Another Controversy... 'Under Fifteen' Debut Team Members File Injunction Against Exclusive Contract

A legal dispute has begun between participants and the production company surrounding the K-Pop audition program 'Under Fifteen', which features participants under the age of 15.

Attorney No Jong-eon from the law firm Jeongji announced on the 16th that he submitted an application for an injunction against the exclusive contract on behalf of two participants selected for the 'Under Fifteen' debut team to the Seoul Western District Court on the 15th.

Krea Entertainment is a planning company established by the co-representative of Krea Studio, the production company of 'Under Fifteen'. The participants selected in the program have signed exclusive contracts with this planning company.

Attorney No claimed, "As domestic broadcasting and activities became impossible, the agency pressured the participants to stay in a dormitory and even planned overseas debut and activities, including in Southeast Asia, to recover the massive production costs." He added, "This is currently ongoing without the children's consent or consultation."

In response, Krea Studio refuted that they did not force activities in Southeast Asia. Krea Studio stated in a press release that "the claim that we forced the children to engage in activities in Southeast Asia is a malicious article," and that "it was merely an effort to broadcast for global members, and the production team has never mentioned activities in Southeast Asia or elsewhere."

'Under Fifteen' is an audition program that recruits participants under the age of 15 to select a K-Pop girl group through competition. Originally scheduled to air on MBN in March this year, the broadcast was canceled due to concerns over the sexual commercialization of children.

The production team attempted to air the program in Japan through KBS Japan last month, but this has also fallen through.