HYBE’s female debut survival show, R U Next?, in collaboration with BELIFT LAB and JTBC, has come under hot waters for the age of one of its contestants. The show’s official social media accounts released profiles of all 22 participants on June 16, which included a female born in 2011 named ENA. Seeing a 12-year-old child enter an extremely competitive and exhausting survival has K-pop fans all riled up.Criticism poured in against HYBE, BELIFT LAB, and ENA’s parents for allowing a 12-year-old child to participate in the survival competition. K-pop fans also commented that they would not vote for ENA and requested fellow fans to join hands, as they are vehemently against the young female’s debut.tulip 🫧@yujinqt_07ummm so people let's not normalise a 12 year old debuting now, like she isn't even a teen, let alone minor she's a literal kid bro how does this make any sense? pls hybe wtf twitter.com/RU_Next_NEWS/s…RU Next? NEWS@RU_Next_NEWS14. HYEWON — 200515. WONHEE — 200716. YUISA — 200717. HASEUL — 200818. IRIS — 200819. IROHA — 200820. HIMENA — 200821. SEOYEON — 200822. ENA — 2011 #RUNext #알유넥스트98514. HYEWON — 200515. WONHEE — 200716. YUISA — 200717. HASEUL — 200818. IRIS — 200819. IROHA — 200820. HIMENA — 200821. SEOYEON — 200822. ENA — 2011 #RUNext #알유넥스트ummm so people let's not normalise a 12 year old debuting now, like she isn't even a teen, let alone minor she's a literal kid bro how does this make any sense? pls hybe wtf twitter.com/RU_Next_NEWS/s…R U Next? reveals a 2011-born contestant, fans vehemently criticize the agencyHYBE and BELIFT Lab’s debut survival show R U Next? raised much anticipation when it was first announced on June 1. Many were confused as the agencies were set to release a female-centric sequel to I-LAND, a teaser of which they had posted in September last year. Many speculated that the upcoming survival show was created in place of I-LAND 2.The much-awaited contestant lineup was finally revealed on June 16. What caught the majority of K-pop fans’ eyes was the profile of ENA, a participant born in 2011. Fans expressed their disappointment and anger at HYBE and BELIFT LAB for releasing a debut survival show with a 12-year-old contestant.The K-pop industry has recently seen idols’ debut age reduced to 13-14 years old and capped at approximately 20-21. SMROOKIES’ Shohei was criticized for debuting at age 26, while BABYMONSTER (YG Entertainment) and NewJeans (ADOR) came under fire for debuting 13 and 14 year old’s in their teams. However, the contestant lineup for R U Next? implies that the debut age of an idol has dropped further to 12 years old.K-pop fans, who have raised their voices against minors debuting in the overworked, over-competitive, stressful, and sometimes exploitative Korean music industry, once again talked about how dangerous it was to have a 2011-born child compete on a survival show that will be broadcast across the world.Take a look at fans’ angry reactions towards finding a 12-year-old competing in R U Next? below:reim ❥ 김지웅@reimthvThe question is, WHY?? She's too young to be exposed to kpop industry. Why did they let her join at that age. twitter.com/rrunext/status…RU rune?@rrunextENA 에나birthday: 2011.02.17nationality: japanese mbti: ESFP61ENA 에나birthday: 2011.02.17nationality: japanese 🇯🇵mbti: ESFP https://t.co/QdapWVI6YxThe question is, WHY?? She's too young to be exposed to kpop industry. Why did they let her join at that age. twitter.com/rrunext/status…kweTIA.@jiwoongjiAre u seriously hybe? 2011?????3Are u seriously hybe? 2011????? https://t.co/g4VITEZzofsong ☆彡@nyupurinTHERES A 2011 LINER ON THIS NEW HYBE SHOW….?2THERES A 2011 LINER ON THIS NEW HYBE SHOW….? https://t.co/9s5f5MLlVtJJO1Lia@BELNstrikeThe vote should be done without thinking of age, bcz everyone working hard. But 2008 is last. I didn't expect there would be someone from 2011 liner. Like she is not even a teenager. HYBE has more label debuting GG in future. So, plz don't vote her. She needs to drop out first. twitter.com/rrunext/status…RU rune?@rrunextidc about opinions or views, ena should not debut and should’ve never been on the show. if you are voting for her I actually think there’s something wrong with you cause debuting an 11yo CHILD in an industry as tough as the idol industry is just WRONG.3211idc about opinions or views, ena should not debut and should’ve never been on the show. if you are voting for her I actually think there’s something wrong with you cause debuting an 11yo CHILD in an industry as tough as the idol industry is just WRONG.The vote should be done without thinking of age, bcz everyone working hard. But 2008 is last. I didn't expect there would be someone from 2011 liner. Like she is not even a teenager. HYBE has more label debuting GG in future. So, plz don't vote her. She needs to drop out first. twitter.com/rrunext/status…sina⁷☁️@sunnyhihiz2011??? nah thats the same age as my brother and he's a little child, seriously let's not vote for her twitter.com/rrunext/status…RU rune?