I consider Aespa as a 34
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side group (7) 21%
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main group (27) 79%
People expected SMNGG to be more similar to SNSD, of the traditional main group format. With many members and more public friendly and less experimental concepts. Aespa turned out much different, probably because SM was seeking global (western) popularity where smaller (3 - 5 member) groups were more popular than bigger groups, which Japan prefers. Aespa's digital success makes them seem like they might be considered a main group yet it's also possible they just lucked out with Next Level. Since SM is more likely to give their main groups original songs rather than stitched remakes. And the big main group is still in the planning stages once the SMCU is fully worked out