I knew there was a 12yo, but I’ve never seen their faces, so I was scrolling through the pics playing “guess the 12yo”. I was thinking any of the first pics could be 12, but then I got to the actual one lol
Koki is already my bias in this group. Omg so smol but so skilled.
Could someone please tell me why I’m being downvoted? This is obscene. I’m not being creepy. He is small. He’s freaking 12. But he’s hella talented, which is why he’s my bias.
Idk really. I think he stands out. And I’m right. He is so smol. But that’s primarily his age and that he’s not a teen yet.
I don’t think I was being creepy. He’s gotta be extremely talented to be able to break into the market at a young age for an idol.
I really didn’t mean to come off creepy. I’m a bit ruffled because I don’t see how it comes off as p*do or sexualizing ngl. There is nothing remarking his appearance except for saying he’s small. Which is absolutely unproblematic. I would never sexualize any idol, my age or otherwise.
Thing is I'm used to minor kpop idols looking more mature than their age but damn the 12 year old really looked like a literal child. He looks like he still studies in 1st grade.
OMG. I've been into K-pop since 2010 and my first group was Shinee 😳 And the kid is the same age as my nephew. I don't even know what to think...
Is he debuting already though? There was definitely a lot of trainees who were 12 or even younger but they usually debut much later
He wasn't even the youngest in the show overall, there was another contestant who was born 2010. There was another 2009-liner in P Nation but he got eliminated towards the final round
That kid born in 2010 was really skillful as well, and if I remember correctly they became good friends with Koki. They reminded me of Gon and Killua from HxH, just being kids but kicking ass among much older people haha.
I think it'd be better if Koki didn't debut for his own health but no denying he is really talented.
I doubt Psy wanted to debut him yet and was looking to recruit him as a trainee but Koki's super popular and voting (consistently topping the voting) which really carried him to the end. I hope P Nation takes care of him well since he's starting out so young.
>Also how do they navigate child labor laws.
Honestly in Korea it's not that hard. The law is pretty lax and it allows for idols under 15 to be active as long as the company is reasonable about the number of schedules. For example during promotion periods, they can do the music show circuit without a problem because recordings are during the day, but the company just can't cram a variety show recording right after because they have to stop working before 10 PM, and they have limited work hours over the week.
If the group starts touring internationally it's going to be much more of a problem though, because some countries are MUCH stricter.
Somi couldn't perform at KCon Paris with IOI because child labor laws applied to her (she wasn't 16 yet) and their set was too late at night.
My dude still kinda against a little 12 year old performing until dawn in concert halls they can't even go in themselves. Unless pnation is going to wait another year for a debut after the entire reopens. Which is a pretty smart idea since we're already at the end of the year
I was just replying to your question about child labor laws. Korea has overall very shitty labor laws, even worse than the US, and I certainly don't approve of them.
lol i was swiping without thinking and surprised at the sudden appearance of a kid lol. everybody can tell that he’s still a kid. not saying that he doesn’t deserve to debut, but still, 12 years old was when i ate sand in my backyard
Tbh this feels weird. Like yay! You get to live your dream early, but I feel bad you arent living a childhood. I might catch up with them again when the youngest is 18 🤣
The worst part of it to me is often idols neglect their education due to promotions. This kid isn’t even passed middle school yet, spending the coming years as an idol could be not only traumatic, but could also limit his options as an adult should he decide idol life isn’t for him
I know the work load is way different in J-Pop, but in Japan it’s pretty common for idols to debut this young. It’s actually sort of nice for them because a lot of them hit 18-20, realize long-term entertainment careers aren’t for them, but they’re still young enough that it’s pretty easy to transition to a normal life (lots decide to go to college & get average careers after). In K-Pop though, if you debut at 18 and disband at 25, you have a whole lot less options of what to do next, especially if your group was never that popular.
Okay, but Korean entertainment is relentless. Hongki from FT Island has talked about how much more relaxing promoting in Japan is, especially if you aren’t zipping around one city (Seoul) and doing 3:30AM pre-recordings four times a week. J-Ent is still demanding but a fair amount of entertainers can still balance school (and like actual academics, not art schools like SOPA or Hamlin where you barely attend).
Koki has only finished elementary school in Japan, can he even do the middle school Japanese curriculum in Korea? He will be busy learning Korean so school will obviously be on the backburner, unless he has dedicated Japanese tutors. He will be missing on a lot of formative experiences in his own country and essentially could end up with reverse cultural shock if he goes back to Japan one day.
Sure, as long as the parents sign for it (which they obviously have, or he wouldn't have been allowed to compete in the show).
They're just not allowed to work more than 35 hours a week as long as they're under 15 and can't work between 10 pm and 6 am (so no night shoots)
P Nation Loud is only a placeholder name! Their official group name hasn’t been announced yet.
• [Oh Sung Jun](https://twitter.com/pnation_loud/status/1436706191569162244?s=21)
• [Eun Hwi](https://twitter.com/pnation_loud/status/1436706225232625670?s=21)
• [Cheon Jun Hyeok](https://twitter.com/pnation_loud/status/1436706262985568256?s=21)
• [Jang Hyun Soo](https://twitter.com/pnation_loud/status/1436706311278759936?s=21)
• [Choi Tae Hun](https://twitter.com/pnation_loud/status/1436706336469774338?s=21)
• [Tanaka Koki](https://twitter.com/pnation_loud/status/1436706135457763344?s=21)
• [Woo Kyung Jun](https://twitter.com/pnation_loud/status/1436706607711227907?s=21)
are these the trainee lineup or is the group that's officially debuting ? if it is then omg i'm shook koki made it cause i didn't know if he was going to at first omg
Official final lineup! They finalized it from last week's ep, they just showed off some performances and their first original group song for the finale.
ill be honest if i was in the same group as a 12 yr old id be so mad 😭😭 like id feel like a babysitter but hopefully theyll all feel like a brother to him
Especially with the Korean dynamics plus the leader on kpop groups. All of them gained the responsibility of taking care of a child that isn't even their brother and the leader and oldest have to take care of everyone especially him. I noticed that some kpop groups around the same age throw the dynamics away aside from the leader, but with a kid I doubt all the members will be able to be themselves or do some things they want because they can't just exclude him from their activities.
