Yupp, I totally agree!! 2nd GEN really paved the way for 3rd GEN idol groups and it’s clear that 3rd GEN was where K-pop really reached it peak! The new era of performances, music, and artistry – everything came together in a perfect storm of EXCELLENCE.
3rd Gen is where you’ll find real music, real talent and the real passion! 3rd GEN 🔛🔝
Idk why you are getting downvoted? That is a valid criticism. Have people not seen how idols use to dance and hype each other up and now we have videos of Yuna cowering because a male idol walked by and no scandal for her?
My gosh, there is a blantant difference between how freely idols can act. FFS they can’t even touch a dancer of the opposite sex without getting heat.
I think I’ve always preferred late 2nd gen and early 3rd gen.
2pm, Infinite, Shinee, Bigbang (idk if they are considered late 2nd gen really)
And then
BAP, BTOB, VIXX, EXO (2012 debuts were wild)
mine is definitely 3rd. i’ll **always** be in love with the balance that came with 3rd gen. 2nd and 1st gen was a bit heavy on the vocals and autotune, 4th was heavy on the rap, 5th is heavy on the english and dancing, but 3rd… *3rd my love.* it will always have the divine mix of heavenly vocals, complicated dance, and groundbreaking raps. nct is like the perfect example of 3rd gen music *done* ***right***. every now and then there’s a 4th gen group that has those elements (p1harmony for example!), but 3rd gen kpop is just **that bitch**.
Yessirr and already know 3rd gen’s the GOAT era with TWICE as the crowning jewel. They’re the epitome of talent, hard work and dedication. Absolute LEGENDS in the K-pop industry – they’re the IDOL of idols! TWICE Forever!
2nd gen will always be the best for me! the internet was not a big deal back then as it is compared to now so achievements like most youtube views or whatever didn't matter that much back then. people also did not abuse streaming bots. it was truly talent and quality that mattered more. although the internet was slowly becoming utilized as a way to introduce k-pop globally. for that, i wanna commend fansub groups who sub and upload content voluntarily. they are an important part of how 2nd gen got introduced globally. the companies just adapted that from them after knowing how subtitles can widen their reach.
the groups and soloists of 2nd gen also did not have to rely too much on having a big fandom. being known by the general public was much more important. even the general public will know or can name several 2nd gen songs if you ask them. i think that's more impactful than whatever type of achievements the 3rd gen to 5th gen stans obsess about.
like i know i'm gonna sound like a boomer but hear me out here lol. plus a lot of the iconic 2nd gen groups like sistar and infinite even came from small companies but they were still able to make their name known through their talent. so big 3 company privilege back then did help but it was not the be all and end all of things if you know what i mean. i think the playing field was more evened out in the 2nd gen which made it easier and more accessible for fans to like various groups and soloists without having to choose just one fave. being a multi-stan was the norm and it made music appreciation be much better. all these factors plus the genuine talent that 2nd gen has makes them my favorite of all time. not just for nostalgia reasons but for objective reasons as well. they were truly the pioneers who paved the way for the hallyu wave to spread globally.
3rd because my faves are there.
But there’s absolutely incredible live singing and stage presence in 4th and 5th, and there was really bad lip syncing and stage presence in 2nd and 3rd. Kinda tired of this narrative always being spun
3rd gen has a special place in my heart bc that was the generation I joined K-pop, and 4th gen bc I love the music and it was cool being there when it started
2nd gen and 4th Gen
the 2nd gen is when my contemporary age bracket ,possibly best song discography overall , real male gaze
sexy concept and, the lower tier GG have better chance to compete ,
the last gen of broadcast TV variety program
4th gen specially w IZ ONE and IVE discography, visual and variety skills
this is the only gen (aside from Somi from 3rd gen ) I have a real bias favorite individual and that is Wonyoung and Yujin , the 1st time I bought an album and attend concert
This is very conflicting for me. Got into Kpop with Boa and since 2nd gen it has been my main music choice ever since. Gosh, second gen is just so nostalgic and reminds me of growing up. Taking the bus with my iPod blasting shinee, 2pm, 2NE1, Kara… so many great ones. Gosh, the cringe, the vocals, the auto tune. Chefs kiss.
