Viral Video Of K-Pop Maknaes At “2025 ISACs” Triggers Major Backlash
It has always been common for idols to join groups at a young age, but in recent years, netizens have raised concerns about the number of underage idols making their debut.
This became evident after a viral video from this year’s MBC Idol Star Athletic Championships was filmed.
On social media, a video of interactions between four maknaes from fifth-generation groups gained attention. Three of the female idols were born in 2010, and UNIS‘ Seowon is one of the youngest idols right now, at only 14 years old.
This cute interaction between the maknaes of each group!
Hearts2Hearts’ Ye-on = 2010
KiiiKiii’s Kya = 2010
Say My Name’s Seungjoo = 2010
UNIS’ Seowon = 2011pic.twitter.com/hnCOrfjWC3— Hearts2Hearts GLOBAL (@theH2HGLOBAL) August 25, 2025
It sparked major shock and concerns among fans who believed that the idea of idols debuting so young being the “norm” is worrying when they should be at school, not in the intense world of K-Pop. Some fans even shared that it could be considered child labor as they are working consistently and in the public eye when they should be out having fun.
they should be at school learning how to colour inside the lines https://t.co/dHyD8m487Y
— niza (@coloredseung) August 25, 2025
this is horrifyingly dystopian https://t.co/GdZQt8cABG
— max #HappyLoonaDay (@loossembruh) August 25, 2025
how yall bs stanning these groups bc im 15 and i can’t imagine stanning any1 younger than me https://t.co/QxvN5f16HS pic.twitter.com/oYjiJkW6Q9
— ˚₊‧꒰აsannie໒꒱ ‧₊˚ bang chan 🤤 (@hyvnsnju) August 26, 2025
This is fucked. East asian cultures have an extremely lax attitude towards sexualizing young girls and unfortunately as kpop stans we encourage them with our views and money https://t.co/aRaqN2DY4w
— ً (@cerulean_verge) August 25, 2025
my teen students are mostly around this age range and oh my god i can’t even imagine any one of them Working let alone in this industry… i guess i am that friend that’s too woke… https://t.co/VLxZSBTUEW
— ella ₊˚⊹ (@getosugukoo) August 26, 2025
how is this normal and not widely considered child-labour levels of wrong,,,, if child actors are accepted as exploited why are child idols not… https://t.co/KaFqI6Y5ZR
— isaswe꽃⁴ JUMP (@lilliesaresooya) August 25, 2025
The topic of young idols debuting will always spark a major debate.
