One of the biggest debates going around in K-pop fandoms is about the current generation of K-pop and whether the 5th generation has begun. Many fans, agencies, and media outlets talk about the groups debuting in 2023 as the torchbearers of the new generation, including ZEROBASEONE, RIIZE, xikers, and the upcoming BABYMONSTER.
A significant lot of people believe that the 5th generation began with the launch of AI idols, and they will be replacing the major market of K-pop artists soon. To understand this debate and sort it out once and for all, let’s take a closer look at the K-pop generations and the AI Idols.
What is the current generation of K-pop?
Many entertainment agencies have been proclaiming that the new generation of K-pop has arrived, particularly with the debut of new groups under their company. However, there isn’t anything distinctive in the powerful and successful rookies of 2023 that can determine the launch of a new generation. At most, they are pushing the current generation ahead to a period of transition but definitely not starting the 5th generation.
Korean media outlets are reporting on groups like BABYMONSTER, ZB1, BOYNEXTDOOR and Xikers as the beggining of the 5th generation in K-pop. pic.twitter.com/pH6b0yYiAo
— Kpop Charts (@kchartsmaster) May 8, 2023
In one of our previous articles discussing whether the 5th generation of K-pop has begun, we mentioned that the K-pop generations are determined based on a significant change in the industry that takes it onto a higher platform or launches a considerable difference. If you are unversed in the divisions, then below is a short run through them:
- The K-pop industry has a short history but a long legacy. The K-pop that we know today officially began in the late 1990s with the debut of Seo Taiji and Boys. The first generation is typically noted to have started in the early 2000s, and the second soon followed in the late 2000s. Since then, it took K-pop a decade to enter into the 3rd generation, which arrived in the mid-2010s.
- There are many distinctive features in each of the generations mentioned above that make them stand out from one another. Although music-wise, there has been some overlap, in the consensus, we are in the 4th generation with the debut of groups like Stray Kids, TXT, IVE, NewJeans, and more. We might be going towards a new era, but we aren’t there yet.
Why aren’t we in the 5th generation of K-pop?
One of the primary reasons is that most of the new acts today are all experiencing the same demographic or advancements as the earlier acts of the 4th generation. In the 1st gen, K-pop was growing within the country, and the 2nd gen started to take the industry towards global growth by first making impacts into the neighboring countries and Southeast Asia.
Later, the 3rd generation began an era of global growth by having a breakthrough in the West. In the latest and current 4th generation, the groups are starting to become part of worldwide music and taking over social media and short-form apps, almost digitalizing the K-pop industry. We guess it’s safe to say that we are in the 4.5th generation of K-pop.
This brings us to the question: What is the more remarkable change than world domination (globalization) that will take K-pop into the new generation? Going by the current trends, it appears to be the rise of AI and Metaverse. However, you might ask that if AI and Metaverse, which began to launch in 2021, are signs of a new generation, then why are we still in the 4th generation?
The reason for that is that ahead of new generations, we see a period of transition. This is similar to the experience of people born between the end of Millennial and the beginning of Gen Z. They know what compact disks mean and have also experienced the global pandemic in their late teens or early twenties.
The rookies of 2023 are part of the 4th generation despite experiencing the tremors of tomorrow’s K-pop that might be driven by AI idols and Metaverse.
Will AI Idols take over K-pop artists in the 5th generation?
They should, right? If they do, it would mean a distinct change from the 4th generation. However, I don’t believe that is likely to happen. The AI idols are currently stars created with the technology of face-swapping. As per the coverage of CNN, there are ten or more people behind the formation of one AI idol. These artists lend their talents to the avatars, including singing, acting, dancing, and skateboarding.
At a later time, we might develop enough technologies to form AI Idols that do not need any inputs from humans and can function entirely on their artificial intelligence. However, even with that, the AI idols are unlikely to replace the K-pop artists. Humans do crave connection, which is growing significantly in the current 4th generation with direct messaging through Bubble and other social networking apps.
The self-produced content showing the nuances of the K-pop Idol’s characteristics is also an inseparable part of the brand. Moreover, the connection of fans with their idols who inspire them or relate with them beyond the music and visuals of the artist is a notable feature of K-pop.
The advancement of AI can not provide these human connections even with excellent vocals and unmatched visuals. The AI idols might welcome a new generation of K-pop, but they wouldn’t replace K-pop artists.
A greater chance of advancement is that the new technologies will become a seamless part of K-pop artists, a glimpse of which we saw in aespa and SUPERKIND. It can also be similar to how the dance challenges taking over short-form video apps have become a staple of comeback promotions for 4th generation idols. At the same time, it is a new concept for the 3rd generation idols.
Alternatively, K-pop might change into something completely different from what we are used to seeing. In the future, the question will arise: What are the core elements of K-pop that make it distinct from global music? However, that is a discussion for some other day. Right now, we can conclude that the fifth generation of K-pop might be driven by AI idols and the expansion of Metaverse, but they are unlikely to replace K-pop artists.
