Are K-Pop Idols Really Getting Younger? A Look At The Average Debut Ages Of Idols Over The Last 15 Years
Over the last year or two, there has been an increase in K-Pop fans discussing the topic of what is an appropriate age for idols to debut. With groups like NewJeans, LE SSERAFIM, and NMIXX debuting idols as young as 14 or 15, fans are concerned that the age that idols are starting their careers are just going to continue to get younger. But is this a new trend, or has it been happening for longer than fans realize?
Here’s a look at the debut ages and average debut ages of K-Pop idols and their respective groups over the last 16 years, from 2008 until now, to see if there is any kind of trend. Each year is ranked from youngest to oldest average debut age.
1. 2008
1. SHINee
Member ages at debut:
- Onew: 18
- Jonghyun: 18
- Key: 16
- Minho: 16
- Taemin: 14
Average debut age: 16.4
2. 2PM
Member ages at debut:
- Jay Park: 21
- Jun. K: 20
- Nichkhun: 20
- Taecyeon: 19
- Wooyoung: 19
- Junho: 18
- Chansung: 18
Average debut age: 19.3
2. 2009
1. f(x)
Member ages at debut:
- Victoria: 22
- Amber: 16
- Luna: 16
- Sulli: 15
- Krystal: 14
Group average debut age: 16.6
2. 4MINUTE
Member ages at debut:
- Jihyun: 19
- Gayoon: 19
- Jiyoon: 18
- HyunA: 17
- Sohyun: 14
Average debut age: 17.4
3. BEAST
Member ages at debut:
- Doojoon: 20
- Hyunseung: 20
- Junhyung: 19
- Yoseob: 19
- Gikwang: 19
- Dongwoon: 18
Average debut age: 19.2
4. T-ara
Member ages at debut:
- Boram: 23
- Qri: 22
- Soyeon: 21
- Eunjung: 20
- Hyomin: 20
- Jiyeon: 16
Average debut age: 20.3
5. 2NE1
Member ages at debut:
- Park Bom: 25
- Dara: 24
- CL: 18
- Minzy: 15
Average debut age: 20.5
3. 2010
1. SISTAR
Member ages at debut:
- Bora: 20
- Hyolyn: 19
- Soyou: 18
- Dasom: 17
Average debut age: 18.5
2. INFINITE
Member ages at debut:
- Sunggyu: 21
- Dongwoo: 19
- Woohyun: 19
- Hoya: 19
- Sungyeol: 18
- L: 18
- Sungjong: 16
Average debut age: 18.6
3. Miss A
Member ages at debut:
- Fei: 23
- Jia: 21
- Min: 19
- Suzy: 15
Average debut age: 19.5
4. Girl’s Day
Member ages at debut:
- Sojin: 24
- Jihae: 21
- Jisun: 20
- Jiin: 18
- Minah: 17
Average debut age: 20
4. 2011
1. Apink
Member ages at debut:
- Chorong: 20
- Bomi: 17
- Eunji: 17
- Naeun: 17
- Yookyung: 16
- Namjoo: 15
- Hayoung: 14
Group average debut age: 16.6
2. Block B
Member ages at debut:
- Taeil: 20
- B-Bomb: 20
- Jaehyo: 20
- U-Kwon: 19
- Kyung: 19
- Zico: 19
- P.O: 18
Average debut age: 19.3
5. 2012
1. NU’EST
Member ages at debut:
- Aron: 18
- JR: 16
- Baekho: 16
- Minhyun: 16
- Ren: 16
Group average debut age: 16.4
2. B.A.P
Member ages at debut:
- Yongguk: 21
- Himchan: 21
- Daehyun: 18
- Youngjae: 18
- Jongup: 16
- Zelo: 15
Average debut age: 18.2
3. AOA
Member ages at debut:
- Choa: 22
- Jimin: 21
- Yuna: 19
- Hyejeong: 19
- Youkyung: 19
- Mina: 18
- Seolhyun: 17
- Dohwa: 16
Average debut age: 18.9
4. EXID
Member ages at debut:
- Solji: 23
- Elly: 20
- Hani: 19
- Hyerin: 18
- Jeonghwa: 16
Average debut age: 19.2
5. VIXX
Member ages at debut:
- N: 21
- Leo: 21