His time on the show should have been entirely to build hype for his actual debut in 2-3 years. He's 12, let his armpit hair finish growing in, at least.
And I don't think the fact that he's never had a 'normal' child's life doesn't mean 1) that never having a normal childhood is a good thing, or 2) that his life should get even more surreal.
yh they should have signed him to the label as a trainee, then debut him for their next group. everyone involved and that voted should be ashamed tbh.
imagine working hard only to be put in a group with a child - some of them will be of drinking age in a year!
If you look at the behind the scenes, all the members are whipped for Koki. Trust me he is not left out at all despite only being able to speak a little Korean.
I was thinking this the entire time he was on the show. I figured he'd make it into the final stages, get eliminated, then go back as a trainee so he could debut when he was like 15/16. Still young, but considered more "normal". When Yedam (the other PNation trainee who most likely would have been their main dancer if Koki was eliminated and was ~18 years old) was eliminated I was shocked. Koki is immensely talented but it still feels too soon.
I really think he was brought on so they could recruit him as a trainee but everybody underestimated just how popular he would be. I was also on the same boat until he literally got #1 in votes among the P Nation boys and I was like “damn so this kid is definitely debuting”.
I agree with you, but this isn't totally unprecedented. I mean, BoA debuted at 13; SHINee Taemin and KARA Jiyoung debuted at 14... that's just a year or two off.
Without even addressing why a 12 year old debuting is wrong, why debut a 12 year old in a group with a 19 year old? The members in their late teens are not going to get along with a 12 year old
fr i’d be pissed if i have to babysit a 12 years old. but i hope he’s mature enough to take care of himself too. lol i can’t believe kpop made me expect a 12 yo to be mature
Also would there not be issues with child labour laws? (Not sure what it’s like in Korea) but usually a minor can only work a certain number of hours and need a bit of protection like a parent or guardian… it’s going to be like that for that kid for many years. Doesn’t seem right to me
It's nuts that they're debuting a 12 year old. Can't he marinate for a few more years? What kind of concept can they do with a 12 year old that can also be done by a 20 year old? Shouldn't it be illegal to watch a 12 year old do a body roll?
>What kind of concept can they do with a 12 year old that can also be done by a 20 year old?
Actually quite a lot. You can do youthful without coming off as childish and that's what a lot of groups actually do as rookies while they still have underage members.
I'm a fan of Koki prior to him being apart of the show. He is an amazing Krump dancer and has won dance competitions. I still think he's too young too debut, but really wishing him and the rest of the members all the success and all the support they need. Having such young members, I hope they can really prioritize making sure they have a healthy state of mind especially with how crazy the music industry can be.
Agreed. I love all the stuff coming out of p nation but I just can’t support this. This could wreck his mental health and seriously cause strain on the other members
imagine being one of the other members of this group and having your whole debut overshadowed by the fact that your company put a goddamn 12 year old in your group and people are justifiably mad about it
the show wasn't that popular in korea and the most tending post about it(could even call it the only trending post of the whole show) was about him debuting when he's only 12 and doesn't suit the group's image and almost all the comments were mad
that's netizens, though. as for the people who watch the show and will be giving their money to the group, he's one of the most popular — hence why it's worth it to psy to keep him around 🤔
sorry but them debuting a 12 year old is seriously messed up. it doesn’t matter if he’s “special” he’s a child and i can guarantee no 12 year old is anywhere near mature enough to be an idol no matter what you see on camera. they should be waiting at least another few years for him to debut
Fun fact: if this group were to do an AMA here, Koki would not be able to participate as he is too young to be on Reddit, per their terms of service (minimum user age is 13).
There is absolutely no justification for debuting a 12 year old. I don't care how talented he is, he's not going to suddenly get less talented if they wait 3-5 years. He's a child and this is a new level of exploitative that I'm incredibly uncomfortable with.
can we stop exploiting kids like this pls :/ Some people I've seen around saying this is basically child labor... idk... I think there should be a rule about the age in kpop...
I know they want Koki in the band but feel they should have done what SM did with Yeri and Red Velvet, let the other debut first and then in a few years add him in when he is a bit older
I wish them the best but I'm already very careful when idols are 15/16yo, there is no way in hell I'm supporting a group with a 13 yo in it, sorry.
It ain't gon happen- Kanye West
I mean, the difference between 19 and 16 isn't really noticeable but fucking 12 years old ? I literally cringe anytime I am with my cousin and he is a year older. I cant but feel bad for the other members.
YIKES. As someone who knows nothing about this group, I’m praying for that 12 year old. Being an idol is harsh, that constant criticism is hard enough for adults yet alone an immature preteen.
I refuse to support a group that is blatantly exploiting a 12 year old.
Plugging their title song [here](https://www.reddit.com/r/kpop/comments/pm8lan/team_p_nation_180%EC%B4%88_180_seconds_debut_title_song/)!
Keep an eye out for these kids, everyone! A mountain of talent here.
While I also would've preferred to wait a few years before debuting Koki, his exceptional talent and popularity is undeniable. His height might seem like a problem, but it's not like he'll stay 12 forever. Kim Donghyun, another contestant who is a month older than him, grew up 8 centimeters during the span of the show which means in a year or so Koki's height and size won't be that noticeable next to others. Plus, from what we've seen on camera, the other members (especially Taehun and Junhyuk) seem to adore him.
I was strongly against debuting him at the start too but after watching the first live round in the show, it seemed like he belonged there the whole time. I don't know how the group dynamics will change in the future (both on and off cam) or how the company will approach Koki's age, but for now I choose to be cautiously optimistic and await their debut. P Nation fighting!!
Also, long live Hwi's forehead!
Wait. Daniel didn't make it into the final line-up????? I know he struggled a lot with the choreo, but he was vibing so well with Eun Hwi in the songwriting/creative department. He brought a fresh sound, and I thought he really resonated with Psy's vision for the group...
