KPop has been under a strange condition when someone who did not contribute anything to KPop became its senior singer and benefitted from KPop's success in general, although she belately released some Kpop songs finally in 2021.
With BTS growing by leaps and bounds, IU's rule weakened but she still has some following in spotify. Someone told me she is #5 in the yearly Kpop ranking, which is remarkable for a domesticist.
Since IU has gained some foreign following, it remains to be how Akmu will do to decide the fate of domesticism in Korea.
Akmu is probably the only credible successor to IU now, since Bol4 has entered a long hiatus following the departure of its less prominent member, whose departure was more important than a lot of people though.
If Akmu fails this round, which means IU will be honored as a senior singer and will be 'grandmothered in' and tolerated but the tradition of vocalism, domesticism and isolanitionism will die with this album.
Akmu knows the stake and has enlisted the help of IU, Lee Sunhee and others.
If Akmu loses this battle, that is basically the swan song of domesticism and how it does in Melon is less important than how it does in spotify.
Lee Jieun will be allowed to exist, I have said already, but domesticism will end, being reverted to the same status as trot which few foreigners give a shit about.