- Ken: 20
- Ravi: 19
- Hongbin: 18
- Hyuk: 16
Average debut age: 19.2
6. BTOB
Member ages at debut:
- Eunkwang: 21
- Minhyuk: 21
- Changsub: 21
- Hyunsik: 20
- Peniel: 19
- Ilhoon: 17
- Sungjae: 16
Average debut age: 19.3
7. EXO
Member ages at debut:
- Xiumin: 22
- Luhan: 21
- Kris: 21
- Suho: 21
- Lay: 20
- Baekhyun: 19
- Chen: 19
- Chanyeol: 19
- D.O.: 19
- Tao: 18
- Kai: 18
- Sehun: 17
Average debut age: 19.5
6. 2013
1. BTS
Member ages at debut:
- Jin: 21
- Suga: 20
- J-Hope: 19
- RM: 19
- Jimin: 18
- V: 18
- Jungkook: 16
Average debut age: 18.7
7. 2014
2. GOT7
Member ages at debut:
- Mark: 20
- Jay B: 20
- Jackson: 19
- Jinyoung: 19
- Youngjae: 17
- BamBam: 16
- Yugyeom: 16
Average debut age: 18.1
1. Red Velvet
Member ages at debut:
- Irene: 23
- Seulgi: 20
- Wendy: 20
- Joy: 17
Average debut age: 20
3. MAMAMOO
Member ages at debut:
- Solar: 23
- Moonbyul: 21
- Wheein: 19
- Hwasa: 18
Group average debut age: 20.3
4. WINNER
Member ages at debut:
- Jinu: 22
- Hoony: 22
- Mino: 21
- Yoon: 20
- Taehyun: 20
Group average debut age: 21
8. 2015
1. GFRIEND
Member ages at debut:
- Sowon: 19
- Yerin: 18
- Eunha: 17
- Yuju: 17
- SinB: 16
- Umji: 16
Average debut age: 17.2
2. TWICE
Member ages at debut:
- Nayeon: 20
- Jeongyeon: 18
- Momo: 18
- Sana: 18
- Jihyo: 18
- Mina: 18
- Dahyun: 17
- Chaeyoung: 16
- Tzuyu: 16
Average debut age: 17.7
3. SEVENTEEN
Member ages at debut:
- S.Coups: 19
- Jeonghan: 19
- Joshua: 19
- Jun: 18
- Hoshi: 18
- Wonwoo: 18
- Woozi: 18
- DK: 18
- Mingyu: 18
- The8: 17
- Seungkwan: 17
- Vernon: 17
- Dino: 16
Average debut age: 17.8
4. CLC
Member ages at debut:
- Seunghee: 19
- Yujin: 18
- Seungyeon: 18
- Sorn: 18
- Yeeun: 16
Average debut age: 17.8
5. OH MY GIRL
Member ages at debut:
- Hyojung: 20
- JinE: 20
- Mimi: 19
- YooA: 19
- Seunghee: 19
- Jiho: 18
- Binnie: 17
- Arin: 15
Average debut age: 18.4
6. iKON
Member ages at debut:
- Jay: 21
- Song: 20
- Bobby: 19
- B.I: 18
- DK: 18
- Ju-ne: 18
- Chan: 17
Average debut age: 18.7
7. MONSTA X
Member ages at debut:
- Shownu: 22
- Wonho: 22
- Minhyuk: 21
- Kihyun: 21
- Hyungwon: 21
- Joohoney: 20
- I.M: 19
Group average debut age: 20.9
8. DAY6
Member ages at debut:
- Jae: 22
- Sungjin: 22
- Junhyeok: 22
- Young K: 21
- Wonpil: 21
- Dowoon: 20
Average debut age: 21.3
9. 2016
1. NCT DREAM
Member ages at debut:
- Mark: 17
- Renjun: 16
- Jeno: 16
- Haechan: 16
- Jaemin: 16
- Chenle: 14
- Jisung: 14
Group average debut age: 15.6
2. ASTRO
Member ages at debut:
- JinJin: 19
- Moonbin: 18
- Eunwoo: 18
- MJ: 18
- Rocky: 16
- Sanha: 15
Average debut age: 17.3
3. MOMOLAND
Member ages at debut:
- Hyebin: 20
- Yeonwoo: 20
- Jane: 18
- Taeha: 18
- Nayun: 18
- Daisy: 17
- JooE: 17
- Ahin: 17
- Nancy: 16
Average debut age: 17.9
4. Cosmic Girls/WJSN
Member ages at debut:
- SeolA: 21
- Xuan Yi: 21
- Bona: 20
- EXY: 20
- Soobin: 19
- Luda: 18
- Dawon: 18
- Eunseo: 17
- Cheng Xiao: 17
- Mei Qi: 17
- Yeoreum: 17
- Dayoung: 16
Average debut age: 18.4
5. NCT 127
Member ages at debut:
- Taeil: 22
- Johnny: 21
- Taeyong: 21
- Yuta: 20