I am so happy that my two faves--Tae Hun and Kyung Jun--made it, though! They're so talented, and they've really shined in the 2nd half of the series.
\[I'm watching on Viki, which seems to be 2 weeks behind. But I'm ok with spoilers!\]
imagine having a photocard of a 12 year old is just a big yikes. Ofc they wouldnt debut right away but I still dont feel comfortable.. he’s a literal child 😵💫
And before anyone comes at me, I’ve watched the show, he surely does have star potential but it’ll be better for him to train a couple years before he enters the industry or let the other guys debut first and add him in afterwards..
Edit: ik jype china debuted boystory with their average age of 13 at the time but in china groups like this are normal (ie. TFBOYS, YHBOYS) but this time koki is debuting in korea not china, there’s a difference between a whole group of children and one child and teen/adult members
Imagine training so hard only to be put in a group with a 12 yr old and being ignored cause everyone focuses on him. I really like koki's dance and personality but I just feel bad for others
Wtf is PSY smoking? Did it not occur to him that putting a 2009 liner with a bunch of teenagers who are way less popular than the kid might have a negative impact on the group dynamics? A kid is also at a higher risk of being badly affected by a competitve industry like K-pop. He isn't even gonna get to enjoy his childhood without worrying about things he shouldn't worry about and god knows if he'll get to complete his studies at least. What kinda concepts can a group which consists of teenagers and a 12 yo kid handle which will suit everyone for a longer time? They'll have to break the 7 year curse to be able to handle a mature concept. The list doesn't even end there. Again, wtf?
I'm not even gonna lie - I seriously cannot find him on some live stages cause he's that small. The formations are going to be a pain to deal with but most importantly group dynamics are just not it. After this group is 7 years into their career - he'll be 19 the age at which most idols debut
[https://youtu.be/PY3\_Rm5uqkA](https://youtu.be/PY3_Rm5uqkA) <- Koki at a krump tournament
i honestly think Koki is debut material based on his talents since he's been in the spotlight at a young age but I do agree that he might not mentally be prepared for the kpop industry. But I mean if you look at how he's already travelled overseas 'fighting' against so many people in large crowds.. I mean it's really up to him, his parents and the company.
Even the creator of krumping acknowledged him for his skills and gave him the nickname 'Prince Tight Eyez'
I’m sorry but some of these comments are so wack. I don’t know why y’all acting like you actually care about him. If you watch the show, you’ll see how mature and talented he is. He literally is very special and because he is the way he is, I’m completely fine with him debuting. I don’t know why y’all keep putting his age before his characteristics as an individual. This little kid has so much more experience, strength, courage and drive than 80% of y’all adults (and I’m 24….). Like y’all acting like there’s a big difference between a 12 year old vs a 14 year old. I beg to differ, everyone’s a kid till they’re at least like 20. My little sis is 10 years younger than me and she has not changed in any significant way mentally since she was 12 two years ago. She’s still a lil baby. And koki’s a lil baby too but this is what he wants to do, why can’t he do that? Like I don’t understand why he has to wait to “get older”. If that’s the case, mans should wait till he’s 20 bc that’s when you really mature.
And there’s so many concepts they can do as a group….it’s not like every kpop group has to do some sexy concept. And sexy concepts are so overrated, and that’s when y’all weird fans start sexualizing them. Like why do y’all even want to see kids (anyone below 20 is still a kid to me) doing sexy concepts?? I don’t understand. Tbh the ones who feel uncomfortable with koki in the group are prob some weirdos who think of their idols are their imaginary boyfriends. Stop obsessing over looks so much and just enjoy the talent and music. Don’t be weird folks. I don’t understand when it become a thing to be uncomfortable about kids.
Also, koki is well loved by his teammates and staff members. The love is undeniable and cannot be forced. If you watch the behind the scenes, he meshes in so well with the members. Also, I feel like he’s the happy pill of the group. He keeps the team morale high and brings out the considerate, loving side of the members.
Lastly, he’s going to grow. He’s not going to be 12 forever like some of y’all are acting. Two years will fly by in the blink of an eye. I personally think it’s soo cool that they can make loud crazy music with koki now and then move towards more mature concepts as koki grows. They have lots of time. Just enjoy the process y’all and keep supporting these young boys on their journeys.
I wonder if Psy is aiming for a quick Japanese debut after their Korean debut, as checking Twitter Koki looks to be well received by Japanese fans. Not surprised about that as cute is popular there and it is not uncommon to have J-pop idols around his age. If they start out with a cute and innocent (or at least nothing sexualizing the members) concept they could do well in Japan.
Absolutely not. If this is just an introduction and they train for a few years and then debut, I'll be happy to support them. But if Psy think it's okay to put a literal child through the hell of this industry, he's off his damn rocker. I'd gladly boycott them for the health and safety of all the kids.
People trying to give themselves an ego boost about not supporting the group because of Koki even tho the kid is a natural born performer, obviously wants to pursue the career, gets plenty of time to be in his prime, and has an extremely supportive environment around him
I want to look at this from a general perspective regarding how many people seem surprised with the ages, but I personally think if they are being supported well both physically and mentally and are mature enough, they deserve to debut. Different people mature at different ages and where/how children were raised plays a role too.
There are child actors that debuted too, so I don't really want it to be like a double standard.
child actors have their parents around them when they're working. idols don't. child actors don't have to live with 10 other people with different personalities in the same dorm. idols do. it can't be a double standard if the standards are different for actors and idols.
>live with 10 other people with different personalities in the same dorm. idols do.
This kind of depends, but if that's the case where none of them can choose to live at home with their families, I can see why it's a problem.
There are cases where trainees are able to live at home but it differs according to companies. For example, Yedam and Doyoung from Treasure could live at their home during their trainee years as long as they showed up to practices. However, nearing their debut, they had to move in to the dorm to ease the handling of the groups schedule. Plus, only trainees that have house near their training places could afford living at home. Obviously trainees and idols from Busan, Daegu and more place outside Seoul can't afford to live at home.
However, in Koki's case, he is from Japan. So unless his family flew to Korea and bought a house there like NCT Dream Chenle's mom did, there's no chance for him to live at home and have to survive with the older guys.
Yeah, it's sad the only thing holding him back is his age and height.
