Age limit explaination (2005-2011)

I was born in 2000 and I also wanted to audition, so I get the frustration but some of the reactions I’m seeing about the HYBE India age limit are just not realistic.

The 2005–2011 age range makes complete sense. This is literally how the K-pop industry works. Companies don’t just pick “talented people”—they pick young people they can train for years. That’s the whole system. You join early, train for a long time, and then maybe debut in your late teens or early 20s.

If someone is already 24–25, by the time they go through training and are actually ready, they’d be close to 30. That’s just not how this industry operates. Most idols already have 5–10 years of experience by their mid-20s. It’s harsh, but that’s the reality.

I’ve seen so many comments saying things like “all the talented girls are older” or asking HYBE to change the age limit but honestly, that just sounds out of touch and those fans are so delusional . This isn’t a fair or flexible industry. It’s extremely strict and selective, and it’s been like this forever.

If you’re already struggling to accept something as basic as an age limit, then surviving the actual trainee system would be 100x harder. This career path is brutal, and there’s no room for entitlement.

I’m not saying this to be negative but I’m saying it because it’s the truth. I respect HYBE for sticking to the system they know works.

And yeah, it sucks to miss the chance. I’m in that position too. But not everything is meant to be adjusted to fit us.

Good luck to the people who do fit the criteria.