P Nation's youngest trainee set to debut sparks debate online

[My Everything]

On September 4th, contestants Eun Hwi, Daniel Jikal, Cheon Jun Hyuk, Oh Sung Jun, Choi Tae Hun,Jang Hyun Soo, Tanaka Koki, and Woo Kyung Jun were chosen as the final debuting members. However, Tanaka Koki, who is 12 years old being born in 2009, being in the debuting team had netizens start debating. 

Most expressed their concerns regarding him debuting at such an early age, while others said  it's impressive of him to debut at such a young age in a foreign country. Some of the comments include: "Isn't this a child labor? He's way too young"

"It is what it is"

"But if you don't debut the most voted trainee on the audition show that's vote rigging"

"How can they do idol's schedule with that child?"

"They should have had minimum age restrictions in the beginning"

"You can't kick someone out just because he's too young"

"I bet the producers saw that coming. It was the audition show for the young teenagers anyway"

"He has talent to become a professional. Have y'all seen him dancing?"

"Other than the age I don't think he fits in that group. If there was another young one like him, that would have been better"

"There are child actors and actresses as well. They'll take care of it"

"This ain't it"

"I'm more surprised that people born in 2009 are already in 6th grade."

"He should have waited a couple more years..." 

What do you think?

Source

[hynapia]

I have mixed feelings because yes, he's a great dancer and performer so he deserves to debut, but on the other hand he's not even a teenager yet and idol life can be terrible for such a young kid (being overworked, exposed to hate at such a young age, etc). I'm used to 14-15 y/o teens debuting and even that's already pretty young, but at least they're already teenagers, not actual children.

I wish him the best anyway.

Edited September 5, 2021 by hynapia

[Nero_Kpop]

I think Psy is interested in breaking up some kpop conceptions but he's going to be disappointed, desirable young men will always be the key to success for boygroups, koki will rise his company awareness in japan (just a bit) but will be a big handicap in the kpop scene for a few years. JYP with their experience probably understand that marketability >> talent in most cases. What is the point of a good product if it doesn't sell?

Edited September 5, 2021 by Nero_Kpop

[gam3 bo1]

people born in 2009 are 12????????????

[Sakura IS FEARLESS]

This sound soo wrong in soo many ways....

[Kittenae]

I knew people were joking and exaggerating when they called 14-15 y.o. as fetus. They're young but they're actual teenagers and look older/passable to be in an idol group.

But this 12 y.o. kid actually look like a fetus. An elementary school kid. It feels so wrong.

 

[chamber]

That is way to young

[f00l]

blame the show that allow child to participate to form a boygroup. It's not fair now to eliminate him now because of his age.

[PastelPetals]

He is a child!!! He cannot dabut! The way fan culture is and how high stress the job is I worry for the all the young idols but 12 is too far. That's around my brothers age. My brother is making the tough transition to middle school and playing roblox he would not be ready for idol life and neither would any other 12 year old training or not. He is not a teen he is not pubescent and I worry what creepy fans may do to his psyche. He has worked hard no doubt but there must be more protections for him if he is to debut at all and I would rather him just wait a few years honestly.

Edited September 5, 2021 by PastelPetals

[Lizzo]

HE IS A FETUS

DONT DO IT

[juniordud]

1 hour ago, PastelPetals said:

He is a child!!! He cannot dabut! The way fan culture is and how high stress the job is I worry for the all the young idols but 12 is too far. That's around my brothers age. My brother is making the tough transition to middle school and playing roblox he would not be ready for idol life and neither would any other 12 year old training or not. He is not a teen he is not pubescent and I worry what creepy fans may do to his psyche. He has worked hard no doubt but there must be more protections for him if he is to debut at all and I would rather him just wait a few years honestly.

The difference is your brother hasn't toured the world several times doing dance battle against full grown adults, hasn't debuted as a back up dancer and hasn't been doing variety show. The kid is not our average kid.