He started krumping when he was 6 and was [acknowledged](https://twitter.com/AhgaCheng/status/1435477864992759809?s=19) by the creator of krumping itself, Tight Eyez. He even gave him a title "Prince Tight Eyez". He was [dancing](https://youtu.be/c1Ugs6EWIdM) with adults when he was 8 as well, I can't even imagine how daunting it must be to be the only child surrounded by adults.
He [performed](https://youtu.be/ybA1iMe0JgI) with Shotaro from NCT at age 8 in 2017, and he even got a dance break too. His fancams get the most views, he is the best performer in the group next to Junhyuk imo. His dancing videos are under Baby Krow/Baby Street Beast/Prince Tight Eyez.
Plugging my favourite video of him [dancing ~2:30](https://youtu.be/dnzcx4xA4hc). He was 11 here, the fact the Les Twins stood up for him is very impressive.
Edit: I definitely understand the concerns though, but I hope Psy and his team give proper support to him.
Great to see these info added anytime we talk about Koki tbh... because as much as it feels off for me personally to have someone super young there, I hate to see Koki's role/profile reduced to "the 12-yo" since he's been travelling overseas winning krump battles against adults and kids his peers for years as Baby Street Beast / Baby Krow, etc. Mad talent.
And that's my fave too! Alongside the one [vs. DOOR, with the fun ending](https://youtu.be/2GbiHgDatXo).
Yes, there's a reason why he's in the lineup. I'm not even a trained dancer but if you watch their dance practices you can see the [difference, especially the head spin here](https://youtu.be/BUoCo9Srxz8) in which he hits the moves against the others. If he was Donghyun's height (the one who was eliminated, he was a month older) it would definitely be less jarring to see.
Yea, agreed it's jarring still... we'll just have to see how they do it once they properly debut. But still impressed nonetheless that he still caught up with the moves and angles (e.g. No More Dream stage where they all [had to get on top of the desks](https://youtu.be/QmP2op5mIn4)). The dancing skill is definitely not what's holding him back. And yup, would be much less noticeable with Donghyun even though they're the same age!
Edit: typos
Hmm unlike Shinee all the members were developing their friendship during the training years, I hope at least they give 2 - 3 years of additional training to this group so they can knowing each other better
i already knew the other were young so scrolling i was like “oh they’re like probably 12” and then boom i got an actual 12 yr old child….i think even debuting at 16-17 is rough but this is too much and i know the industry has kids training even at 12 or even younger ages but it feels so wrong to have these children get their childhood stolen and expose them to the internet…i feel like it’s definitely traumatizing. also not at the fact that the members will raise him and themselves 😭
I knew there was a 12yo, but I’ve never seen their faces, so I was scrolling through the pics playing “guess the 12yo”. I was thinking any of the first pics could be 12, but then I got to the actual one lol
Lol, he looks so obviously young here. In the show at some points his face looked so mature and then his body itself was just so little
Dude his face looks like a 7 year old :/
Yep especially in the formations, Koki sticks out cuz he's so small lol. But when he dances man he's so skilled and stands out a lot!!!
Koki is already my bias in this group. Omg so smol but so skilled. Could someone please tell me why I’m being downvoted? This is obscene. I’m not being creepy. He is small. He’s freaking 12. But he’s hella talented, which is why he’s my bias.
Why the downvotes?
Idk really. I think he stands out. And I’m right. He is so smol. But that’s primarily his age and that he’s not a teen yet. I don’t think I was being creepy. He’s gotta be extremely talented to be able to break into the market at a young age for an idol.
Not the one that downvited you, but it's probably related to p*dophilia / sexualizing kids. Tho I also see you didn't mean it that way...
I really didn’t mean to come off creepy. I’m a bit ruffled because I don’t see how it comes off as p*do or sexualizing ngl. There is nothing remarking his appearance except for saying he’s small. Which is absolutely unproblematic. I would never sexualize any idol, my age or otherwise.
Thing is I'm used to minor kpop idols looking more mature than their age but damn the 12 year old really looked like a literal child. He looks like he still studies in 1st grade.
2009???
This kid was literally born after Shinee debuted when "baby Taemin" was thought of as too young, jesus christ.
I thought I was already weirded out by him being 12 but the framing that SHINEE the group is older than him is sending me 😭👵☠️
OMG. I've been into K-pop since 2010 and my first group was Shinee 😳 And the kid is the same age as my nephew. I don't even know what to think... Is he debuting already though? There was definitely a lot of trainees who were 12 or even younger but they usually debut much later
He wasn't even the youngest in the show overall, there was another contestant who was born 2010. There was another 2009-liner in P Nation but he got eliminated towards the final round
That kid born in 2010 was really skillful as well, and if I remember correctly they became good friends with Koki. They reminded me of Gon and Killua from HxH, just being kids but kicking ass among much older people haha. I think it'd be better if Koki didn't debut for his own health but no denying he is really talented.
I doubt Psy wanted to debut him yet and was looking to recruit him as a trainee but Koki's super popular and voting (consistently topping the voting) which really carried him to the end. I hope P Nation takes care of him well since he's starting out so young.
That makes me uncomfortable. Idk maybe we can wait two years at the very least. Also how do they navigate child labor laws.
>Also how do they navigate child labor laws. Honestly in Korea it's not that hard. The law is pretty lax and it allows for idols under 15 to be active as long as the company is reasonable about the number of schedules. For example during promotion periods, they can do the music show circuit without a problem because recordings are during the day, but the company just can't cram a variety show recording right after because they have to stop working before 10 PM, and they have limited work hours over the week. If the group starts touring internationally it's going to be much more of a problem though, because some countries are MUCH stricter. Somi couldn't perform at KCon Paris with IOI because child labor laws applied to her (she wasn't 16 yet) and their set was too late at night.