@rrunextENA 에나birthday: 2011.02.17nationality: japanese mbti: ESFP152ENA 에나birthday: 2011.02.17nationality: japanese 🇯🇵mbti: ESFP https://t.co/QdapWVI6Yx2011??? nah thats the same age as my brother and he's a little child, seriously let's not vote for her twitter.com/rrunext/status…nessie in the shade@jjanggurizher parents need to be in jail im so serious twitter.com/rrunext/status…RU rune?@rrunextENA 에나birthday: 2011.02.17nationality: japanese mbti: ESFP126ENA 에나birthday: 2011.02.17nationality: japanese 🇯🇵mbti: ESFP https://t.co/QdapWVI6Yxher parents need to be in jail im so serious twitter.com/rrunext/status…rocío the boosadan🍊@chwesboo2011 on a survival show??? what tf is wrong with hybe twitter.com/nextpov/status…RU danna?@nextpovnow that the profiles are out, these are the girls i will NOT be supporting nor talking about in my profile, if you feel uncomfortable about it feel free to sb me:wonhee (2007) haseul (2008) iris (2008)iroha (2008)himena (2008)ena (2011)yuisa (2007)seoyeon (2008)1267now that the profiles are out, these are the girls i will NOT be supporting nor talking about in my profile, if you feel uncomfortable about it feel free to sb me:wonhee (2007) haseul (2008) iris (2008)iroha (2008)himena (2008)ena (2011)yuisa (2007)seoyeon (2008)2011 on a survival show??? what tf is wrong with hybe twitter.com/nextpov/status…kendall HOSHI DAY@adoreyunjinhybe need to be investigated. the parents need to be investigated. WHAT IS A 12 YEAR OLD DOING ON A SURVIVAL SHOW ?? twitter.com/ru_next_news/s…RU Next? NEWS@RU_Next_NEWS14. HYEWON — 200515. WONHEE — 200716. YUISA — 200717. HASEUL — 200818. IRIS — 200819. IROHA — 200820. HIMENA — 200821. SEOYEON — 200822. ENA — 2011 #RUNext #알유넥스트3338514. HYEWON — 200515. WONHEE — 200716. YUISA — 200717. HASEUL — 200818. IRIS — 200819. IROHA — 200820. HIMENA — 200821. SEOYEON — 200822. ENA — 2011 #RUNext #알유넥스트hybe need to be investigated. the parents need to be investigated. WHAT IS A 12 YEAR OLD DOING ON A SURVIVAL SHOW ?? twitter.com/ru_next_news/s…ruby ✧ thread 🆙@hyueningkisshybe/lift after recruiting kids that are practically not even teenagers to a survival show is crazy.. i still think its quite wrong for 13-16 y/os debuting and here we have a 12 year old possibly (?) 11 on a survival show… twitter.com/jihyunext/stat…RU brielle?@jihyunextam i going blind or does that say 2011...?110am i going blind or does that say 2011...? https://t.co/L3Knn1PW6Nhybe/lift after recruiting kids that are practically not even teenagers to a survival show is crazy.. i still think its quite wrong for 13-16 y/os debuting and here we have a 12 year old possibly (?) 11 on a survival show… twitter.com/jihyunext/stat…spunch bob@juyoaesthey got a 12 year old on the hybe show, the industry is horrible yes definitely but where are her parents?????they got a 12 year old on the hybe show, the industry is horrible yes definitely but where are her parents?????brey🧑‍🍳🛳️⁷@yoongigwapoWhat's up with hybe putting a 12 yr old in a survival show like? Hybe really be consistently losing points for me these days.What's up with hybe putting a 12 yr old in a survival show like? Hybe really be consistently losing points for me these days.jade@ioisloonaI better not see anyone vote for Ena on R U Next... that's a literal 12 year oldI better not see anyone vote for Ena on R U Next... that's a literal 12 year oldvanilla@carolluversim sorry but ena is a kid. she can debut but not for now. she's 12 yo, hyb3333. omg. twitter.com/RU_Next_NEWS/s…RU Next? NEWS@RU_Next_NEWS14. HYEWON — 200515. WONHEE — 200716. YUISA — 200717. HASEUL — 200818. IRIS — 200819. IROHA — 200820. HIMENA — 200821. SEOYEON — 200822. ENA — 2011 #RUNext #알유넥스트3328514. HYEWON — 200515. WONHEE — 200716. YUISA — 200717. HASEUL — 200818. IRIS — 200819. IROHA — 200820. HIMENA — 200821. SEOYEON — 200822. ENA — 2011 #RUNext #알유넥스트im sorry but ena is a kid. she can debut but not for now. she's 12 yo, hyb3333. omg. twitter.com/RU_Next_NEWS/s…jenna@haobinworldwhoever the parents are of this ena girl need to be investigated because why are they allowing their 12 year old on a survival show to possibly debut in such an industrywhoever the parents are of this ena girl need to be investigated because why are they allowing their 12 year old on a survival show to possibly debut in such an industryMeanwhile, R U Next? has already added more popular names to its roster. Idol-actor Sooyoung of Girls’ Generation will be hosting the show, which will have seven rounds in total. The production team called Sooyoung "the perfect MC fit" and "a reliable mentor and role model."Another popular idol-actress, Suzy, was roped in to sing the program’s theme song, With Full Speed. The song was introduced on June 12 as the background music for the show’s Brand Film.R U Next? will be released on June 30, 2023, at 8:50 pm KST on JTBC.