[RIPHaldir]

This guy looks and is a literal child wtf

[KentasGlittery EyeMakeup]

Stop debuting children

[Elscian]

Even though he is 12, he looks even younger.  Just all of these accessories and makeup don't even look like they are going for a chewing gum type of concept...the kid just looks out of place

[starsocks]

you can tell all the people defending this are twelve themselves

[king_seungmin]

there are idols who debut at 17/18 that are already struggling with mental and physical issues. Heck even "veteran" idols that have 5-10 years experience are still having the same problems. KPOP industry is not a place for a twelve year old, the constant pressure both mental and physical the industry put on these idols is dangerous even more for a kid that hasn't even fully developed yet. I'm worried about not only the instant side effects the kid might have but especially for long term issues he might have in the future when he becomes a full adult.

Also you can't compare a child-idol to a child-actor. A child actor usually has a small supporting role and doesn't require to film a lot of scenes.

Most of the time they're also with their parents on set to make sure they're okay (not saying parents can't be abusive or stage parents but that's a whole new discourse)

An idol's schedule can be so hectic they don't even have time to rest, what will he do when they start promoting?

Idols usually wake up in the middle of the night to prepare for music shows, rehearse and pre-record many times for six days a week will he even be able to handle all of this? Not to mention the practice/preparations they do when they make an album.

Also I don't think he'll fit in the group. One of the things that makes a group successful is the chemistry/comradery between the members. 

I just don't see a 12 year old having the same friendship/banter with 16-19 year olds.

[Ulmicola]

P(aedo) Nation

[LeeJi]

I saw him yesterday because I wanted to see hyuna and honestly it's too much, he looks like an 8 years old, what is he doing there

[Yukihime]

It's making me SO UNCOMFORTABLE. Yikes.

He's really talented and should pursue his dreams but this is way toi early and especially in this f**ked up industry.

He's not even in middle school, what are his parents doing ? Do they need money that badly ? Your kid is talented and you want to support him that's good, but their job as PARENTS is to protect and educate him ... And this is not it.

[juniordud]

4 hours ago, starsocks said:

you can tell all the people defending this are twelve themselves

Not even close but people are explaining their point of view but forgot the context. 2 other trainees were eliminated for their ages Kim donghyun born one month earlier than Koki and I forgot his name because they were not mentally prepared for the idol life. Koki is already in the industry for years and the kid has had more experience in the industry than literally all of the other contestants. 

Does he look out of place sure, but does he live in an uncomfortable environment without support, no. His parents know what they are doing. 

And if you watched the show you would have seen that not he is one of the most talented of the show, but also the most grounded but also the most disciplined. 

There was another guy who was equally as talented than Koki in dance that was older (Lee Yedam) , but ended being eliminated because of which one of the 2 was actually the most ready mentally. 

[hynapia]

8 hours ago, f00l said:

blame the show that allow child to participate to form a boygroup. It's not fair now to eliminate him now because of his age.

In fact the show allowed kids born even in 2010. If I remember correctly, one of the participants was a 2010 liner but he was eliminated in the 2nd or 3rd round.

[rananicolee]

A 12 year old is a 12 year old no matter what. In an industry where even ADULTS break down, he needs to wait to debut. Just because he's done everything doesn't mean he is mature. 

[hynapia]

4 minutes ago, juniordud said:

Not even close but people are explaining their point of view but forgot the context. 2 other trainees were eliminated for their ages Kim donghyun born one month earlier than Koki and I forgot his name because they were not mentally prepared for the idol life. Koki is already in the industry for years and the kid has had more experience in the industry than literally all of the other contestants. 

Does he look out of place sure, but does he live in an uncomfortable environment without support, no. His parents know what they are doing. 

And if you watched the show you would have seen that not he is one of the most talented of the show, but also the most grounded but also the most disciplined. 

There was another guy who was equally as talented than Koki in dance that was older (Lee Yedam) , but ended being eliminated because of which one of the 2 was actually the most ready mentally. 

How do you know he was eliminated for that though? Like did they give off the reasons?

[Josaline]

[juniordud]

28 minutes ago, hynapia said:

How do you know he was eliminated for that though? Like did they give off the reasons?

Last episode PSY said until the finale he was thinking if Koki was a good fit for the group or not, but he's a little giant and his work on and off stage is incredible. He hopes that people see who he really is soon.