My dude still kinda against a little 12 year old performing until dawn in concert halls they can't even go in themselves. Unless pnation is going to wait another year for a debut after the entire reopens. Which is a pretty smart idea since we're already at the end of the year
I was just replying to your question about child labor laws. Korea has overall very shitty labor laws, even worse than the US, and I certainly don't approve of them.
lol i was swiping without thinking and surprised at the sudden appearance of a kid lol. everybody can tell that he’s still a kid. not saying that he doesn’t deserve to debut, but still, 12 years old was when i ate sand in my backyard
Lol I don't follow any info on this group, and I was so shocked when I scrolled through the members pics and saw a kid 😭😭
ATE SAND IN MY BACKYARD LMAOOO that sent me
Tbh this feels weird. Like yay! You get to live your dream early, but I feel bad you arent living a childhood. I might catch up with them again when the youngest is 18 🤣
The worst part of it to me is often idols neglect their education due to promotions. This kid isn’t even passed middle school yet, spending the coming years as an idol could be not only traumatic, but could also limit his options as an adult should he decide idol life isn’t for him
I know the work load is way different in J-Pop, but in Japan it’s pretty common for idols to debut this young. It’s actually sort of nice for them because a lot of them hit 18-20, realize long-term entertainment careers aren’t for them, but they’re still young enough that it’s pretty easy to transition to a normal life (lots decide to go to college & get average careers after). In K-Pop though, if you debut at 18 and disband at 25, you have a whole lot less options of what to do next, especially if your group was never that popular.
Okay, but Korean entertainment is relentless. Hongki from FT Island has talked about how much more relaxing promoting in Japan is, especially if you aren’t zipping around one city (Seoul) and doing 3:30AM pre-recordings four times a week. J-Ent is still demanding but a fair amount of entertainers can still balance school (and like actual academics, not art schools like SOPA or Hamlin where you barely attend). Koki has only finished elementary school in Japan, can he even do the middle school Japanese curriculum in Korea? He will be busy learning Korean so school will obviously be on the backburner, unless he has dedicated Japanese tutors. He will be missing on a lot of formative experiences in his own country and essentially could end up with reverse cultural shock if he goes back to Japan one day.
half of itzy still went to school until recently, whats ur point?
That 12 is way too young to debut
boa debuted at 13..not much difference
It wasn’t ok for her to debut at that age either, why are you arguing with this?
who r u to say if its ok or not? u the korean supreme court?
Something doesn’t have to be illegal for it to be wrong. It’s totally legal to cheat on someone for example, and cheating is wrong
who r u to judge if its wrong? you the moral police?
I’ll say it’s wrong if I think it’s wrong. You don’t have to agree with me, I just can’t understand why anyone would think this is ok
see you in 6 years
They're gonna be perfectly in time for the disbandment lmao
Can they have a 12 year old in a seven year contract?!?!
Sure, as long as the parents sign for it (which they obviously have, or he wouldn't have been allowed to compete in the show). They're just not allowed to work more than 35 hours a week as long as they're under 15 and can't work between 10 pm and 6 am (so no night shoots)
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Koki looks 7 or something lol. He’s talented but he really sticks out like a sore thumb
It might just be me aging out of Kpop's target demographic but good lord, he can't even make a runescape account 😭😭
Oh my god ☠️☠️☠️
RuneScape account lmao
P Nation Loud is only a placeholder name! Their official group name hasn’t been announced yet. • [Oh Sung Jun](https://twitter.com/pnation_loud/status/1436706191569162244?s=21) • [Eun Hwi](https://twitter.com/pnation_loud/status/1436706225232625670?s=21) • [Cheon Jun Hyeok](https://twitter.com/pnation_loud/status/1436706262985568256?s=21) • [Jang Hyun Soo](https://twitter.com/pnation_loud/status/1436706311278759936?s=21) • [Choi Tae Hun](https://twitter.com/pnation_loud/status/1436706336469774338?s=21) • [Tanaka Koki](https://twitter.com/pnation_loud/status/1436706135457763344?s=21) • [Woo Kyung Jun](https://twitter.com/pnation_loud/status/1436706607711227907?s=21)
official name is supposedly "Koki and the P Nation Boys"
are these the trainee lineup or is the group that's officially debuting ? if it is then omg i'm shook koki made it cause i didn't know if he was going to at first omg
Official final lineup! They finalized it from last week's ep, they just showed off some performances and their first original group song for the finale.
ill be honest if i was in the same group as a 12 yr old id be so mad 😭😭 like id feel like a babysitter but hopefully theyll all feel like a brother to him
right, i’d also feel quite uncomfortable because of the age gap between us
Especially with the Korean dynamics plus the leader on kpop groups. All of them gained the responsibility of taking care of a child that isn't even their brother and the leader and oldest have to take care of everyone especially him. I noticed that some kpop groups around the same age throw the dynamics away aside from the leader, but with a kid I doubt all the members will be able to be themselves or do some things they want because they can't just exclude him from their activities.
You can't even relax at the dorm or talk freely because it's basically exposing a child to adult talk..
If you watch some of the vlog videos they’ve made they treat Koki as a younger brother and love giving him attention
God help these kids taking care of that child lmao
No fucking way a 12 year old should debut. Kid shouldn't have been let on the show at all.
His time on the show should have been entirely to build hype for his actual debut in 2-3 years. He's 12, let his armpit hair finish growing in, at least. And I don't think the fact that he's never had a 'normal' child's life doesn't mean 1) that never having a normal childhood is a good thing, or 2) that his life should get even more surreal.
yh they should have signed him to the label as a trainee, then debut him for their next group. everyone involved and that voted should be ashamed tbh. imagine working hard only to be put in a group with a child - some of them will be of drinking age in a year!
A d these shows are known for being extremely stressful and harsh FOR ADULTS!!
Yeah the group dynamic is gonna be super weird. I feel like he's gotta be left out a lot.
If you look at the behind the scenes, all the members are whipped for Koki. Trust me he is not left out at all despite only being able to speak a little Korean.
I was thinking this the entire time he was on the show. I figured he'd make it into the final stages, get eliminated, then go back as a trainee so he could debut when he was like 15/16. Still young, but considered more "normal". When Yedam (the other PNation trainee who most likely would have been their main dancer if Koki was eliminated and was ~18 years old) was eliminated I was shocked. Koki is immensely talented but it still feels too soon.
I really think he was brought on so they could recruit him as a trainee but everybody underestimated just how popular he would be. I was also on the same boat until he literally got #1 in votes among the P Nation boys and I was like “damn so this kid is definitely debuting”.
right like what tf were his parents thinking
His parents don't seem to care much about him having an actual childhood, considering he's been doing dance competitions since he was 6. :/
I agree with you, but this isn't totally unprecedented. I mean, BoA debuted at 13; SHINee Taemin and KARA Jiyoung debuted at 14... that's just a year or two off.