- Doyoung: 20
- Jaehyun: 19
- WinWin: 18
- Jungwoo: 18
- Mark: 16
- Haechan: 16
Average debut age: 19.1
6. BLACKPINK
Member ages at debut:
- Jisoo: 21
- Jennie: 20
- Rosé: 19
- Lisa: 19
Average debut age: 19.8
7. SF9
Member ages at debut:
- Inseong: 23
- Youngbin: 22
- Jaeyoon: 22
- Dawon: 21
- Zuho: 20
- Rowoon: 20
- Taeyang: 19
- Hwiyoung: 17
- Chani: 16
Group average debut age: 20
8. PENTAGON
Member ages at debut:
- Jinho: 24
- Hui: 23
- Hongseok: 22
- E’Dawn: 22
- Shinwon: 20
- Yeo One: 20
- Yanan: 19
- Yuto: 18
- Kino: 18
- Wooseok: 18
Average debut age: 20.4
10. 2017
1. Weki Meki
Member ages at debut:
- Suyeon: 20
- Elly: 19
- Yoojung: 17
- Doyeon: 17
- Sei: 17
- Lua: 16
- Rina: 15
- Lucy: 14
Group average debut age: 16.9
2. THE BOYZ
Member ages at debut:
- Sangyeon: 20
- Jacob: 20
- Younghoon: 20
- Hyunjae: 20
- Juyeon: 19
- Kevin: 19
- New: 19
- Q: 18
- Juhaknyeon: 18
- Hwall: 17
- Sunwoo: 17
- Eric: 16
Average debut age: 18.6
3. Golden Child
Member ages at debut:
- Daeyeol: 24
- Y: 22
- Jaeseok: 21
- Jangjun: 20
- Tag: 19
- Seungmin: 18
- Jaehyun: 18
- Jibeom: 18
- Donghyun: 18
- Joochan: 18
- Bomin: 17
Average debut age: 19.4
4. Dreamcatcher
Member ages at debut:
- JiU: 22
- SuA: 22
- Siyeon: 21
- Handong: 20
- Yoohyeon: 20
- Dami: 19
- Gahyeon: 17
Average debut age: 20.1
11. 2018
1. Stray Kids
Member ages at debut:
- Woojin: 20
- Bang Chan: 20
- Lee Know: 19
- Changbin: 18
- Hyunjin: 18
- Han: 17
- Felix: 17
- Seungmin: 17
- I.N: 17
Average debut age: 18.1
2. LOONA
Member ages at debut:
- Haseul: 21
- Vivi: 21
- Yves: 21
- JinSoul: 21
- Kim Lip: 19
- Chuu: 18
- Heejin: 17
- Hyunjin: 17
- Gowon: 17
- Choerry: 17
- Olivia Hye: 16
- Yeojin: 15
Average debut age: 18.3
3. fromis_9
Member ages at debut:
- Saerom: 21
- Hayoung: 20
- Gyuri: 20
- Jiwon: 19
- Jisun: 19
- Seoyeon: 18
- Chaeyoung: 17
- Nagyung: 17
- Jiheon: 14
Average debut age: 18.3
4. ATEEZ
Member ages at debut:
- Seonghwa: 20
- Hongjoong: 19
- Yunho: 19
- Yeosang: 19
- San: 19
- Mingi: 19
- Wooyoung: 18
- Jongho: 18
Average debut age: 18.9
5. (G)I-DLE
Member ages at debut:
- Miyeon: 21
- Minnie: 20
- Soojin: 20
- Soyeon: 19
- Yuqi: 18
- Shuhua: 18
Average debut age: 19.3
12. 2019
1. ITZY
Member ages at debut:
- Yeji: 18
- Lia: 18
- Ryujin: 17
- Chaeryeong: 17
- Yuna: 15
Average debut age: 17
2. Rocket Punch
Member ages at debut:
- Juri: 21
- Yeonhee: 18
- Suyun: 18
- Yunkyoung: 17
- Sohee: 15
- Dahyun: 14
Average debut age: 17.2
3. TXT
Member ages at debut:
- Yeonjun: 19
- Soobin: 18
- Taehyun: 17
- Beomgyu: 17
- Huening Kai: 16
Average debut age: 17.4
4. Cherry Bullet
Member ages at debut:
- Haeyoon: 23
- Yuju: 21
- Bora: 19
- Jiwon: 18
- Remi: 17
- Chaerin: 16
- May: 14
Average debut age: 18.3
5. EVERGLOW
Member ages at debut:
- E:U: 20
- Sihyeon: 19
- Mia: 19
- Onda: 18
- Aisha: 18
- Yiren: 18
Average debut age: 18.7
6. WayV
Member ages at debut:
- Kun: 23
- Ten: 22
- WinWin: 21
- Lucas: 19
- Xiaojun: 19
- Hendery: 19
- YangYang: 18
Group average debut age: 20.1
7. ONEUS
Member ages at debut:
- Ravn: 23
