A girl group younger than NewJeans? Apparently one is in development.

In a bold move following the success of Mr. Trot and Miss Trot, as well as other notable hits like The King of Singers and Korean-Japanese Singers Competition, Producer Director Seo Hye Jin is venturing into uncharted territory: launching a global audition program aimed at forming an international girl group sensation – but with a twist.

 

Dubbed Under 15, the program is slated to hit screens worldwide in the latter half of this year. Seo Hye Jin is the same PD who discovered Lim Young Woong. Lim Young Woong won Mr. Trot, beating out 17,000 applicants. He has since had number one songs on the Circle Chart and has over a million YouTube subscribers. 

 

 

The challenge with this project, according to Seo Hye Jin, lies in setting their program apart from other talent programs and competitions. While juggernauts like HYBE and JYP have carved out multinational girl groups through global auditions, CreA Studio, PD Seo Hye Jin’s brainchild, is doubling down on vocal prowess. 

 

They’ve wrapped up local auditions already and are gearing up for the next phase across Southeast Asia. Thailand will audition first, followed by Japan, Malaysia, and Indonesia. The program’s full blueprint will be announced by the end of August, 2024. 

 

Under 15 isn't just another run-of-the-mill talent quest; it's a seismic shift in the industry, targeting prodigious young talents aged 3 to 15 from over 70 countries. The mission is to craft a fifth-generation K-pop powerhouse that transcends borders, race, and genre. They took inspiration from NewJeans, whose average age is 16.4 years old. Why? Voters tend to choose younger talent on these types of shows. Seo Hye Jin has seen the data.

 

 

But amidst the buzz surrounding Under 15, concerns loom large. Critics are sounding the alarm over the audacious move to recruit trainees as young as 3 years old. Many argue that youth isn't the secret sauce behind the fandom frenzy for acts like NewJeans. The specter of child labor looms large, casting a shadow over the glittering promise of the program.

 

Will it redefine the way things are done in K-pop? Or will it stumble over the pitfalls of exploitation? Time will tell.