Is ITZY 4th-Gen K-pop or Not? Stans Spark Heated Debate Regarding Group's Relevance
ITZY is one of the hottest and popular groups in K-pop. However, netizens have delved in further regarding their relevance and generation placement.
Here's what happened.
Is ITZY Considered 4th-Gen or Not? Here's What People Are Saying
On June 23, ITZY became a hot topic within netizens, who debated whether the group should be considered as a 4th-gen or not.
In the forum, the original poster mentioned how fandom MIDZYs are always forcing ITZY as a fourth-generation girl group and insisted that they're not due to their time of debut, which was on February 12, 2019.
It also stated that in the year 2019, the big three girl groups, TWICE, BLACKPINK, and Red Velvet were in a fierce competition with each other. It was when the time when popular songs such as "FANCY," "KILL THIS LOVE," and "ZIMZALABIM" made waves across the community and industry.
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The user remarked that ITZY opening up the fourth gen during the third-gen's prime didn't make any sense, and here's why.
"MIDZYs are always stating ITZY as 4th gen, but they're actually not. 4th generation female artists began with STAYC and aespa.
In 2019, TWICE, BLACKPINK and Red Velvet were in fierce competition, and this was their heydays. You're telling me that ITZY alone opened the 4th gen with "DALLA DALLA?' during the heydays of the 3rd gen?
ITZY promoted with (G)I-DLE, IZ*ONE and LOONA, which are all few months apart when they debuted The groups above are all considered as 3.5 gen, so why would ITZY be called 4th?
They always mention how TXT debuted in 2019 and they should be considered as 4th gen along with ITZY. But male and female idols have never opened a generation simultaneously.
3rd gen male idols began in 2010 with EXO, and female idols was still in the 2nd gen with Apink at that time, until Girl's Day and AOA entered the 2.5 gen. Between 2015 and 2016, TWICE and GFRIEND opened the 3rd gen, which started at that point.
If generations would change, there has to be a decline of numerous groups, along with the rising of new generation girl groups. So why would ITZY start the 4th gen when 3rd gen groups were still competing with each other?"
Some netizens agreed with the post, stating how unlikely it was for ITZY to be called fourth gen.
"ITZY's fans are seriously pushy."
Don't you just need to peak at the media of that time to tell what generation it was? 'DALLA DALLA' indeed hit daebak, but it was ambiguous over whether they're considered as 4th gen or 3.5 gen.
"When aespa released 'Next Level,' everyone stopped talking about 3.5 gen and said that 4th gen was just starting."
Meanwhile, some pointed out the "generational erasure" that transpired within groups who made buzz between 2018 and 2020, as well as the line blurring due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Others shook their heads with the post, concluding it as a hate forum since ITZY is about to make their comeback this 2023.
"I recall everyone saying, 'this is the start of 4th gen' when ITZY, (G)I-DLE, LOONA, and IZ*ONE debuted, but now there's this erasure of everyone agreeing those groups were one of the first artists in the 4th generation."
"I feel like the COVID-19 situation blurred the line between third/fourth gens because in my opinion, the groups who definitely started fourth gen are ITZY, TXT, IZ*ONE and (G)I-DLE."
"ITZY hate posts now that they're having a comeback."
What are your thoughts on this?
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