Do you think we are currently in the 3.5 generation or 4th generation of K-pop?

i have no clue anymore

Arf, these 'generation' things were always strange to me. Like, even INSIDE a generation, we have groups separated by 2, 3 or 4 years, so it's just weird to just include them all in the same package.

If we consider that BTS and BP are third gen, then this doesn't make sense to consider that we have moved on to the fourth gen until they started declining. Which probably won't happen before a few years, to be honest.

This is my opinion anyway.

Idk because the 3rd gen is still ruling but we have entered the 4th gen this year imo

Quote from blueaqua

There will of course be 1 or 2 groups still doing well from the previous generation with the new(er) one(s) like how we see with G.O.D. for 1st generation and BIGBANG/SUJU for 2nd generation but I think it is hard to transition to a new generation if so many groups are still doing well/dominating.

I guess we won't know until a couple more years to fully confirm it. For example, 3rd generation wasn't really established/declared until 2016 when BTS, EXO, Gfriend, Blackpink, Red Velvet, TWICE, and Mamamoo were all doing very well and have already taken most of the spotlight away from the 2nd generation groups with hit songs and year-end award shows.

That's fair. I think we can say that we are in a 'transition' period, where the fourth generation is rising, but the third is still dominating.

We need to add this 'transition' period to this generation thing, because every group isn't rising and declining at the same time.

4th gen started at the earliest in 2018 honestly, the push into Western markets heralded the massive changes in companies' promo strategies.

4th Gen started in 2019 with ITZY and TXTs respective debuts let’s move on

I think the system need new rules, or at least not go by year cycles. After the global expansion, all the gen 3 top groups got more popular and they are still riding that wave. So, can't say when they'll wind down properly. Or, like someone said, consider them as outliers like bigbang/suju.

4th gen started in early 2018 with GIDLE

I think 4 gen will only truly start when the most popular 3 gen start to be "less active"

that being said 3.5?? but it will become 4 gen eventually

I think we are in the 4th generation but it doesn't feel like it because BTS and Blackpink are still ruling it.

Quote from karinaknows

I think we are in the 4th generation but it doesn't feel like it because BTS and Blackpink are still ruling it.

bp queens

im pretty sure were in 4th gen because kpops golden days are over .

Quote from yeji-chaeryeong

4th gen started in early 2018 with GIDLE

Yes many new generation groups debuted in 2018 including even from big3 too like:

Jyp =

Got7 - 3rd gen

Stray kids - 4th gen

Cube =

Clc - 3rd gen

Gidle - 4th gen

Produce/mnet =

ioi - 3rd gen

Izone - 4th gen

We are definitely on a transition period.

There are 4th gen groups who are doing well now like Gidle, ITZY, Izone, and TXT.

Its just that, 3rd gen groups such as BTS and BP are still leading the game that the 4th gen groups are being overshadowed.

And the generation war begins again !

The argument about how there can't be a new generation when the older one is still dominating is getting tiring. BTS, BP, TWICE, EXO and all the current top 3gen groups debuted while bigbang was still performing and back then they were the biggest group. It took a few years for the mentioned groups to actually compete and win over bigbang. Should they be considered 2nd generation too then, following the logic a new generation can't start while the previous one is still dominating? 🤣

And let's be honest here. Besides bts, twice, bp, svt (nct too lately) what other 3rd gen group is doing THAT great? Some of the 1/2 year old groups can compete with those 3rd gen groups and win easily when it comes to sales, fandom size, recognition and etc..

Korean medias, korean idols all use the term 4th gen for themselves so yeah.

To me the 4th gen started in 2019 with the debuts of the two biggest 4th gen groups rn - txt and itzy

We are in 4th gen but 3rd gen is still ruling and it’ll continue for a long time at this rate

as all companies are getting to new platform such as weverse universe bubble and other industry, I guess its moving to new generation.

Well, the 3rd gen groups are still very present and it doesn't look like they're going anywhere for some time.

So, to me it feels more like a 3.5 gen situation. Kinda like 2011-2012, where newer groups like Sistar, Girl's Day and EXO started to rise but where the older 2nd gen groups like SNSD, Big Bang, Super Junior, KARA etc were still at their peaks and dominated.

I think that right now, we're starting the 4th gen

3.5 . Its too soon to end 3rd gen? I think 4th gen should start in 2020

What is half in a generation? How about quarter?

3.5 and three quarters.

If generation 3 started with EXO/BTS, generation 4 started in 2019. I would consider groups like NCT, Stray Kids as Generation 3.5.

4th Gen since last year.

4th gen

4th gen since SKZ's debut/early 2018.

Still 3rd Gen because BTS is still dominating, plus there is one 2nd Gen singer who has forgotten what generation she is living at.

4th gen

still 3rd gen

4th generation.

But the question of when did it started still remains, i don't feel like groups who debuted in 2018 are 4th gen but more like 3.5 gen

Quote from Angelakoh

If generation 3 started with EXO/BTS, generation 4 started in 2019. I would consider groups like NCT, Stray Kids as Generation 3.5.

Nct debuted the same year as blackpink maybe wayv is 4th but they are a Chinese group so...

Y’all still saying 3rd because BTS is dominating as far i know they debuted in 2013 when 2nd was still thriving nobody is

saying exo are 2nd

Super junior’s and Shinee are still active and are breaking their sales records so I guess we still in 2nd gen