relationship with freedom.

In the latest controversy, which may have influenced the decision to cancel “Under15,” South Korea has been shocked by the suicide of actress Kim Sae-ron, who died at 24, and allegations that actor Kim Soo-hyun groomed her while she was still a minor. This has raised the sensitivity to under-aged girls in the K-Pop industry, making the producers’ decision to cancel the show more understandable.

Despite the industry’s potential self-regulation and continual pursuit of new young talents due to the demand for fresh faces, controversy and scandal seem to follow the K-Pop scene.

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Source: https://www.dw.com/en/k-pop-show-mired-in-child-exploitation-controversy/a-72126837?maca=en-rss-en-all-1573-rdf