A 15-year old female student who was allowed to pose semi-nude on Mnet I Am A Model reality show has drawn huge controversy among netizens.

The search for the next top model in Mnet I Am A Model is already into its 4th season. The winner from this edition was 15-year old student Park Seo Jin who was the youngest-ever winner from the series. But the organizers never thought that her win would bring them much trouble in the aftermath.

In one of the segments as part of the competition, Park Seo Jin had to film a sexy photoshoot with another male model. It was at this point where Park Seo Jin only donned a pair of jeans, wearing nothing on top and using only her long hair to block her sensitive parts. This caused an uproar among Korean viewers who pointed out that Mnet shouldn’t have allowed the underaged Park Seo Jin to film such a sexy photoshoot just for the sake of high ratings.

There are also rumors that Park Seo Jin had already been signed by an entertainment talent agency before the competition had begun and thus it deviated from the competition’s initial aim of discovering new talent.

But some netizens also defended Park Seo Jin, remarking that despite her tender age, she was able to film the semi-nude photoshoot with style and panache, aptly displaying the charisma of a professional model.

An Mnet representative expressed, “Park Seo Jin photoshoot was only a mission. Our participants were mostly models aged 20 and above. We never thought that Park Seo Jin would have picked this mission. But we hope that everyone can look from another perspective because this is only a segment within the program, and is totally different from the usual nude photoshoots.”

Since winning I Am A Model competition, her status has rocketed and she has already signed on with many cosmetic firms to endorse their products. In addition, she will be debuting as a singer soon with her new solo album.

source: coolsmurf

As long as she wasn't forced into it and they had her parents' consent I don't see a problem with it! Not to mention that you don't actually see anything in the photos. They're tastefully done and she looks beautiful. If I had her looks and body I'd be posing nude with a hot guy as well!

Sheesh, the fact that she's 15 and has the confidence in her body needed to be a model is amazing enough!

~Tiffiany~

I disagree. There has to be a line drawn. The simple fix for this is to have a minimum age. Given her young age, there should have been different types of shoots that could have been made up. Sure, it is "great" that she is comfortable and confident in herself at 15 but come on she is 15!!
What kind of message are you trying to convey and send out with this shoot? I do not think this needs to be put in black and white for everyone to see the implications. You may not be able to see anything in these pictures but the implications are much more further outreaching and the damage is already done.

wow. she's so young and beautiful.
i think that's just okay if her parents agreed on this and she did this whole-heartedly.
but i cant really blame the netizens. she's too young to do that.
but anyway, i know it's her dream to become a top model

she's like the Korean version of Miley Cyrus! except she's prettier and started out with a scandal instead of getting famous first.

^Hahahaha!!! That was funny! Nice analogy!

I really don't see a problem with it at all... I mean, she's just topless. It's the human body, there is nothing to be ashamed of. Like I said, those aren't Playboy or Maxim photo shoots. Those are really tastefully done unrevealing pics.

If she agreed to do it and her parents don't have a problem with it, what right is it of ours to criticize it? It is her body and both her parents and her are the only people who have the right to decide what she does with it. I think the pics are beautiful and she should be praised for being such a fantastic model (because judging from the pics, she really is good) and not chastised for doing something that all TOP models are expected to do...

~Tiffiany~

This post has been edited by Tiffiany_45: Jan 6 2009 4 38 PM

her body does look good but i dont think 15 is old enough for a semi-nude photo. parents' consent or not, 15 is underaged. that's like saying a 15yo kid can consume alcohol as long as there is parents' consent.

Yeah I agree that she's way too young to take on those photo shoots. She have not had enough experience as a model to do something so controversial. and it caused a big stir when Miley Cyrus did it too!

^ Actually, Miley didn't get "in trouble" perse with those classy nude back photos until the those other raunchy ones were released. People didn't have a problem with them before that happened. It was just something to add fuel to the fire.