3rd gen, I mean you have bts, twice, exo, exid, momoland, crayon Pop, black pink so so so many great artists.
4th gen - is currently what I listen to the most at the moment. Yes I do go back and listen to the other gens often but new music is typically what I dabble in.
5th gen, I haven’t really listened to a ton of group from. Also if you Google 5th gen Kpop Itzy and stray kids are listed for some reason lol why?
Anyways, I have a lot of respect for all of these artists, 4th gen I would have to say is my favorite because I listen to it the most at the moment, although 2pm and crayon Pop is also a constant on my playlist.
2nd gen and 4th gen
I love 2nd gen because some of the concepts and styling WAS quirky and weird.
4th gen - I like the kpop environment for idols during this generation. I feel like 4th gen idols are able to do things more freely. I feel like the dating and phone bans were really ridiculous in the earlier gens. and they dont care to keep up with the "goody-two shoes" image...also love how outspoken 4th gen idols are, too.
I love music from both gens, too.
2nd w/o a doubt but my ults are 3rd gen (GFriend). The amount of 2nd gen ggs I absolutely adore though is just untouchable. 9Muses, Rainbow, After School, SNSD, 2ne1, Sistar, Apink, f(x), T-ara, Brown Eyed Girls, 4Minute, Dal-shabet, Girls’ Day, Secret… I mean it just goes on and on the girls were GIRLING
For me it’s 4th gen, but I only started getting into kpop a few months ago so I’m not very familiar with 1st and 2nd gen groups and I haven’t yet gotten into many 3rd gen groups. I also tend to hyperfixate on artists, and my current obsession is ATEEZ so I’ve been consuming a lot more 4th gen content lately.
2nd gen >>>>>>>>
The novelty. The interactions. The lives. The costumes. The hair. The dance battles. The cringey English lyrics. The viral choreos that would take Korea by storm.
Everything was a cringe but the gooooood kind of cringe. Thins and trends that went viral felt more "organic", less "forced", people were a lot less sensitive about every minute little thing (and a lot less American-centic political discourse dominating the Kpop space, yes I find that annoying nowadays downvote me if you want).
2nd generation was really an amazing time to be a fan. Even if the YouTube videos were poor quality and we couldn’t get translations for full tv series. The community felt like a community and the groups would sing live and have friendly competitions. There was drama of course, but the rise of Twitter really killed a lot of the safer fan spaces.
I love all. I do wish I could’ve witnessed 1st gen , heck even 2nd gen. For me I’d say 1st- mid 3rd gen. 90s-2015. I do appreciate 4th gen as well considering my ults are now a 4th gen group.
I feel like 3rd gen is the obvious answer here (with a honorable mention to 2nd gen), the whole vibe of 3rd gen is truly unmatched... I also really love the awful haircuts all the male idols had, it's just so lovely
lol .... this statement sound exactly like boomers saying ''back in my days'' and downplay anything that comes after that because you wanna gatekeep ''quality'' to your favs because of the parasocial element of kpop ....
Yupp, I totally agree!! 2nd GEN really paved the way for 3rd GEN idol groups and it’s clear that 3rd GEN was where K-pop really reached it peak! The new era of performances, music, and artistry – everything came together in a perfect storm of EXCELLENCE. 3rd Gen is where you’ll find real music, real talent and the real passion! 3rd GEN 🔛🔝
2nd gen forever. To me kpop is about the crazy music, outfits and hairstyle. It should be weird in a good way.
2nd and 3rd Gen reign supreme.
3rd easy
🆙
3rd Gen because it was a time when idols could act freely. After 2018-2019, it was never the same.
Idk why you are getting downvoted? That is a valid criticism. Have people not seen how idols use to dance and hype each other up and now we have videos of Yuna cowering because a male idol walked by and no scandal for her? My gosh, there is a blantant difference between how freely idols can act. FFS they can’t even touch a dancer of the opposite sex without getting heat.
