[COVER STORY] Kids on stage: How young is too young to debut in K-pop?
A2O LITE, a K-pop act that debuted last week, gained attention not only because its debut single "Neon" topped Melon's Top 100 chart about 29 hours after its release, but also due to the fact that three of the nine members — Ayune, Oa and Aijing — are 13 years old. The group, launched by former SM Entertainment chief producer Lee Soo-man through A2O Entertainment, held its debut showcase on Oct.…
![[COVER STORY] Kids on stage: How young is too young to debut in K-pop?](/img/15992429)
A2O LITE, a newly formed K-pop group, has sparked debate over the appropriateness of debut ages for young performers. Comprised of nine members, all under 14 years old, the group made a splash with their debut single "Neon" topping Melon's Top 100 chart just two days after release. The members, all born in 2013, debuted on October 12 and released their first single the following day.
This youngest-ever debut lineup has reignited discussion about Korea's protections for child performers, which primarily focus on limiting weekly hours and stipulating contract clauses. While not unprecedented, as older K-pop idols like BoA, Taemin, and Krystal debuted at ages 13, 14, and 14 respectively, A2O LITE's members are notably younger.
Culture critic Jung Duk-hyun weighed in, expressing concern over whether the current safeguards are sufficient for children who reach the stage before completing middle school.
Written by urgent.news from The Korea Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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