I'm not even a Jung Chaeyeon fan but are we acting like past "it girls" or popular idols who aren't "trendy" anymore flop off the planet? Popularity and trends ain't last forever, but these idols are featured in big dramas and projects and are still around the industry, just not in music.
Ironically, not doing in music and instead doing acting actually means you've made the next step in getting more widely known by the general public. And getting lead roles is a sign that you're well-known and popular enough to carry a project by your name value alone.
As a Korean entertainment and drama fan myself, these past "it girls" idols are still around everywhere. AOA Seolhyun, Apink Naeun, DIA Chaeyeon, Girls Day Hyeri etc. were huge and even if they aren't the "trend" right now, they are casted in big dramas and were literally present in year-end award shows.
- Seolhyun is in The Killer's Shopping List with Lee Kwangsoo, and hosted the KBS Song Festival just year-end last year.
- Apink Naeun was in Ghost Doctor with Rain and Uee
- Hyeri was in My Roommate is a Gumiho with Jang Kiyong
Going back to Chaeyeon, even I know she had a 1-2 year hiatus and came back in the popular drama The King's Affection, and attended the KBS Drama Awards as a nominee for Best New Actress. And now she's going to be leading a drama with Sungjae in The Golden Spoon. There's literally less than a handful of 3rd gen idol actress who are getting lead roles in TV dramas, so are we acting like "oh no wonyoung gonna end up like chaeyeon" like Chaeyeon isn't doing fantastic and better than 95% of all idols.