QUOTE (hippokathy88 @ Jan 6 2009 9 41 AM)

her body does look good but i dont think 15 is old enough for a semi-nude photo. parents' consent or not, 15 is underaged. that's like saying a 15yo kid can consume alcohol as long as there is parents' consent.

But 15 year olds can consume alcohol with parents' consent... At least in the US they can. I know for a fact that at 16 years old Germans can drink beer and wine and when they turn 18 they're allowed to drink anything. Plus, back in the day... way, way, way back, people could only drink wine in cities because they couldn't drink the water for fear of contamination, etc. So children drank wine all the time...

Anyway, getting off track... Maybe that's the difference... It's a cultural one? I'm a 25 year old from the US. I don't see any prob with this at all... but because of the different cultures, you all see a prob I don't? Like say if if this happened in the Middle East in the Muslim society I could see how they would have a HUGE problem with this because women aren't supposed to show their bodies at all, not even their faces for that matter. Is this something like that? But instead of religion, it is a moral issue, an Asian conservative issue?

~Tiffiany~

This post has been edited by Tiffiany_45: Jan 6 2009 5 43 PM

I'm kind of on the fence about it. the main criticism for Miley Cyrus was that she has young fans looking up to her, does this girl? I mean, in this case, she's using her body to sell something... but would that count as selling her body? she's a model... she's going to have to do sexy and nude shoots again, but I think it was too early, career-wise. she's young and naive, as well. most 15 year olds, even if they are mature and everything, don't make decisions that are best in the long run. I think the whole "scandal" could have been avoided if she had worn a bra or those sticky-cups and then if any of it showed through her hair, it could have been just edited out. they would have gotten the same pictures, but they would have kept a legally underaged girl clean.

in the US, it's illegal for a girl under 18 to take pictures of herself topless or anything, even if she doesn't show it to anyone. (it's not very well enforced but there are still consequences; I've known girls rejected from prestigious private schools and things because people hacked into their accounts and posted nude pictures they had taken). if a 17 year old girl can't do it, why can a 15 year old do it for money?

I really can't decide xD I would totally have an opinion if it were downright sexual or if they showed more of her chest... but these pictures, while not tasteless, aren't really artsy, either. there's still a sexual flavor to it, just glamorously done. I am all for nude modeling, both tasteful and raunchy... but she's only 15!

whatever. once she's 18 she can do all the full nude shots she wants, and she'll probably do them really well

This post has been edited by jiandan: Jan 6 2009 6 07 PM

i see no problem with this as long as the photography is in good taste. i see nothing bad about it at all and if she wants to really become a successful model something like this shouldn't be a big deal. obviously she's comfortable with her body and if her parents are cool with it then more power to her. there aren't gonna be too many Korean parents willing to let their 15 year old daughter do that. congrats to her.

Well, I suppose there is a difference between her and Mikey who is seen as a role model to young girls.
She's just a model who makes money with her looks. I mean if her parents agree then I don't see any problem with this. 15 is quite young but on TV there are 13-14 year old actresses doing sex scenes. I'm sure this is less explicit than that.

How can you guys be okay be this. Did you guys ever think pedofiles might be seeing these pictures. I'm sure they will be really happy



No of course not. What do you think with with all the pedofiles walking around. I wouldn't let her neither if I was her parent

This post has been edited by lee hongki: Jan 6 2009 10 09 PM

i mean you can't look at it that way. obiviously there are gonna be some sick people out there, but that shouldn't stop her dream of being a model. plus it's not in bad taste...it'd be one thing if it was in bad taste, but it's not. though your opinion is your opinion. there are always people that will disagree/agree.

But just because you want to be a model doesn't mean you have to take pictures like these. There are enough models who will never take pictures like these.

i mean she chose that challenge...it wasn't forced on her.

^True, true!

However, if you want to be a Top Model you HAVE to be willing to take photos nude. That doesn't necessarily mean actually have to show anything, all parts will be covered up, but the photos themselves need to be taken nude. Watch EVERY season of America's Next Top Model and you always see whoever opts not to take the nude photo always ends up being kicked out at some point.

