Until 2023, IU was kind of the go-to person when everything else failed.
Not being part of a huge company she was not part of a faction so she was kind of a Switzerland to idols of all companies, plus her status as a Senior Singer meant she was quite immune from any intrusion.
However, it seems 2024 is the year of horror for Lee Jieun.
It seems Lee Youngji, who denied aespa its 100th day on #1 at Melon along with other things, has become the go-to person for the newer generation of idols.
Lee Youngji does not require idols to sing her songs, unlike IU whose songs are easy to botch, making idols an embarrassment of themselves.
Plus Lee Youngji is younger, so easier to approach by idols in 4th and 4.5th generation, who only saw IU on youtube.
As IU's influence over the 4th and 4.5th generation decline every day, Lee Youngji's reputation is rising every day.