Under Fifteen Program Addresses Controversy in Press Conference

The production team behind the K-pop audition show Under Fifteen (언더피프틴) held an emergency press conference on March 25, 2025, in Seoul's Mapo district to address the ongoing controversy surrounding allegations of child sexual exploitation. MBN organized the event, which featured representatives from CREA Studio, including CEO Hwang In-young, along with PD Yong Seok-in. Notably, PD Lee Guk-yong was unable to attend due to health issues.

Hwang In-young expressed regret over the concerns raised, stating, "We are deeply sorry for the distress caused by the various controversies and allegations. While producing a show can bring moments of pride and recognition, it can also lead to unexpected controversies. This time, however, the situation has escalated with unfounded allegations spreading as if they were true, resulting in significant harm to the reputation of not just the production team but also the participants, masters, and staff involved. We have been contemplating how to put an end to this unnecessary controversy. We believe it is essential to clarify the urgent matters that differ from our perspective and to emphasize that, in such situations, creators should be recognized through their content rather than mere words. We wanted to create this opportunity to protect everyone involved with us."

Under Fifteen is set to premiere on March 31, 2025, and aims to discover K-pop prodigies under the age of 15, featuring 59 selected participants from over 70 countries. However, the inclusion of four nine-year-old girls among the contestants has sparked significant backlash, leading to a comprehensive review of the show's broadcast plans due to the child sexual exploitation allegations.