Earlier this year IU's fortune was declining while those of the 4th Gen was rising quite quickly.
IU had to run to film some periodic drama to Cheju island, while NewJeans conquered the digitals and Ive, Lesserafim, aespa, Gidle, etc advanced.
And then the Fifty Fifty craze began.
On June 12, 2023, it seemed IU as on her last legs. She posted a photo in her IG, with a few ghosts, showing that she would haunt Kpop by releasing something at her whim if she feels like that but few people heeded her warning.
As late as June 22, 2023, it seemed the days of IU passed like those of other famous acts in the past.
Then within a week her fortune changed dramatically.
The Wagner Prigozhin attempted a coup which fizzled.
Fifty Fifty's part owner blew the grenade on the group.
And, lo and behold, the brainchild of Min Heejin, the front runner of the 4th Generation, and without FF the undisputed champion of the new era, New Jeans comes to IU's studio to pay their filial duty to the former owner of Edam Entertainment.
Ever since the rise of Barack Obama, nothing like that occurred in the history of world.
Suddenly the initiative passes from the 4th Gen to the 2nd Gen again.
Without Fifty Fifty , who no matter how this mess is resolved will never be part of Kpop again, the biggest threat against NewJeans' expected comeback was a freak single from IU, which BTS was a victim of back in 2017. It is BTS' last defeat to this day.
Fifty Fifty did not fear or respect IU, since they had no ambitions in Korea and did feel no need to respect or honor the former owner of Edam Entertainment, and Siahn had no respect on her, but now they are out of the question, there is simply no act who are free from her influences if she chooses to fight them in earnest.
In Jan 2012, IU beat SNSD so she did not have to beat anyone else.
In 2014 she fought EXO whenever possible because beating EXO would put herself to the top of the heap.
and, now , in 2023 she accepts the surrender of New Jeans without a shot , putthing herself back to the top. She is expected to top the Gallup singer ranking if she releases something before end of Sep, showing the whole 4th Gen fizzles without even any lasting impact, as if it never happened.
Whyknock's sadness knows no end about this.
