More than anything, Illit led to MHJ's anger, and the rest was history.
What would have occurred if New Jeans instead engaged on a life or death fight against Illit, and the loser would pack their bags and leave showbiz?
I do not see a way for Illit to beat New Jeans.
Illit's members are, I have to say, weak. The cold truth is only Minju, and maybe Iroha to some degree, are comparable to members in other major acts. I will save words on the other three.
New Jeans would have crushed them with ridiculous ease.
Granted, there is the hybe payola, but this would be a do-or-die battle and with the head start NJ had earned over the world, Illit would have been in a very hard spot.
Some people compared Illit to Twice. I have always compared it to GFriend, with a nonexistent team chemistry, a bunch of rejects from other companies, 3 of them debuting when they were 20 meaning this was their last chance, unlike New Jeans which was selected for excellence.
Frankly speaking, it appears its last two comebacks were weaker, and it will just become another act which would be stuck between Korea and Japan.
If MHJ had asked to make NJ compete with Illit, the latter would have lost, and NJ would have continued its dominance over Hybe.
