Which generation was the best/worst to debut as an idol/in an idol group?

I feel like too early to tell for 3rd and 4th gen bc we havent seen the fall out of what happens to them once the group popularity goes down.

Between 1st and 2nd, Id go with 2nd. They have longer career span, decent recognition both in domestic market and global market.

Quote from Lulu_Key

I feel like too early to tell for 3rd and 4th gen bc we havent seen the fall out of what happens to them once the group popularity goes down.

exactly…. plus there are like 30-40 groups debuting every single year…. so popularity fluctuates really fast these days.

imo 4th gen unless you're bts

idk what you mean by 4th gen is completely digital. Album sales are higher than ever

3rd gen but I want to see how many groups will fade, we are starting to see the signs.

3rd or 4th I guess due to the increasing sales and attention of kpop

objectively 1st and 2nd gen were really brutal when it comes to idol contracts, payment, standards, and antis. yes things are still tough for idols now, but things have definitely improved since then, like the outlawing of "slave contracts"

3rd gen or 4th gen, not only for their global success but also idols seem to be able to perform in good conditions most of the time. I remember many idols fainted on stage back in second gen. Although if there is hesitation in me choosing 4th gen, it is because the accessibility of social media that toxic fans could use as their hate platforms. Obviously any of these are still pale in comparison to what Jonghyun, Sulli, and many others in industry has suffered.

Nowadays more and more artists take hiatus and some companies even did regular check up on idols' psychological conditions. People's mindset and technology are just way more modernized than what it used to be

If you want to see the best or worst to debut, you can't use any of the popular groups as an example. Those are the success stories - the ones that had it relatively easy. You have to look at the groups that failed and were abused to get a good idea of which generation was the best / worst to debut. Which generation of trainees had most hopes crushed? Which generation of trainees lost everything in their pursuit of trying to become idols? Which generation of trainees had the best safety net for debuting, even if they never won first place or had mega-successful hits? Which generation allowed debuting idols to still make money even if they never rose to prominence?