MBN's upcoming K-pop survival show UNDER15 is now under fire — again.

Already facing heavy criticism for allegedly sexualizing minors, the show is now caught in a false statement controversy involving South Korea's Broadcasting and Communications Review Committee (BCRC).

📢 False Claims at the Press Conference

At a press event held on March 25, CREA Studio's CEO Seo Hye-jin claimed:

"We submitted the final version of Episode 1 to the BCRC two weeks ago. They reviewed it and said there were no problems."

But the Broadcasting Committee immediately issued a rebuttal, stating:

"We have never received a completed episode of UNDER15 for review, and we do not provide pre-screenings. The CEO's claim is factually incorrect."

📺 Correction and Apology

On March 26, the production team corrected the statement via Dispatch:

"Seo Hye-jin misunderstood the process. We apologize for the confusion."

They added that it was MBN (the broadcaster) that submitted Episode 1 to the commission — but no response has been received yet. The show is subject to post-broadcast review, not pre-screening, according to Korean broadcasting law.

🚨 Mounting Controversy

This comes amid ongoing criticism over the show's concept, which features female contestants under the age of 15 in a K-pop idol competition. Many netizens and parents' groups have raised concerns over "inappropriate styling and marketing" of the young participants.

👀 Delayed Premiere?

Originally set to premiere on March 31, the show's broadcast schedule is now uncertain as backlash intensifies.

UNDER15 was pitched as a platform to "nurture Alpha generation K-pop trainees," but the repeated controversies are raising serious questions about ethics and transparency in the production.