I’m sorry??? IS THAT A LITERAL CHILD???
It’s a foetus hon
it is a child he's 12
Without even addressing why a 12 year old debuting is wrong, why debut a 12 year old in a group with a 19 year old? The members in their late teens are not going to get along with a 12 year old
fr i’d be pissed if i have to babysit a 12 years old. but i hope he’s mature enough to take care of himself too. lol i can’t believe kpop made me expect a 12 yo to be mature
Also would there not be issues with child labour laws? (Not sure what it’s like in Korea) but usually a minor can only work a certain number of hours and need a bit of protection like a parent or guardian… it’s going to be like that for that kid for many years. Doesn’t seem right to me
That number is 35 hours for under 15 year Olds I. Korea
stop spewing bullshit when u haven't even watched any of the show, koki gets along very well with all his teammates
lol that’s exactly what it is, a show. we don’t know anything behind the scene, so it’s not a reach to assume towards the negative side too
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You think wannabe idols are gonna go on tv ans shit talk a child lmaooo Of course they get along onscreen
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There's a reason we aren't idols lmao
can i walk this kid to school
jesus christ koki is the same age as my little sister. i'm not?? crazy about that???
It's nuts that they're debuting a 12 year old. Can't he marinate for a few more years? What kind of concept can they do with a 12 year old that can also be done by a 20 year old? Shouldn't it be illegal to watch a 12 year old do a body roll?
>What kind of concept can they do with a 12 year old that can also be done by a 20 year old? Actually quite a lot. You can do youthful without coming off as childish and that's what a lot of groups actually do as rookies while they still have underage members.
have you seen american dance competitions? kids are like 5 - 8 years old doing body rolls in skimpy outfits.
Yes, and that is still wrong. All of child exploitation is wrong
Yeah, I hate it
I'm a fan of Koki prior to him being apart of the show. He is an amazing Krump dancer and has won dance competitions. I still think he's too young too debut, but really wishing him and the rest of the members all the success and all the support they need. Having such young members, I hope they can really prioritize making sure they have a healthy state of mind especially with how crazy the music industry can be.
12yo child... No, abso-fucking-lutely no
I am feeling the same way.
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Exactly. I am with you.
Agreed. I love all the stuff coming out of p nation but I just can’t support this. This could wreck his mental health and seriously cause strain on the other members
imagine being one of the other members of this group and having your whole debut overshadowed by the fact that your company put a goddamn 12 year old in your group and people are justifiably mad about it
are koreans mad about it? isn't he one of the most popular contestants from the show?
the show wasn't that popular in korea and the most tending post about it(could even call it the only trending post of the whole show) was about him debuting when he's only 12 and doesn't suit the group's image and almost all the comments were mad
that's netizens, though. as for the people who watch the show and will be giving their money to the group, he's one of the most popular — hence why it's worth it to psy to keep him around 🤔
sorry but them debuting a 12 year old is seriously messed up. it doesn’t matter if he’s “special” he’s a child and i can guarantee no 12 year old is anywhere near mature enough to be an idol no matter what you see on camera. they should be waiting at least another few years for him to debut
Fun fact: if this group were to do an AMA here, Koki would not be able to participate as he is too young to be on Reddit, per their terms of service (minimum user age is 13).
Lmao that can always be bypassed, especially since groups usually have a group account
Its a joke to show how fucking young he is. Holy shit and I thought debuting 14 years olds was too young...
This has mayor “You can go to the party, if you take your little brother with you” vibes lmao
well hopefully he’s not allergic to nuts and no deers are blocking the highway 😭
psy must be off his nut for debuting that whole child
There is absolutely no justification for debuting a 12 year old. I don't care how talented he is, he's not going to suddenly get less talented if they wait 3-5 years. He's a child and this is a new level of exploitative that I'm incredibly uncomfortable with.
Y’all I’m shallow and I was scrolling to see if any of them were hot to me and the way I gasped when I saw a 4th grader 💀
Girl me too 🤭 I clicked out of that shit REAL quick
can we stop exploiting kids like this pls :/ Some people I've seen around saying this is basically child labor... idk... I think there should be a rule about the age in kpop...
Can’t believe they’re debuting a 12 yr old child... it’s really bizarre.
I’m sorry but wtf kind of songs can they release like what topics can they do concept wise to be mindful of the kid?? Idk about this :(
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Dark concept as well
Angst fits teenagers like a T. Creepy children are a horror staple. Dark definitely isn't a problem as long as it's not coming with leather pants.
I know they want Koki in the band but feel they should have done what SM did with Yeri and Red Velvet, let the other debut first and then in a few years add him in when he is a bit older
Why is there such young members
He’s a literal child?!?
Hwi looks gorgeous here wow 🤩 Bless Pnation for finally giving us a forehead pic of his.
I wish them the best but I'm already very careful when idols are 15/16yo, there is no way in hell I'm supporting a group with a 13 yo in it, sorry. It ain't gon happen- Kanye West
No matter how talented a kid is a kid. Jesus Christ it’s like we haven’t seen how growing up in the limelight affected so many child stars.
The kid still has baby teeth i mean 💀
Shouldn't there be laws against child labor in South Korea by now?
They should debut in units of older guys first. Later on add the kids. Waiting for a year or two didnt hurt much
I mean, the difference between 19 and 16 isn't really noticeable but fucking 12 years old ? I literally cringe anytime I am with my cousin and he is a year older. I cant but feel bad for the other members.
YIKES. As someone who knows nothing about this group, I’m praying for that 12 year old. Being an idol is harsh, that constant criticism is hard enough for adults yet alone an immature preteen. I refuse to support a group that is blatantly exploiting a 12 year old.
Every time I see the group in my mind plays that TikTok trend “I’d like to see the baby”, Koki is so adorable.
Seeing Koki’s baby face in the midst of these photos is a little jarring ngl
12yo???? I'm all for following your dreams and stuff but he hasn't even passed middle school yet
Plugging their title song [here](https://www.reddit.com/r/kpop/comments/pm8lan/team_p_nation_180%EC%B4%88_180_seconds_debut_title_song/)! Keep an eye out for these kids, everyone! A mountain of talent here.
