“Under Fifteen,” which was canceled from MBN due to controversy over child sexual objectification, has partnered with KBS Japan. KBS, a public broadcaster, will now air the program that sparked the controversy.
According to TenAsia on the 8th, “Under Fifteen” will air on KBS Japan at 4:50 PM on the 11th. Perhaps due to the controversy, the program’s name has also been changed from “Under Fifteen” to “Star is Born.”
KBS Japan is a subsidiary established by KBS to broadcast and distribute Korean content in Japan. It is headquartered in Tokyo, and KBS is its largest shareholder.
Recently, KBS Japan promoted the program’s broadcasting, posting a teaser ad on its YouTube channel to encourage Japanese viewers to tune in.
“Under Fifteen” is a global K-pop aspiring competition program that recruits female contestants aged 15 and under from around the world. However, controversy has persisted since the teaser was released. The teaser video, featuring underage contestants wearing makeup and dancing in revealing outfits, including crop tops that reveal their navels, as well as barcode profile photos with their birth dates, drew criticism for promoting child sexual objectification.
Since its premise was revealed, UNDER FIFTEEN, which was initially scheduled to air in Korea, has been embroiled in a number of disputes. Netizens have criticised it for a variety of reasons, from the trainees’ incredibly young ages to their growing concerns about television producers abusing children.
The production team held a press conference in March to explain the show, claiming it had passed preliminary review by the Korea Communications Standards Commission. However, this proved untrue, sparking further controversy. In response, 129 civic groups called for the show to be canceled, and after much deliberation, MBN officially announced its cancellation.
Following the cancellation, “Under Fifteen” reportedly began contacting other broadcasters in April to find a new broadcasting location. KBS ultimately accepted the offer, and “Under Fifteen” will premiere in Japan on the 11th, instead of Korea.
