[theqoo] The reason why obsessing over trainees being young is useless

Kpop has been debuting minors since ages, and kpop stans, most of the international ones are way too young, so I doubt they'd settle with idols not being minor, they literally think 25 year old is a hag.

Quote from lia09

Kpop has been debuting minors since ages, and kpop stans, most of the international ones are way too young, so I doubt they'd settle with idols not being minor, they literally think 25 year old is a hag.

Nah, I remember young kids in elementary school liking one direction when they were in their early twenties.

Yes, idols have been debuting at a very young age for many years, but we've also seen idols openly discussing the hardships that come with starting their careers so early. Many have shared how debuting young and missing out on their childhood has had lasting effects on their personal lives and mental well-being.

Just because it has been done for many years doesn't mean it's the right thing to do.

Quote from visualkei4402

Nah, I remember young kids in elementary school liking one direction when they were in their early twenties.

Yes, idols have been debuting at a very young age for many years, but we've also seen idols openly discussing the hardships that come with starting their careers so early. Many have shared how debuting young and missing out on their childhood has had lasting effects on their personal lives and mental well-being.

Just because it has been done for many years doesn't mean it's the right thing to do.

I never said it's okay to do it, I said fans wouldn't settle for it.

Lol, this people is so naive.

These are the same people who easily turn their backs and cheer on the new group, while blaming the older group for adopting a mature concept and calling it boring.

Nah, I don't buy that shit analysis based on one or two groups.

Companies are simply following the public’s demand, and now we know where it stands. They did this to themselves, and the industry is just fulfilling their wish.

But I agree, something has to change.

Quote from lia09

I never said it's okay to do it, I said fans wouldn't settle for it.

They preciously did with groups like aespa and blackpink.

Age definitely matters. But it is not the only thing that matters, there are multiple other factors.

1st, Idol-ing is a physically demanding job - they have to diet, exercise, keep crazy routines, vigorous choreos etc., that itself is largely possible only for teens and twenties.

2nd, the primary market is of teens and twenties, they don't take well to acts who debut later, they feel they can't relate to them. But are ok with an act which debuted young and then they grew with them.

(Anecdotal, I was shocked to find that many American teens of recent years think BTS are as old as Beatles. That's how quick that dynamic moves)

So if an act has to have at least a 10 year career, it makes eminent sense for agencies to debut them in their teens.

Also from a risk perspective, it is better to debut in teens, because if they fail, they still are in the window to find an alternative career, older you get, more difficult it is to start new careers.

Yet, too young also brings its own problems. So 16-20 seems the best period to debut,

Young idols are easy to control, easy to mold into the perfect idol, and the vast majority of public loves them young 🤢. I don't think the phenomen is going away.

Quote from bartkun

There's not even enough value to push a teen into a broadcast.
Can a teen really understand the situation they're in and that their actions on the show will follow them for life?

(It's different from a child actor appearing in a drama since they follow a script.
But in reality shows, their actions are exposed based on their own thoughts and decisions.)

I missed what the discussion or age controversy is about, is this about the age of recently debuted new groups, or that new idol reality show with kids?

As for the statement regarding reality shows, weren't many of the candidates for the Produce shows very young too? Wonyoung was iirc 13 years old when she participated, and Chowon 15 years old.

There should be a limit though, considering how physically and mentally exhausting idol life can be.