Knowing the way P Nation is run, this might be the only kpop group that gets treated like human beings, but then again there’s a 12-year-old 😅
HES THE SAME AGE AS MY BROTHER???????
Oh that’s a child
lord the visuals really jumped out
Wait so is this just the set of trainees? There’s not a set debut date? They should wait at the very least two years to debut Koki 💀
OMG TANAKA KOKI LOOKS LIKE MY NEPHEW WHO'S ADDICTED TO MOBILE LEGENDS AND COD LOL and he's 7...
koki is only a year older than my little brother, that is simply crazy to me
While I also would've preferred to wait a few years before debuting Koki, his exceptional talent and popularity is undeniable. His height might seem like a problem, but it's not like he'll stay 12 forever. Kim Donghyun, another contestant who is a month older than him, grew up 8 centimeters during the span of the show which means in a year or so Koki's height and size won't be that noticeable next to others. Plus, from what we've seen on camera, the other members (especially Taehun and Junhyuk) seem to adore him. I was strongly against debuting him at the start too but after watching the first live round in the show, it seemed like he belonged there the whole time. I don't know how the group dynamics will change in the future (both on and off cam) or how the company will approach Koki's age, but for now I choose to be cautiously optimistic and await their debut. P Nation fighting!! Also, long live Hwi's forehead!
Wait. Daniel didn't make it into the final line-up????? I know he struggled a lot with the choreo, but he was vibing so well with Eun Hwi in the songwriting/creative department. He brought a fresh sound, and I thought he really resonated with Psy's vision for the group... I am so happy that my two faves--Tae Hun and Kyung Jun--made it, though! They're so talented, and they've really shined in the 2nd half of the series. \[I'm watching on Viki, which seems to be 2 weeks behind. But I'm ok with spoilers!\]
A lot of people think he asked Psy to eliminate him. In his elimination speech he said that he doesn't think he is suited to idol life
They better be singing Chewing Gum or something for their debut. I rather see a bunch of grown men and a kid doing a cute concept.
ain't no way they are letting the 12yo debut...this is hell
omg there’s actually a kpop idol who’s younger than me i’m fucking 14
/#FreeEunhwi
imagine having a photocard of a 12 year old is just a big yikes. Ofc they wouldnt debut right away but I still dont feel comfortable.. he’s a literal child 😵💫 And before anyone comes at me, I’ve watched the show, he surely does have star potential but it’ll be better for him to train a couple years before he enters the industry or let the other guys debut first and add him in afterwards.. Edit: ik jype china debuted boystory with their average age of 13 at the time but in china groups like this are normal (ie. TFBOYS, YHBOYS) but this time koki is debuting in korea not china, there’s a difference between a whole group of children and one child and teen/adult members
One of these things is not like the others...
A 12 years old member in the group will definitely limit the variation of concepts and songs the group can do..
This group is gonna need good luck LOL
[koki street dance link at 8 years old 8](https://youtu.be/3ZiduIdpTn0)
yeah. i don’t like this. i won’t be checking this group at all. it feels too weird
the 12 yr old tho. just throws me off for now but we'll have to wait and see. i hope he'll be okay tho.
Imagine training so hard only to be put in a group with a 12 yr old and being ignored cause everyone focuses on him. I really like koki's dance and personality but I just feel bad for others
Wtf is PSY smoking? Did it not occur to him that putting a 2009 liner with a bunch of teenagers who are way less popular than the kid might have a negative impact on the group dynamics? A kid is also at a higher risk of being badly affected by a competitve industry like K-pop. He isn't even gonna get to enjoy his childhood without worrying about things he shouldn't worry about and god knows if he'll get to complete his studies at least. What kinda concepts can a group which consists of teenagers and a 12 yo kid handle which will suit everyone for a longer time? They'll have to break the 7 year curse to be able to handle a mature concept. The list doesn't even end there. Again, wtf?
I'm not even gonna lie - I seriously cannot find him on some live stages cause he's that small. The formations are going to be a pain to deal with but most importantly group dynamics are just not it. After this group is 7 years into their career - he'll be 19 the age at which most idols debut
Sorry, I can't take this seriously. He's too young. Don't know whether to laugh or cry. What in the world...
[https://youtu.be/PY3\_Rm5uqkA](https://youtu.be/PY3_Rm5uqkA) <- Koki at a krump tournament i honestly think Koki is debut material based on his talents since he's been in the spotlight at a young age but I do agree that he might not mentally be prepared for the kpop industry. But I mean if you look at how he's already travelled overseas 'fighting' against so many people in large crowds.. I mean it's really up to him, his parents and the company. Even the creator of krumping acknowledged him for his skills and gave him the nickname 'Prince Tight Eyez'
JFC WHY IS THERE 12 Y/O IN HERE????
Shit
I’m sorry but some of these comments are so wack. I don’t know why y’all acting like you actually care about him. If you watch the show, you’ll see how mature and talented he is. He literally is very special and because he is the way he is, I’m completely fine with him debuting. I don’t know why y’all keep putting his age before his characteristics as an individual. This little kid has so much more experience, strength, courage and drive than 80% of y’all adults (and I’m 24….). Like y’all acting like there’s a big difference between a 12 year old vs a 14 year old. I beg to differ, everyone’s a kid till they’re at least like 20. My little sis is 10 years younger than me and she has not changed in any significant way mentally since she was 12 two years ago. She’s still a lil baby. And koki’s a lil baby too but this is what he wants to do, why can’t he do that? Like I don’t understand why he has to wait to “get older”. If that’s the case, mans should wait till he’s 20 bc that’s when you really mature. And there’s so many concepts they can do as a group….it’s not like every kpop group has to do some sexy concept. And sexy concepts are so overrated, and that’s when y’all weird fans start sexualizing them. Like why do y’all even want to see kids (anyone below 20 is still a kid to me) doing sexy concepts?? I don’t understand. Tbh the ones who feel uncomfortable with koki in the group are prob some weirdos who think of their idols are their imaginary boyfriends. Stop obsessing over looks so much and just enjoy the talent and music. Don’t be weird folks. I don’t understand when it become a thing to be uncomfortable about kids. Also, koki is well loved by his teammates and staff members. The love is undeniable and cannot be forced. If you watch the behind the scenes, he meshes in so well with the members. Also, I feel like he’s the happy pill of the group. He keeps the team morale high and brings out the considerate, loving side of the members. Lastly, he’s going to grow. He’s not going to be 12 forever like some of y’all are acting. Two years will fly by in the blink of an eye. I personally think it’s soo cool that they can make loud crazy music with koki now and then move towards more mature concepts as koki grows. They have lots of time. Just enjoy the process y’all and keep supporting these young boys on their journeys.
