In the high-stakes, whirlwind world of K-pop, youth has long been a cornerstone of the industry’s allure. Since the late 1990s, it’s almost a given for idol groups to include at least one member still in their teens. But a rare few take it further, debuting with an entire lineup of underage performers. For these young stars, navigating the spotlight and weathering the relentless pressures of fame while barely out of childhood is a challenge that demands resilience far beyond their years.

Here are some of the groups that debuted in the K-pop scene with an all-minor (under 18) lineups.

S.E.S.

S.E.S., one of K-pop's pioneering girl groups, debuted in 1997 with three young, fresh faces. Bada was just 17 years old, while Eugene and Shoo were both 16. Their youthful energy and catchy songs quickly made them one of the most successful and influential K-pop girl groups.

Sugar

Sugar's debut in 2001 showcased a group of teenage idols—Ahyoomee was 17 years old, with the other three members, Jungeum, Hyesung, and Soojin, all being just 16 years old. Although they didn’t achieve the same level of success as other groups of the era, they gained a loyal fanbase.

TVXQ!

TVXQ!, one of the most iconic and pioneering K-pop groups in history, debuted in 2003 with a lineup of five teenage members: Jaejoong, Yunho, Yoochun, Junsu, and the youngest member, Changmin, who was only 15. The remaining four members were all 17 at the time.

Wonder Girls

Debuted in 2007, Wonder Girls’ original lineup caught fans’ attention with the young age of the members. Yeeun and Sunye were both 17 years old, while the other members—Sunmi, HyunA, and Sohee—were only 14 at the time. They ended up becoming one of the most iconic girl groups in K-pop history.

FTISLAND

FTISLAND, a rock band that debuted in 2007, was another group made up of teenagers. Hongki, Jonghun, and Wonbin were all 17 years old, while Jaejin was just 15 and Minhwan was only 14. Despite being minors, their talents won the hearts of the fans.

TEEN TOP

Debuting in 2010, TEEN TOP became known for their youthful image and impressive dance routines. All of the members were teenagers at the time, with C.A.P being 17, Chunji and L.Joe at 16, Niel and Ricky at 15, and Changjo, the youngest, just 14 years old.

AKMU

AKMU, the popular sibling duo under YG Entertainment, debuted as minors. Chanhyuk was 17 years old, and his younger sister, Suhyun, was only 14 when they debuted in 2014. AKMU gained massive popularity right away due to their unique sound and amazing music.

NCT DREAM

NCT DREAM, the popular sub-unit of NCT, debuted in 2016 with a lineup of exceptionally young members. Mark, the oldest member, was only 17, while Renjun, Jeno, Haechan, and Jaemin were 16. The youngest members, Chenle and Jisung, were only 14.

CSR

CSR is a seven-member girl group consisting of Geumhee, Sihyeon, Seoyeon, Yuna, Duna, Sua, and Yeham. They made their debut in July 2022, with all the members being 17 years old except for the maknae, Yeham, who was 16. Their concept is ‘a class of young girls who were born in 2005.’

With more and more minor idols entering the K-pop scene, the debate over the ethics and implications of debuting young talent is still ongoing. What’s your opinion on this?

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