He's 11. I'll be a noona to half the group. This is how I feel about that.

Honestly, people can argue that it's not a big deal because there are other artists that have debuted even younger than 11, like Michael Jackson or Jaden Smith. But my rebuttal to that argument would be that they are American artists, not K-Pop artists. The American industry of how actors and singers are produced happen to be much different than the way Korean actors and singers are.

If you're a good singer with an image that a company likes in America, you're signed and put out there within the shortest span of time your agency can manage. In K-Pop, you go through auditions, become a trainee, train for years and if you're lucky, you can move onto being an idol instead of just a backup dancer (which in most cases, you are still looked at with a "trainee" title since you are not officially debuted technically speaking).

Compare someone like G-Dragon, an idol who started off young (13 years old) to someone else like Justin Bieber (who started his career at about 16). G-Dragon worked his off and got scouted only to train year and years before Big Bang debuted. Justin sang in front of Usher, got signed and released an album before Hollywood knew what hit them. He was previously on YouTube as G-Dragon rapped at the age of eight with a group most people won't even remember the name of.

Say you become a singer in America. Chances are very likely that you'll be able to move with your family to wherever your company wants to relocate you if they want to relocate you at all. Becoming a K-Pop idol requires you to move out of your home -- mind you that this kid is 11 -- into a house/dorm with people you only know through training, leaving your family behind. You do not choose who you get to be in this band with. You are assigned to be in this band by your company and expected to get along with these people and perform with them.

Granted, after a while, the band of strangers becomes a band who transforms into a family. But that's after much experiences with each other. As someone who is 11, a family structure is important. He may get some of it because there are older kids in this band and they may be able to be that "big brother" role that he may need, but nothing can replace a parents' guidance. Even a band such as EXO whose average age is probably about 22 or so have been seen clinging to their coordinators (noonas) backstage where they are safe from fans because they are missing the sense of home, the comfort that their parents can't give them as often anymore.

The youngest K-Pop idol -- idol, not actor (since I don't know much about actors) -- so far that has debuted has been about 13 years old. Taemin (Shinee), G-Dragon (Big Bang), and Minzy (2ne1) have all collectively began their careers around the age of 13. G-Dragon had had prior experience performing even though he came out with Big Bang later on when he was older. Other young idols are Maru (C-Clown; 1997), Tia (Chocolat; 1997), Zelo (BAP; 1996), and Changjo (Teen Top; 1995) who have all debuted at either 15 or 16 years old.

So is this kid debuting at 11 a new milestone that K-Pop has officially hit. Please note that this is my opinion. I'm not meaning to shove it down your throats or preach this. But I just feel that this kid debuting at 11 years old needs to be watched carefully by Pledis. This band, to me, is a risk to debut. They're young. I can see this having a heavy toll on their mental and physical states. Even Joon (MBLAQ) who happens to be 25 has suffered from sleep deprivation so bad that he has become an insomniac and suffers from bipolar disorder. Being a K-Pop idol does not only become someone's career but their life, really.