Companies shouldn't debut minors anymore

Kpop companies want idols to relate to younger fans, they also want their idol group to last as long as they can, so debuting young idols will make them have a longer career. It's really wrong tbh but companies have been debuted minors since 1st gen, I mean BOA literally debuted at 13, so I don't see it stopping anytime soon.

They could be successful, but imo it's better to debut after 18

I agree with all your points.

These children are underdeveloped physically & mentally, and I don't humanely see how they could handle all the pressure they're given. Children are also very naive at that age, so whatever the company tells them to do, they'll trust them 100%, even if they're being sexually harrassed behind the scenes. The youngest idols should debut, should be age 16. Around that age, people know better and have a better understanding of what's safe and what's off-limits.

Yes I agree. It is too mentally and physically taxing on them & force them to grow up too fast. Imagine dealing with puberty and having to diet all the time too... It can't be healthy for them. A lot of them probably don't have the courage to speak out if they feel they are being treated unfairly and being subjected to hate at that age is just awful. Companies are debuting people as young as 14 /15 yr old just does not sit right with me. Wonyoung from Iz*one for example ...She performed side to side in produce48 when she was just 14. A song with sexual lyrics, a provocative dance and inappropriate clothes.

i agree. being a kpop idol is so stressful, even for adults. plus teens receiving hate comments (which they're going to get no matter what, ppl love to hate on idols) could do major damage to their mental health. imagine some underage girl having her appearance scrutinized to the last detail by netizens. if even idols like jimin park have suffered from insecurity about their appearance, then a teenager being exposed to that would be so detrimental to them.

plus, just as bad, if not worse, they will have to deal with perverts sexualising them at their young age.

at that stage, they should just be training (and treated well, not worked like robots), and not thrust out yet to receive the world's judgement.

It's hard for them to change it. Everyone becomes a trainee when they are minor and the company just debuts them when they think the trainee could make a profit for them. Most companies will refer to the world music industry, the idea of debuting minor is influenced by western celeb early age of debut. It so sad that no company will wait for them to at least reach 18 years old before debuting them.

Yeah I agree with you 100%. Kpop does sexualize their idols. Both from the fans' side and companies' side, and it sucks that minors have to go through that especially. Putting them in the industry is putting them at risk. Not saying adult idols should have to deal with that either because they shouldn't, but I do feel like as an adult they can have a better understanding and maturity to deal with that and of course make decisions regarding that.

I know that the American entertainment industry isn't 100% a 1 on 1 comparison to the Korean entertainment industry, but we've all seen child stars grow up to have all kinds of issues. I'm sure it's the same for Korean idols as well. Mental health care in Korea can be tough sometimes because of all the pressures and I do feel like putting minors in the limelight like that does put more pressure and make coping more difficult.

I mean, if you become a trainee, school is already hard to balance. Most trainees have to quit school early because of the stress it puts on them and most of them won't even get to debut. And I'd say it's their choice and when you become a trainee you're preparing to debut asap. I feel like they are more or less training to be prepared and training is already really stressful. You debut when you are ready and get chosen. I think that anyone can drop out even before debut unless they for some reason already signed a contract. I also think 4th gen is going to be full of minors.

Sexualization of minors shouldn't be allowed though. And I also agree that there's a lot of things that they'd be missing out on but I'd say starting at training, you're really restricted from those things too. For instance Twice Jihyo started training at 8 and trained 10 years until debut. She said there was a lot of things she couldn't do then. I do worry about their well being and lack of experience debuting so young...all I'm saying is the rigorous activity starts in training and if they aren't prepared for it then being an idol isn't for them because it doesn't get any better from what I've heard. I agree with everything else.

In SIXTEEN, some of them saw how the spotlight can be and chose to focus on studies. It's happened with a lot of debuted idols. They'd sometimes even breach their contracts to get the growth experience they want...

hmm...i would say that it’s a little disturbing that people are thirsting over minors, but enhypen is literally a group of minors.

AND most, if not all, of the engene fandom will protect our babies from sexualisation and sasaeng fans

You make it sound like these minors are forced to do this. They and their parents signed contracts, knowing full well all of these things. I don't feel bad for any minor kpop idols because they signed up for that and it's their job. Yes, maybe kids aren't supposed to have jobs like being an idol but they do.

I don't agree due your opinion that can apply to Olympiads and other Sports Stars that are still Kids but unlike Kpop Idol Minors aren't pressured to pursue a single life style.