Is it better to debut at a younger or older age?

On an online forum, netizens discussed whether debuting later in life might be better than starting young. While it’s common in K-pop for idols to debut in their teens, there are instances where groups consist entirely of adults, with members launching their careers in their twenties.

Netizens highlighted several groups that have proven debuting at an older age can still lead to great success. A standout example was aespa, whose members—born between 2000 and 2001—rose to fame fairly quickly, showcasing maturity alongside their talent. 

Another notable mention was BLACKPINK, who debuted in 2016 when all members were at least 19 in international age, making them mature, legal adults.

The most upvoted comments on the forum discussion include:

"Debuting at twenty years old or older is much better, even for mental health."

"They actually seem more like adult women, which makes female fans go even crazier for them. Honestly, 15- or 16-year-olds don’t appeal as ultimate biases, whether to women or men."

"BLACKPINK debuted when they were all adults too. I also think it’s better to debut trainees who’ve been training longer and are adults rather than debuting kids who are too young. Among the recent rookies, I like that RIIZE isn’t super young."

"I prefer idols who are at least twenty years old and have a bit more maturity and a slightly older vibe, rather than those who are too young and childish, lol."

"At the very least, they should graduate from middle school before starting as trainees or debuting. Idols these days are way too young."

Many netizens agreed that debuting at an older age comes with advantages. Adult idols can explore a wider variety of concepts without restrictions and appeal to a broader fan base.

However, some argued that debuting at a younger age could be more beneficial for an idol’s career. Starting early allows for more years of activity and might provide a physical advantage in the demanding entertainment industry, with some successful examples being NewJeans and IVE. Companies may also prefer younger debuts to maximize an idol’s time in the spotlight.

Additional reactions from netizens included:

"Being a female fan who has supported both male and female idols, I’ve never been drawn to the maknae line when following girl groups. Female fans of girl groups will understand—having an adult woman vibe is really important."

"Sulli and Krystal seemed to capture both male and female fans as soon as they debuted at 16 years old. For the rest, not so much."

"It depends on the concept. For groups like aespa or K/DA-type groups, the concept works better with adult women. But with NewJeans, their fresh and youthful charm—like a cute and vibrant teen vibe—really matched their concept. I think the fact that they were students played a big role in their appeal."

"People say this because they dislike younger idols, lol. But if you think about the future, debuting early is much more advantageous, which is why entertainment companies push for early debuts."

"The fact that younger idols often go viral says everything."

"I personally prefer groups without minors because it allows for more diverse concepts without restrictions, and they seem more mature. I also like groups where all the members are adults."

"Just look at how Jang Wonyoung’s popularity skyrocketed after debuting with IVE. If she’d stayed with IZ*ONE, she wouldn’t have been as popular because she would’ve been stuck with a ‘young maknae’ image."

"Honestly, even guys don’t particularly like 15- or 16-year-old girl group members. Except for those with very specific tastes, most male fans prefer adult female idols in their early twenties. Women are the same—if idols look excessively young, they don’t really feel like idols, so they don’t get much interest."

"Debuting too young doesn’t sit well with me. It’s better to wait."

"Young idols like IVE and NewJeans are doing just fine, so I don’t really see why being older is necessarily better."

"I like how SM manages this. Groups like RIIZE or aespa don’t feel too young or immature, and I think that’s a good thing."

"Teenagers are too restricted by their concept. Even if they try to do sexy or chic concepts, it doesn’t really work for them."

"That said, being an idol takes a toll on your body, so debuting early can be advantageous. Jang Wonyoung is a good example—she’s in her eighth year, and she’s only in her early twenties now, lol."

"When you debut at 20 or 21, there’s no childish or immature vibe—it’s definitely a good thing."

What are your thoughts? At what age do you think is most ideal for an idol’s debut?

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