@ pedophiles: Look at her!!! Does she look 15?! No, she looks a lot older. She could pass for 18 easily. And as for just perverts in general, there's A LOT worse stuff out there they could get a hold of. These photos are tastefully done, not a playboy spread, so I don't think a lot of perverts would be interested in this photo.

I would definitely think it would not be right if a 15 year old girl had a playboy spread. That's exploitation and illegal, but these pics are different. It's not the same. It's a very grey area, but I don't think there is anything wrong with her being semi-nude in photos like these.

~Tiffiany~

This post has been edited by Tiffiany_45: Jan 6 2009 11 09 PM

I'm the same age as her and she looks older then 15, but she's super pretty.
if i was my mother i would say something like this "What the hell is wrong with these people letting her pose like that. I don't care who her parents are or what country she's from they are crazy and should be thrown in jail..." But i'm not my mother so i'll say "It's her dream, and there are sick people out there that will get off on this but there are also people out there who will think this is a bold move for a young girl."

that is just so wrong...it is disgusting n distasteful 2 me... ok 1st she is extremely young n she supose 2 b in school not having a career @ tis moment...getting an education is waaaayyyy important than doing sl*tty things like that n u know wat ... ... i think that is just plain dumd n stupid..people can model with clothes n poses better than being nude....i mean come on...its so direspectful 2 the generation n its just gonna put on some pressures on them when they c it on TV

i meant the little kids @ home watching it

This post has been edited by Aspire: Jan 11 2009 4 51 AM

well, I agree that she is underage and all but if you look at the Model industry now, there are girls younger than her doing worse than just a semi-nude photoshoot. Who have checked the age of all those models who do this or even worse I think this is bringing a big controversy because it was on TV and all.

Watching the other countries "Model search", there are underage girls doing completely nude photoshoot (with just art painting on them for example). In the end it's their choice along with the agreement of their parents. If their parents agree, what can we say?

I knew she looked familiar, she is in xing ent. and in undebuted girl group pink heart. SHe was in Xing opera mv
I agree, I've seen worse from younger, but they should of let her wear at least sometinhg like a bra, but her parents were informed and it doesn't look like porn so i guess it's okay.

This post has been edited by mai90: Jan 7 2009 1 37 AM

what the hell oO
thats just wrong.. why would any one let her do that for ..disgusting

She doesn't look fifteen. She could pass off as an eighteen-year-old, what with the way they made her look. But I see nothing wrong with these images, since only her upper skin is exposed, and it isn't like her boobs aren't hidden from view.

Wow..is she really 15 years old? She looks way older than that.
But I think this is just all wrong. I don't have a problem with nudity in HIGH FASHION, but she's just way too young for this.

I agree with some of you....she's really 15 yr's old? o.O'' If she is indeed that age, she would be consider a minor? Parents are too open about this and need to put on their thinking caps . Unless those pictures are magically edited...

QUOTE (kimlinh @ Jan 6 2009 4 47 PM)

i don understand u Tiffiany, seriously ur werid n sick ok \

Ok, I'm not the 15 year old that is semi-nude modeling. Believe me, at 15 my motto was more clothes the better. Still to this day I stand by it. I don't know why I'm the sick one...

Because I don't find it to be that big of a deal that a consenting teenager and her family thought it was ok for her to shoot semi-nude without anything actually showing? Watch out! I'm the devil!

LOOK AT THE PIC!!! Her entire upper body is covered by her hair!!!!

For all you can tell in those pics she could be wearing pasties or a bra, that's how much those pics cover her up.

Is it because she was actually naked in the studio in front of the boy, that's your problem? Her hair is covering up more of her than a bikini top would! I really don't find any problem with the pics at all... Sorry if that makes me "weird" and "sick."

I'm pretty sure that if it was my future daughter's dream to become a model and she was comfortable with it, I would allow her to take pics like the ones released. They are tasteful and no where near raunchy or vulgar.

