Performing at Kohaku was something so special for years. All the Kpop groups that performed there had to earn the right to do that. SNSD, Kara, TVXQ, Bigbang after already gaining legend status in Korea and significant acknowledgement and following in Japan. Then there literally was a 6 year of drought between 2011 and 2017, when Twice got to represent Kpop again, because they wouldn't invite just anybody.
Now New Jeans and Le Sserafim get to perform there just because. Yes, you can make argument for New Jeans smhw cause "biggest current kpop gg" or whatever, even tho they are yet to debut in Japan and achieve something significant there. But Le Sserafim? Even tho it is my favorite rookie group, they did absolutely nothing to deserve this gig.
Hybe is a fucking bulldozer that just gets their way into things and it is fucking lame.