- Seoho: 22
- Leedo: 21
- Keonhee: 20
- Hwanwoong: 20
- Xion: 18
Group average debut age: 20.7
13. 2020
1. Weeekly
Member ages at debut:
- Soojin: 18
- Jiyoon: 18
- Monday: 18
- Soeun: 17
- Jaehee: 16
- Jihan: 15
- Zoa: 15
Average debut age: 16.7
2. ENHYPEN
Member ages at debut:
- Heeseung: 19
- Jay: 18
- Jake: 18
- Sunghoon: 17
- Sunoo: 17
- Jungwon: 16
- Ni-ki: 14
Average debut age: 17
3. STAYC
Member ages at debut:
- Sumin: 19
- Sieun: 19
- Isa: 18
- Seeun: 17
- Yoon: 16
- J: 15
Average debut age: 17.3
4. TREASURE
Member ages at debut:
- Hyunsuk: 21
- Jihoon: 20
- Yoshi: 20
- Junkyu: 19
- Mashiho: 19
- Jaehyuk: 19
- Asahi: 18
- Yedam: 18
- Doyoung: 16
- Haruto: 16
- Jeongwoo: 15
- Junghwan: 15
Average debut age: 18
5. CRAVITY
Member ages at debut:
- Serim: 21
- Allen: 20
- Jungmo: 20
- Woobin: 19
- Wonjin: 19
- Minhee: 17
- Hyeongjun: 17
- Taeyoung: 17
- Seongmin: 16
Average debut age: 18.4
6. aespa
Member ages at debut:
- Karina: 20
- Giselle: 20
- Winter: 19
- NingNing: 18
Average debut age: 19.3
7. Secret Number
Member ages at debut:
- Léa: 24
- Dita: 23
- Jinny: 22
- Minji: 21
- Soodam: 20
- Zuu: 20
Average debut age: 21.7
14. 2021
1. EPEX
Member ages at debut:
- Wish: 19
- Keum: 18
- Mu: 17
- A-Min: 17
- Baekseung: 16
- Ayden: 16
- Yewang: 16
- Jeff: 16
Average debut age: 16.9
2. IVE
Member ages at debut:
- Gaeul: 19
- Yujin: 18
- Rei: 17
- Wonyoung: 17
- Liz: 17
- Leeseo: 14
Average debut age: 17
3. TRI.BE
Member ages at debut:
- Songsun: 23
- Kelly: 19
- Jinha: 17
- Hyunbin: 16
- Jia: 15
- Soeun: 15
- Mire: 14
Average debut age: 17
4. Billlie
Member ages at debut:
- Moon Sua: 22
- Suhyeon: 21
- Haram: 20
- Tsuki: 19
- Sheon: 18
- Siyoon: 16
- Haruna: 15
Average debut age: 18.7
5. PURPLE KISS
Member ages at debut:
- Jieun: 23
- Goeun: 21
- Dosie: 21
- Ireh: 18
- Yuki: 18
- Chaein: 18
- Swan: 17
Average debut age: 19.4
15. 2022
1. NewJeans
Member ages at debut:
- Minji: 18
- Hanni: 17
- Danielle: 17
- Haerin: 16
- Hyein: 14
Average debut age: 16.4
2. NMIXX
Member ages at debut:
- Lily: 19
- Haewon: 18
- Sullyoon: 18
- Jinni: 17
- Bae: 17
- Jiwoo: 16
- Kyujin: 15
Average debut age: 17.1
3. LE SSERAFIM
Member ages at debut:
- Sakura: 24
- Chaewon: 21
- Yunjin: 20
- Kazuha: 18
- Garam: 16
- Eunchae: 15
Average debut age: 19
16. 2023
1. xikers
Member ages at debut:
- Minjae: 19
- Junmin: 19
- Sumin: 18
- Jinsik: 18
- Hyunwoo: 18
- Junghoon: 17
- Seeun: 17
- Hunter: 17
- Yujun: 17
- Yechan: 17
Average debut age: 17.7
2. BOYNEXTDOOR
Member ages at debut:
- Sungho: 19
- Riwoo: 19
- Jaehyun: 19
- Taesan: 18
- Leehan: 18
- Woonhak: 16
Average debut age: 18.2
3. 8TURN
Member ages at debut:
- Myungho: 21
- Jaeyun: 20
- Minho: 19
- Yoonsung: 19
- Haemin: 18
- Kyungmin: 18
- Yungyu: 17
- Seungheon: 15
Average debut age: 18.4
4. LUN8
Member ages at debut:
- Chael: 21
- Jinsu: 20
- Takuma: 19
- Junwoo: 19
- Dohyun: 19
- Ian: 19
- Ji Eunho: 17
- Eunseop: 16
Average debut age: 18.8
5. KISS OF LIFE
Member ages at debut:
- Julie: 23
- Natty: 21
- Belle: 19
- Haneul: 18
Average debut age: 20.3