However, if my daughter said at 15 she wanted to shoot a spread for Playboy, Hustler, or Maxim... that's a WHOLE other story. That's not modeling, that is pornography. There is a difference.

~Tiffiany~

She would have waited at least 1100 days till she is legally able to do photo shots such as this current pic.

At an age of 15, they can't be serious?

Okay...she's stupid...seriously. pose nude at her age and those her age will never take her seriously. I don't know her but i just lost respect for her, all i can see in this pic is a little sl*tty girl who thinks she's old enough for the world. pfft...she's still in high school for goodness sake all she'll get is guys wanting her for her body. it's pretty hard for guys to look past a hot body for her personality. Here where i live she's be looked down upon on and i don't live in a society where it's conservative, but i live in a society which takes that as stupidity. Here we would call her a 'Teeny bopper', young kids trying to act older than their age. pffft.

btw...is that her korean age or non-korean age?? if that is her korean age, then that makes it worse.

Tiffiany...i don't know why you're all for it. maybe you're a perverted guy pretending to be a girl or just someone who thinks pictures of young people half nude kids is art or beautiful. and as you can see i used the word 'Kid' because that is what she is, she's a kid...a stupid one at that. i don't know if you're asian or not but being asian plays a massive role in her social life, if you are asian you should know that. there are people who will be for it or against it, especially adults.

From where i live this would be such a massive controversy. here in Australia they already had a controversy like that, it was a girl who was the same age taking pictures in clothing that were revealing, it had accentuated her curves...but that isn't as worse as this SeoJin girl, this girl is nude but the one here in Australia had clothes on. pffft. they already put the modeling age higher here in Australia, you'd have to be over 16 to model professionally here and weigh more than a leaf, which SeoJin is fine in.

Those who say it's okay because it's what she wanted or because the parents say it's okay too, open your eyes. she's willing to strip for a camera, she might as well be in porn. there are people around the world who are forced to take their clothing off in either to make a living as in they have nothing, or it's because they have been sold. each day young kids in many places are forced to these things. human trafficking is a major problem in the world but if someone like SeoJin would voluntarily take their clothes off for the camera then hey they should just sell themselves to the traffickers it would help those kids who don't want to take their clothing off.

it's just a shame, a beautiful girl at a young tender age just gave herself to a world that may cause her's to fall.

did you just compare non-nude posing to porn?

Even if she wasn't forced into it, she is still underage and decisions like this can and will most likely change the way ppl think of her in the future. She should have never been given the option in the first place. Very irresponsible for the show makers, setting a bad example of the younger teens of Korea

The girl sounds like an attention seeking brat...yeah it's ok to do shoots like this when your a woman but when your a girl..it's pathetic..for one your body isn't even half matured;
In Australia your not allowed to have semi nude photos of your gf or bf if your under 16/18 because then it will still be considered child pornography..shows how korean laws works..get dbsk to cut out under my skin but let this happen..we know what the officials will allow don't we

anyway its not about nudity..she wouldn't have done a nude shoot..her body is still developing and she was probably going to get a boob job..it's what she's implicating to people and youths

i dont about you guys,but seriously she still under-aged.
eventhough she got her parents' permissions or what..
but still..*sigh*

Not really sure about the age...a bit too young, at least 18, like Americas next top model. It might get a bit much for a 15 yo....but then....its so common now.

thats a little too young to do a half nude shoot. Its not right just for the sake of higher rating.

QUOTE (kimlinh @ Jan 7 2009 6 47 PM)

hi five i totally agree *1,000%* 2 that essay u made i could c that someone can understand that little *sl*tty* girl is definitely underaged n yeaaaahhh i absolutely lost the respect for that *freakin' retarded baby* girl aka consider she still a child no duh n definitely Tiffany is so stupid 2 comment on something like that i totally agree absolutely

Lol. Chill. I don't think you should bash other members (Tiffany) ><;
Everyone is entitled to their own opinions. We should respect that.
Anyway, it's her body. She could do whatever she wants to it. We're not her mother.. or related to her in anyway.

