Cancelled Idol Debut Show Under Fifteen Loses New Broadcaster Too, Programme To NOT Premiere In Japan

The controversial K-Pop survival program UNDER FIFTEEN, once cancelled over accusations of sexualizing minors, found a new home and a fresh start, but not in its country of origin. Originally designed to feature trainees exclusively under the age of fifteen, UNDER FIFTEEN sparked outrage from the moment its concept was revealed. It was all set to premiere under a new name, but that has now been cancelled too.

Under Fifteen becomes Star Is Born

According to a report by TenAsia on August 8 (KST), the show partnered with KBS after being dropped by MBN earlier this year. However, instead of airing in South Korea, the program was supposed to debut in Japan under a new name, Star Is Born. The premiere was scheduled for August 11 at 4:50 p.m on KBS Japan, a subsidiary network that broadcasts Korean content within Japan. Promotional trailers and advertisements had already been rolled out on YouTube to build anticipation for the launch.

However, on August 9, KBS Japan announced, “After receiving the proposal for the show, we conducted internal and external reviews and sought multiple consultations, proceeding with discussions on the assumption of airing it. However, in consideration of the grave public sentiment both domestically and internationally, we have decided not to include it in our lineup.”

Looks like the controversial show will not see the light of the day, at least at this point in time.

Under Fifteen criticised for exploiting minors

While the K-Pop industry has a history of debuting teenage idols, the extreme youth of UNDER FIFTEEN’s contestants and the competitive, high-pressure nature of survival shows prompted strong backlash. The criticism intensified amid a wider conversation about the exploitation of minors in entertainment, which was recently reignited by the scandal involving actor Kim Soo-Hyun, who allegedly dated the late actress Kim Sae-Ron when she was 15.

Critics accused the show’s producers of exploiting minors, especially given that some of the contestants are as young as eight or nine years old, significantly younger than the typical K-Pop debut age range of 13–15. Photos of these trainees, born in 2016, further fuelled concerns over the program’s premise and potential long-term impact on its participants.

Despite the controversy, the relocation to Japan suggests the producers are determined to see the show go forward. Whether Star Is Born will escape the criticism that plagued its original iteration remains to be seen.