Two members of the final debut group from 'Under Fifteen' filed a petition to suspend the effectiveness of their exclusive contracts.
On the 16th, Lawyer No Jong-eon of the law firm Jonja said, "As the legal representatives of two members of the final debut group of the K-pop audition program 'Under Fifteen,' which targets children aged 15 and under, we filed a petition to suspend the effectiveness of their exclusive contracts against Crea Entertainment Co., Ltd. at the Seoul Western District Court on the 15th."
The two members' side explained the background, saying, "This petition is not simply a contractual dispute with one entertainment agency, but stems from the urgent feeling that a time has come when serious reflection is needed across our society and the broader K-pop industry on protecting the personality rights and right to education of children and adolescents, the children's dreams toward K-pop, and the relationship with capitalism."
'Under Fifteen' used staging that dressed participants aged 15 and under, including an 8-year-old child, to adult standards and made them look like commodities, drawing severe social criticism for "sexualizing children." Faced with fierce public backlash, 'Under Fifteen' had its broadcast canceled three days before airing.
The two members' side said, "When domestic broadcasting and activities became impossible, the agency repeatedly made impossible promises without any consultation about the children's futures or dreams to try to recoup massive production losses, forced communal living, and even planned overseas debuts and activities including in Southeast Asia. The series of ongoing processes proceeding without the children's consent or consultation seriously violate the basic rights of children guaranteed by the constitution and the Act on the Development of the Popular Culture and Arts Industry. It is also an unfair and unethical act to shift the responsibility for a failed project entirely onto the minor children."
They also said, "The exclusive contracts they signed are unfair contracts that include multiple unfair provisions that impose excessive penalties only on the affiliated entertainers who are children and that allow the agency to unilaterally assign the contract to a third party. As long as provisions that are important parts of the contract are unfair in this way, it is difficult for the entire contract to continue to maintain its effect."
'Under Fifteen' was scheduled to premiere on MBN on March 31, but when participants' profiles and the preview were released, it became embroiled in issues such as the sexualization of children. In response, MBN said it would "thoroughly review the program's details and whether it will air."
The production company Crea Studio issued a statement saying, "We decided that protecting the performers and reorganizing is the best course of action. MBN will not schedule it. Going forward, we will produce it so that the program's essence and the participants' sincerity are not damaged."
Afterward, 'Under Fifteen' changed its title to 'Star Is Born' and attempted to present it through KBS JAPAN, but it drifted again after KBS JAPAN decided not to schedule the channel.
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