I'm sad I missed the phase where idols were also acting.

Eveybody go touring fast so there isn't time for that, tours are also longer now as groups go to other places aside from Japan la and ny

D.O., Sehun and Suho from EXO are involved in acting projects as we speak. Xiumin has just wrapped up one too.

Chan Eun Woo appears more on the news for getting acting projects than from promoting with his group ASTRO these days.

Idols are still acting.

Need Irene to play a proper villain she'd kill it

isnt there more money in being idols now? unles you hit big with acting and getting millions per episode. dont you get more with touring,album sales and your solo projects with sponsors,being brand ambassaddors?

Joy acted in two dramas recently, Arin is part of the Alchemy of souls cast. It's a great drama.

yuta was a main character in an action movie, and both doyoung and jaehyun were main caracters in k dramas

Almost all IOI members are acting now. Sejeong, Chaeyeon, Mina, Sohye, Doyeon, Nayoung, Jieqiong in China, Yeonjung in musicals.

The problem is that many idols back in the 2nd gen had the public recognition to get roles on public broadcast stations dramas and people would know who they are. Nowadays, companies are using other mediums like web shows and focusing also more on international fanbases.

It's also the reason why there are less and less idol-focused variety/reality shows on TV, so we don't get shows like Invincible Youth anymore. The general public has little interest in idols anymore.

Thanks most of them should stick to modeling they can’t act.

maybe with the rise of album sales and tours its more profitable to be an idol these days

I don't think it's necessarily true that idols make more money being strictly an idol. I think that there just simply isn't as much of a demand for idol acting as it was back in 2nd gen. Like if there was an opportunity for them to act, or if they were offered a lead role in a TV drama, I have no doubt many idols would take it right there on the spot.

It's just that it takes a lot for an idol to lead a drama and be expected to be the main draw, and the public simply isn't as familiar with 3rd and 4th gen idols these days. People know IU, Suzy, Yoona, UEE etc. and in 3rd gen there's Sejeong and Jung Chaeyeon, but other than that, how many people really know 3rd gen girl groups outside of the Big 3? Even Bona from WJSN is only getting a lead role now after her breakout role in 25/21 and who knows if that drama would do well for her first lead role.

I think it might just be that idols are getting into acting a bit later into their career so new people you stan now wont be acting for a bit. Which makes sense, why would you go "waste" time to act by yourself when youre in a new idol group and/or promoting a comeback?