QUOTE (missLILY @ Jan 7 2009 5 55 PM)

Lol. Chill. I don't think you should bash other members (Tiffany) ><;
Everyone is entitled to their own opinions. We should respect that.

Thanks for that! It's appreciated. I just decided not to respond anymore.

(beatifulsora: I'm a 25 year old female, I live and was born in Texas, USA, I am white (British and German by blood), and yes, I'm really a girl. No, I don't understand the Asian "social life" because I've never really known any Asians, and never had any Asians at my high school, and never had any contact with Asian culture until 3 years ago. I get all my Asian information about culture and ways of life from watching Asian dramas and interacting with them online.)

~Tiffiany~

telling u this ok first i don know if ur an "asian" or not because i can tell u that millions or billions of people that r asians agree 2 beautiful sora n me than u Tiffany of this issue n yeah so what she use her hair 2 cover it up, its still a big disgrace 2 the people in the country n in her family reputation, people from outside or else everywhere will look at her as young as a child would n thats not a good sign from a kids point of view in reality they will copy "her (the stutty one)" n say that "she can do that, why can i not do so?" n definitely people will also look down on "her" n show how shameful "she" is ... especialy back in the days n still 2day its important 2 show that u r a highly person n i bet people agree 2 tis b cause they got an education n ur showing that an education or as a master degree is like "nothing" or just plain garbage ...there r many opportunities in the world 2 decide what career path is the correct way of life....tis is just showing u that u have no "moral values" n this sl*tty girl is immoral n that "child" is not innocent at all for a 15 yr old acting like an adult when she is not

This post has been edited by Aspire: Jan 9 2009 4 19 AM

Okay I don't want to be attacked like Tiffany but I agree with her. The photos are not revealing, nothing was really showing yet people are going berserk. I'm sure she wasn't pressured into taking these photos and it's modeling guys... The photos are tasteful and pure. I understand she's just 15 but at least she's making something of herself rather than out doing drugs or other garbage. I'm proud that she's confidence and daring, we should be supporting her instead of bashing her and labeling her as a sl*t!? C'mon people do you seriously know the girl, that's being a little JUDGEMENTAL!!

This post has been edited by Foua Vang: Jan 10 2009 1 30 AM

and that is ok??? what the heck is wrong with koreans??? from their obsession with plastic surgery , which later became the acceptable norm to now letting a underage girl pose for racy photos. pretty soon its gonna be ok to have sex with a 15 year old girl in korea.

thanks kimlinh for understanding my view...i know i was a little harsh i guess but i just got a shock from this. she's beautiful and young and has around four more years of her childhood to finish before stripping. i guess she's not a child but you get my point.

tiffiany...since you were only exposed to the asian stuff about 3 yrs ago, you have to understand our culture, especially since she's korean i thought they would be even more strict. us asian are mostly culturally conservative, especially when it has to do with our family reputation. i'm not Korean but i know from my friends that their pretty conservative. Korea already banned DBSKs' mirotic but i don't know why they would publish this photo for the nation to see just for high rating. they just sold the girl out.
and i still don't see your view for a 15 yr old to be okay to do a half nude photo. she's 15 and nude doesn't that seem wrong?? you shouldn't think of the beauty she portrayed in it, because any other woman can do that...a 'WOMAN'.
btw the age that says here could be her korean age, but i'm not really sure so she could be 14.

aznblueflame...i do see they are pretty good pics of her but doing drugs is on a different level. this may be another step to some other sort of things that may ruin her or take her higher to places unknown(good or bad). her beauty should be cultured in a way her young, immatured body doesn't sell her out sexually. there are many beautiful models around the world who does not have to sell themselves like that.

i just hope she thought about this really hard and start to pursue a different outlook in modeling, like modeling without selling herself. most likely i'd respect her more if she were like that at her age now, then when she grows older and starts modeling half nude or whatever, respect would still be their because she would be at the right mature age. and mostly because she respected herself of being who she needs to be at 15 rather than not who others want her to be or who she thinks she should be.