Out of the three big solo career paths of solo music, acting and variety, which brings the most popularity, success and longevity?

The most common career paths for idols after disbandment are solo music, acting and variety/ general entertainment.

Which one would be the most successful option for idols?

music & acting = IU

Taehyung will do all of these.

Acting- if you do well as actor and get big hit films they will overhype you as an idol

Suzy the biggest example of this, I just watched her early drama were she was same age as Wonyoung and Yuna and to be honest she wasn’t that pretty in fact if she debuted now, she would be buried no fantastic body proportions and a bland face . I wondered why her face changed and realised she got work done and looks better now . All the same she’s too overhyped, it took

Her 8 years and 6 drama to become a decent actress, her visuals are normal , she’s no GOAT amongst female idols.

You're asking Ifans to get in the minds of gp? From the outside looking in, it seems acting is the best way to stay successful and relevant.

Quote from Broasted Confit of Mammoth (420)

You're asking Ifans to get in the minds of gp? From the outside looking in, it seems acting is the best way to stay successful and relevant.

Asking because there are tons of idols/singers who have dived into variety, managed to become a household name and have jobs in every shows there are.

Kim Heechul might be the easiest example, since most i-fans also know him from SUJU, but there's Kim Jong-kook who hit it big in X-man and Running Man, and also Kim Jong-min in 1D2N. (Both aren't exactly "idols" but pretty much the same trendy singers back in the 90s and early 2000s.

Solo as a vocalist singer, or as an actress would be my pick.

Most dance-singers are more-so trendy artists, but not many can give you that longevity, before the next trendy sound or singer takes over. Those vocalists or ballad singers have a lot more longevity.

Actresses have the most longevity and you can do it for literally 100 years. You also have the most "respect", whereas idol singers are always seen as kids music.

Variety entertainment keeps you in the spotlight, but you don't really get the respect factor. And it's work after work, and it's hard to take a break, because getting the regular MC roles on a show is super hard, and you can always get replaced easily.

I think that acting is the most respected of the 3.

Variety is a path too, but you have to be really good to have a long, successful career in it, else it becomes a chain of gigs.

Musician can be really erratic as a solo artist.