CReA Studio CEO Hwang In Young in tears, pleading for understanding over 'UNDER15' controversy

CReA Studio's CEO Hwang In Young shed tears while pleading for understanding over the 'UNDER 15' controversy. She said there seems to be a misunderstanding about the show's vision and sought to clear up the accusation of child commodification.

Even before its first broadcast, 'UNDER15' has faced public criticism. The show’s teaser alone sparked accusations of child sexualization. A production team representative stated, "Unforeseen suspicions have been exaggerated as if they were fact. This has deeply hurt not only us but also the contestants, mentors, trainers, and staff." The representative added, "As broadcasters, we are taught that content should be judged on its own merit. Though this is unusual, we felt the need to hold this press conference to clear up misconceptions and protect everyone involved."

On March 25, the 'UNDER15' production team held an emergency press conference at the Grand Ballroom of Stanford Hotel Korea in Sangam, Mapo-gu, Seoul.CReA Studio Co-CEO Seo Hye Jin and co-CEO Hwang In Young, and producer Yong Seok In were present at the event. Producer Lee Guk Yong was absent due to health reasons.

The production team opted for a bold approach, unveiling a condensed 25-minute version of the first episode. The footage featured performances from five of the 59 contestants.

The condensed episode 1 preview showed a completely different vibe than the controversial teasers. The focus was on the contestants' aspirations and talents rather than provocative elements.

CEO Hwang explained, "Our first goal was to create an audition for the 'Alpha Generation.' In the K-pop industry, many under-15 talents are overlooked simply because of their age. We wanted to give them a chance." She continued, "When I worked on 'K-pop Star,' teenagers dominated the top spots, surprising the older generation. There are so many talented Alpha Generation kids, and we believe this show could open new doors for them."

She also addressed one major misconception about the show. She clarified that the show was never originally intended to be a girl group audition or gender-restricted. She said, "It may have been an unfortunate decision, but we found that many exceptionally talented girls auditioned. We thought, 'Let’s start with a girl group, and if this works, we’ll do a boy group audition next.'"

CEO Seo Hye Jin added, "Younger participants frequently seek auditions. Many ask where they should train or if they truly have talent." She said, "An audition isn’t a final destination. It’s just a gateway into the music industry. 'UNDER15' was always meant to be a development program where contestants receive K-pop training and grow as artists. Our show was designed with that in mind."

Producer Yong Seok In also explained that the judges' feedback in 'UNDER15' was adapted for younger contestants, prioritizing encouragement over harsh critiques, unlike other audition programs. Producer Yong emphasized, "This audition isn't just about debuting. It's about learning. We focused on what they could gain and take away from the experience." "There were many instances where they met with contestants offstage to offer guidance," he recalled.

The controversy began when 'UNDER15' released a teaser featuring young contestants in heavy makeup and revealing outfits, leading to calls for the show's cancellation.

CEO Hwang explained, "We thought they looked great. We wanted to showcase a surprising contrast between what people expect of young contestants and their actual abilities."

However, she admitted they later recognized the potential for misunderstanding. She said, "Because only certain images were being consumed, people misinterpreted it as a 'sexy concept.' That was never the intention. Once we realized the issue, we deleted the content. This has been a chance to reassess everything from the viewer’s perspective."

Another issue was the contestant profile images, which included barcode-like graphics beneath each participant’s photo, fueling further controversy. CEO Seo was especially frustrated by this accusation. She revealed private chat messages with the designer, explaining that the design was inspired by student ID cards.

She explained, "We envisioned the audition as a school-like environment. It was shocking to see it reinterpreted in such a negative way. To protect the contestants, we’ve since taken down all profiles."

CEO Hwang added, "We removed the problematic images. The controversy escalated because of external factors, and in hindsight, we should have responded more proactively. That’s something we regret."

Hwang reassured that both contestants and their parents were aware of the risks of reality TV but joined with hope. She said, "We maintained close communication with everyone involved, more so than any other audition show."

At one point, she was visibly emotional when asked about the contestants’ reactions. "We’re not that kind of program, so why is it being portrayed this way?" she said, holding back tears.

CEO Seo also struggled to continue speaking. She pleaded, "Would over 100 staff members really exploit young kids to create something predatory? Please believe in us."

Producer Yong concluded, "I was truly amazed while directing. These kids own the stage with confidence. I hope viewers will also feel moved when they see them perform."