During a recent episode of “Running Man“, Asa shocked the spectators when he said, “I just graduated from kindergarten. I started training while I was still in elementary school.”
The comment became rapidly viral and aroused an intense online debate. Many Netizen have expressed concern about the first departure of ASA from formal education and have questioned the role of YG entertainment in the management of the educational development of their young trainees.
While it is common in k-pop for idols to start training in elementary schools, most are still encouraged to complete their studies, both through regular school, online education or school at home. Therefore, the observation of ASA which completed only the kindergarten – especially as a trainee of a large company like YG – has affected many unusual. Some have even labeled it “The idol with the lowest academic background in k-pop.”
On the evening of July 7, ASA took Weverse to clarify his statement, explaining that he was extremely nervous since it was the first time he performed in a variety show alone.
“Many people were surprised when I said I graduated from kindergarten. I had dreamed of becoming an artist from the elementary school and I started training.
He added, “I understood it as a joke, but I didn’t explain it well because of what I briefly talked. I still have a lot to learn and I am remembering to work even more.”
However, fans were divided. While some appreciated his honesty, others criticized the “Vague explanation.” According to ASA, he still attended elementary school during training, but did not confirmed if he actually graduated.
In a previous video released by YG, ASA showed up saying, “I am 12 years old and in the first average”, Indicating that at the time it was still enrolled in elementary school – since both Japan and Korea have six votes in elementary education.
Since ASA became part of YG Entertainment as a trainee in 2018, when he was only 12 years old, many hypothesize that they left school in Japan to train in Korea, without ever completing his primary education.
Born in 2006, ASA is not even the youngest member of Babymonster. That title goes to Chiquita, born in 2009 in Thailand, which made its debut in 2023 at the age of 14. Like ASA, Chiquita joined YG at 12 years old and, according to reports, the studies of middle schools is continuing through online education.
While the debate on young k-pop idols and their continuous education, the case of ASA has rekindled questions about how early training systems can be in conflict with academic development, in particular within the pressure of the entertainment sector.
