Whilst appearing as a guest in the variety show Running Man alongside band member Ahyeon, BABYMONSTER’s Japanese member Asa shocked fans with her unexpected confession of having ‘only graduated kindergarten’. The 19-year-old said she’s been in Korea for six years and that she started training whilst she was still in elementary school.
‘I’m a Kindergarten Graduate’
No doubt Asa’s claim that she’s a kindergarten graduate stunned many fans. But that isn’t to say she stopped studying that young. When you break it down, it just means that after starting life as a trainee in Korea, she interrupted her formal studies and didn’t obtain an elementary school diploma or any certificates for higher studies. In effect, since she didn’t graduate elementary, I reckon that’s the reason why she said she’s a kindergarten graduate.
Whatever the case, whilst some expressed admiration for her drive to reach her dreams at such a young age, her situation didn’t sit well with many Netizens who felt she should’ve at least finished high school to give her a solid foundation. Unfortunately however, that’s a reality many aspiring idols are facing as the trainee system often leads many to drop out of school. In an industry that highlights debuting at a young age as an advantage, many end up sacrificing education for a potential career as an idol.
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Anon
There should be a law protecting minor in entertainment industry. stop having formal studies at very young age is an abuse to any minor.