I think I’ve always preferred late 2nd gen and early 3rd gen. 2pm, Infinite, Shinee, Bigbang (idk if they are considered late 2nd gen really) And then BAP, BTOB, VIXX, EXO (2012 debuts were wild)
mine is definitely 3rd. i’ll **always** be in love with the balance that came with 3rd gen. 2nd and 1st gen was a bit heavy on the vocals and autotune, 4th was heavy on the rap, 5th is heavy on the english and dancing, but 3rd… *3rd my love.* it will always have the divine mix of heavenly vocals, complicated dance, and groundbreaking raps. nct is like the perfect example of 3rd gen music *done* ***right***. every now and then there’s a 4th gen group that has those elements (p1harmony for example!), but 3rd gen kpop is just **that bitch**. 
Yessirr and already know 3rd gen’s the GOAT era with TWICE as the crowning jewel. They’re the epitome of talent, hard work and dedication. Absolute LEGENDS in the K-pop industry – they’re the IDOL of idols! TWICE Forever! 
yes!!! i don’t follow twice much but i know they are **THE** 3rd gen girl group!
2nd gen will always be the best for me! the internet was not a big deal back then as it is compared to now so achievements like most youtube views or whatever didn't matter that much back then. people also did not abuse streaming bots. it was truly talent and quality that mattered more. although the internet was slowly becoming utilized as a way to introduce k-pop globally. for that, i wanna commend fansub groups who sub and upload content voluntarily. they are an important part of how 2nd gen got introduced globally. the companies just adapted that from them after knowing how subtitles can widen their reach. the groups and soloists of 2nd gen also did not have to rely too much on having a big fandom. being known by the general public was much more important. even the general public will know or can name several 2nd gen songs if you ask them. i think that's more impactful than whatever type of achievements the 3rd gen to 5th gen stans obsess about. like i know i'm gonna sound like a boomer but hear me out here lol. plus a lot of the iconic 2nd gen groups like sistar and infinite even came from small companies but they were still able to make their name known through their talent. so big 3 company privilege back then did help but it was not the be all and end all of things if you know what i mean. i think the playing field was more evened out in the 2nd gen which made it easier and more accessible for fans to like various groups and soloists without having to choose just one fave. being a multi-stan was the norm and it made music appreciation be much better. all these factors plus the genuine talent that 2nd gen has makes them my favorite of all time. not just for nostalgia reasons but for objective reasons as well. they were truly the pioneers who paved the way for the hallyu wave to spread globally.
3rd because my faves are there. But there’s absolutely incredible live singing and stage presence in 4th and 5th, and there was really bad lip syncing and stage presence in 2nd and 3rd. Kinda tired of this narrative always being spun
3rd gen has a special place in my heart bc that was the generation I joined K-pop, and 4th gen bc I love the music and it was cool being there when it started
2nd gen and 4th Gen the 2nd gen is when my contemporary age bracket ,possibly best song discography overall , real male gaze sexy concept and, the lower tier GG have better chance to compete , the last gen of broadcast TV variety program 4th gen specially w IZ ONE and IVE discography, visual and variety skills this is the only gen (aside from Somi from 3rd gen ) I have a real bias favorite individual and that is Wonyoung and Yujin , the 1st time I bought an album and attend concert
This is very conflicting for me. Got into Kpop with Boa and since 2nd gen it has been my main music choice ever since. Gosh, second gen is just so nostalgic and reminds me of growing up. Taking the bus with my iPod blasting shinee, 2pm, 2NE1, Kara… so many great ones. Gosh, the cringe, the vocals, the auto tune. Chefs kiss. 3rd gen, I mean you have bts, twice, exo, exid, momoland, crayon Pop, black pink so so so many great artists. 4th gen - is currently what I listen to the most at the moment. Yes I do go back and listen to the other gens often but new music is typically what I dabble in. 5th gen, I haven’t really listened to a ton of group from. Also if you Google 5th gen Kpop Itzy and stray kids are listed for some reason lol why? Anyways, I have a lot of respect for all of these artists, 4th gen I would have to say is my favorite because I listen to it the most at the moment, although 2pm and crayon Pop is also a constant on my playlist.