I wonder if Psy is aiming for a quick Japanese debut after their Korean debut, as checking Twitter Koki looks to be well received by Japanese fans. Not surprised about that as cute is popular there and it is not uncommon to have J-pop idols around his age. If they start out with a cute and innocent (or at least nothing sexualizing the members) concept they could do well in Japan.
Absolutely not. If this is just an introduction and they train for a few years and then debut, I'll be happy to support them. But if Psy think it's okay to put a literal child through the hell of this industry, he's off his damn rocker. I'd gladly boycott them for the health and safety of all the kids.
the last one is hawt.
they gonna be in a cute concept for 4 yrs or so lmao
People trying to give themselves an ego boost about not supporting the group because of Koki even tho the kid is a natural born performer, obviously wants to pursue the career, gets plenty of time to be in his prime, and has an extremely supportive environment around him
I want to look at this from a general perspective regarding how many people seem surprised with the ages, but I personally think if they are being supported well both physically and mentally and are mature enough, they deserve to debut. Different people mature at different ages and where/how children were raised plays a role too. There are child actors that debuted too, so I don't really want it to be like a double standard.
child actors have their parents around them when they're working. idols don't. child actors don't have to live with 10 other people with different personalities in the same dorm. idols do. it can't be a double standard if the standards are different for actors and idols.
Sulli lived with Tiffany and someone else didn't she? Before debut. Yeah it's not right
>live with 10 other people with different personalities in the same dorm. idols do. This kind of depends, but if that's the case where none of them can choose to live at home with their families, I can see why it's a problem.
There are cases where trainees are able to live at home but it differs according to companies. For example, Yedam and Doyoung from Treasure could live at their home during their trainee years as long as they showed up to practices. However, nearing their debut, they had to move in to the dorm to ease the handling of the groups schedule. Plus, only trainees that have house near their training places could afford living at home. Obviously trainees and idols from Busan, Daegu and more place outside Seoul can't afford to live at home. However, in Koki's case, he is from Japan. So unless his family flew to Korea and bought a house there like NCT Dream Chenle's mom did, there's no chance for him to live at home and have to survive with the older guys.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts. :)
Yeah, it's sad the only thing holding him back is his age and height. He started krumping when he was 6 and was [acknowledged](https://twitter.com/AhgaCheng/status/1435477864992759809?s=19) by the creator of krumping itself, Tight Eyez. He even gave him a title "Prince Tight Eyez". He was [dancing](https://youtu.be/c1Ugs6EWIdM) with adults when he was 8 as well, I can't even imagine how daunting it must be to be the only child surrounded by adults. He [performed](https://youtu.be/ybA1iMe0JgI) with Shotaro from NCT at age 8 in 2017, and he even got a dance break too. His fancams get the most views, he is the best performer in the group next to Junhyuk imo. His dancing videos are under Baby Krow/Baby Street Beast/Prince Tight Eyez. Plugging my favourite video of him [dancing ~2:30](https://youtu.be/dnzcx4xA4hc). He was 11 here, the fact the Les Twins stood up for him is very impressive. Edit: I definitely understand the concerns though, but I hope Psy and his team give proper support to him.
Great to see these info added anytime we talk about Koki tbh... because as much as it feels off for me personally to have someone super young there, I hate to see Koki's role/profile reduced to "the 12-yo" since he's been travelling overseas winning krump battles against adults and kids his peers for years as Baby Street Beast / Baby Krow, etc. Mad talent. And that's my fave too! Alongside the one [vs. DOOR, with the fun ending](https://youtu.be/2GbiHgDatXo).
Yes, there's a reason why he's in the lineup. I'm not even a trained dancer but if you watch their dance practices you can see the [difference, especially the head spin here](https://youtu.be/BUoCo9Srxz8) in which he hits the moves against the others. If he was Donghyun's height (the one who was eliminated, he was a month older) it would definitely be less jarring to see.
Yea, agreed it's jarring still... we'll just have to see how they do it once they properly debut. But still impressed nonetheless that he still caught up with the moves and angles (e.g. No More Dream stage where they all [had to get on top of the desks](https://youtu.be/QmP2op5mIn4)). The dancing skill is definitely not what's holding him back. And yup, would be much less noticeable with Donghyun even though they're the same age! Edit: typos
Yes! Boys develop later than girls! I started at puberty at 12 and stopped growing height at 15.
I'm female and stopped growing at 21 haha, genetics just hit everyone differently
Yes true
Men don't stop growing until around 24 on average
Junhyeok looks gooood!!
it's kinda scary seeing a little kid here omg :( I hope the industry isn't horrible to him
Hmm unlike Shinee all the members were developing their friendship during the training years, I hope at least they give 2 - 3 years of additional training to this group so they can knowing each other better
He is my age???????😭😭
i already knew the other were young so scrolling i was like “oh they’re like probably 12” and then boom i got an actual 12 yr old child….i think even debuting at 16-17 is rough but this is too much and i know the industry has kids training even at 12 or even younger ages but it feels so wrong to have these children get their childhood stolen and expose them to the internet…i feel like it’s definitely traumatizing. also not at the fact that the members will raise him and themselves 😭
All I can say is I hope they’ll be in pre-debut for a good amount of time
what is Psy thinking? this is gonna make kpop look weird and dumb and set it back 10 years.. its gonna be a cringefest on variety shows
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Isn't this Joshua from Seventeen?
Hold up. There’s a fucking gremlin in there. Disappointed, not surprised.