How young is too young to debut in K-pop?

With the debut of Lim Seowon, a twelve-year-old member of the girl group UNIS, Koreaboo sees that netizens are debating over how young is too young to debut in K-pop. Here are some stars who debuted as minors, showing how common this is in the K-pop industry…

Image: F&F Entertainment

According to The Japan Times, BoA, nicknamed the 'Queen of K-pop,' made her debut in 2000 when she was thirteen years old, following only two years of training. This means she started working in the industry when she was just eleven years old.

Image: SM Entertainment

The youngest member of YG Entertainment’s latest girl group, BABYMONSTER, Chiquita’s debut has raised some eyebrows too, as she debuted in the girl group at 13. The Straits Times had reported her then to be the youngest person to ever debut in K-pop.

Image: YG Entertainment

Member of the K-pop boy band ENHYPEN, Ni-ki debuted when he was just 14. He had been part of the boy group SHINee Kids, who take after their role models, the K-pop boy band SHINee, reports Allkpop.

Image: Belift Lab

Speaking of SHINee, SHINee’s lead dancer, Lee Taemin, was 14 when he debuted in the boy band. The band was marketed as a boy band with a young age group overall, with a debut song that was marketed towards attracting an older female fanbase.

Image: SM Entertainment

Part of what can be considered one of K-pop’s most memorable girl groups of this generation, NewJeans, Hyein debuted when she was 14 in the year 2022.

Image: HYBE

A member of ITZY, Yuna made her debut at the age of 15 in the year 2019. Yuna’s age had caused some controversy, reports Koreaboo, as her outfits had attracted criticism for being too ‘adult’ for her age.

Image: JYP Entertainment

Hayun of GIRL CRUSH, received a greater level of online outrage. Despite being 17 when she made her debut, Hayun had been practicing with the group since she was 14, according to Allkpop. Her debut and performance activities sparked widespread controversy due to the girl group's 'adult nature' concept and the exposure of such material to a minor.

Image: HW Entertainment

Back then, while a member of IZ*ONE, Wounyoung debuted at the age of 14. While performing for the group, Koreaboo reports that she once broke down and cried out that she had missed her parents midway through a concert performance.

Image: SWING Entertainment

Jisung of NCT was reported by Allkpop to have debuted at the age of 14. However, even before that, he had been performing in the industry under SMROOKIES and performing in ‘The Mickey Mouse Club’, making his actual involvement in K-pop even earlier.

Image: SM Entertainment

One of the most globally recognized members of the boyband BTS, Jungkook debuted at the age of 15, reports J-14.

Image: Big Hit Music