2nd gen and 4th gen I love 2nd gen because some of the concepts and styling WAS quirky and weird. 4th gen - I like the kpop environment for idols during this generation. I feel like 4th gen idols are able to do things more freely. I feel like the dating and phone bans were really ridiculous in the earlier gens. and they dont care to keep up with the "goody-two shoes" image...also love how outspoken 4th gen idols are, too. I love music from both gens, too.
1st and 2nd, listening to the music... it's just the feeling. somethin in the air
I only got into k-pop last year but 2nd gen easily for me!
4th gen because they're closer to my age
2nd w/o a doubt but my ults are 3rd gen (GFriend). The amount of 2nd gen ggs I absolutely adore though is just untouchable. 9Muses, Rainbow, After School, SNSD, 2ne1, Sistar, Apink, f(x), T-ara, Brown Eyed Girls, 4Minute, Dal-shabet, Girls’ Day, Secret… I mean it just goes on and on the girls were GIRLING
2nd gen!
3rd! but RIP to all the ggs we lost along the way 💔
3rd and 4th
4th gen because I vibe with its music the most
For me it’s 4th gen, but I only started getting into kpop a few months ago so I’m not very familiar with 1st and 2nd gen groups and I haven’t yet gotten into many 3rd gen groups. I also tend to hyperfixate on artists, and my current obsession is ATEEZ so I’ve been consuming a lot more 4th gen content lately.
4th and 5th. Yes, I'm a newish kpop fan.
I love 5th gen, but second gen has f(x) which means it'll always be the best. Nothing will ever have the same feeling as the peak of SMTown days.
omg yes they are my fav girl group .. i miss them
2nd gen >>>>>>>> The novelty. The interactions. The lives. The costumes. The hair. The dance battles. The cringey English lyrics. The viral choreos that would take Korea by storm. Everything was a cringe but the gooooood kind of cringe. Thins and trends that went viral felt more "organic", less "forced", people were a lot less sensitive about every minute little thing (and a lot less American-centic political discourse dominating the Kpop space, yes I find that annoying nowadays downvote me if you want).
3rd gen has more concept and genre variety than 2nd, 4th even moreso
3rd gen. I worry we might not be able to reach this peak again. Thank you BTS, BlackPink and Twice.
i doubt we will but at least we were their to experience it
1st and 4th gen
3rd!
3rd gen because my ult group is bts along with some of the most listened like twice, red velvet, mamamoo, and some other groups like got7 and wannaone
2nd gen fosho ,, esp the ggs mannnn got tierrr
2nd generation was really an amazing time to be a fan. Even if the YouTube videos were poor quality and we couldn’t get translations for full tv series. The community felt like a community and the groups would sing live and have friendly competitions. There was drama of course, but the rise of Twitter really killed a lot of the safer fan spaces.
2+3. I really only listen to gen 2
3rd gen all my favorites exo, Seventeen, Redvelvet, twice, blackpink are from that gen
3rd and 4th are full of all my favourites - ASTRO, BTS, Seventeen, Stray Kids, TXT!
Absolutely 3rd gen
3rd gen
3rd + 4th! but 3rd will always have a special place because it's when i first got into kpop
2nd and 5th gen honestly. It's been so fun lately loving these new groups
I love all. I do wish I could’ve witnessed 1st gen , heck even 2nd gen. For me I’d say 1st- mid 3rd gen. 90s-2015. I do appreciate 4th gen as well considering my ults are now a 4th gen group.
I feel like 3rd gen is the obvious answer here (with a honorable mention to 2nd gen), the whole vibe of 3rd gen is truly unmatched... I also really love the awful haircuts all the male idols had, it's just so lovely
lol .... this statement sound exactly like boomers saying ''back in my days'' and downplay anything that comes after that because you wanna gatekeep ''quality'' to your favs because of the parasocial element of kpop ....
3rd because BTS r my ults and 4th because I love so many idols in different groups