A controversial K-pop audition program that was canceled in South Korea due to concerns over the potential sexualization of minors has resurfaced in Japan under a new title. The show, originally called "UNDER15," will now air on KBS Japan as "Star is Born: The story of girls chasing their dreams."

The program's revival was announced through a video uploaded to the official KBS Japan YouTube channel titled "KBS World 2025 August recommendations." The promotional material described the show as a "World premiere! A fifth-generation girl group audition for contestants aged 15 or younger!" Despite the title change, the program's description and teaser footage clearly indicate it is the same production that was shelved earlier this year.

The audition show features an impressive lineup of mentors from the K-pop industry. BIGBANG's Daesung, 2NE1's Sandara Park, KARA's Hur Young-ji, Oh My Girl's Hyojung, Son Dong-pyo, and Baek Gu-young will guide the young contestants throughout the competition. These established artists bring decades of combined experience in the Korean entertainment industry to mentor the next generation of performers.

"UNDER15" was originally scheduled to premiere on March 31 on MBN, a South Korean cable television network. The production team had promoted it as the world's first audition program specifically designed to discover the next generation of K-pop prodigies aged 15 or younger. According to the original announcement, producers had selected 59 talented girls from more than 70 countries, emphasizing that the selection process disregarded race, nationality, or musical genre while focusing on the contestants' appearance, performance abilities, and vocal talents.

However, the show faced immediate backlash when contestant profiles and promotional teasers were released to the public. Critics and child welfare advocates raised serious concerns about the potential sexualization of minors, questioning whether the program's format and presentation were appropriate for such young participants. The controversy intensified as more details about the show's concept became public, leading to widespread criticism across social media platforms and child protection organizations.

In response to the mounting criticism, MBN issued a statement saying the network would "review the program's details and broadcasting decision in its entirety." The network acknowledged the concerns raised by the public and indicated that significant changes might be necessary before the show could air. This review process ultimately led to the program's indefinite postponement just days before its scheduled debut.

On March 28, merely three days before the planned premiere date, production company Crea Studio made the official announcement to cancel the broadcast. In their statement, the company said, "We decided that protecting the contestants and reorganizing is the best course of action. MBN will not broadcast the show. We will ensure the essence of the program and the sincerity of the contestants are not damaged." However, the company deliberately avoided clarifying whether the program would be permanently canceled or potentially revived in a different format.

Now, approximately five months after the suspension of its original premiere, the show's confirmed broadcast on KBS Japan has drawn renewed attention from both supporters and critics. The eight-episode series "Star is Born" is scheduled to premiere on August 11 at 4:50 p.m. local time and will continue airing every Monday and Tuesday at the same time slot. The revival raises questions about whether the content has been modified to address the original concerns or if the show will air in its original format under Japanese broadcasting standards.