what separates generations in kpop?

camsicle05Sep 29, 2026

i am new to kpop altogether, and i know that we are in the 5th generation of kpop, but officially what separates them by generation? this might be dumb… but i genuinely don’t know exactly how each group is classified? also!! new recs if possible. i LOVE ILLIT (they’re my fav group), KiiiKiii, ARTMS, and a little bit of aespa. sorry just wanted everyone’s opinion on this stuff 😭😭💕

💬 General

Comments (4)

vault_girl

There’s actually a bit more structure to it! Generations aren't defined by an official governing body, but rather by Korean media (K-media), entertainment companies, and major shifts in technology and global market trends. Here’s a quick overview of how they're usually split 🙂: - 1st Gen (late 90s–mid 2000s): The birth of the idol system (H.O.T., S.E.S., BoA). - 2nd Gen (2003–2011): The TV era & expansion across Asia / Hallyu wave (SNSD, BIGBANG, SHINee). - 3rd Gen (2012–2017): Global explosion driven by YouTube & social media (BTS, TWICE, BLACKPINK, EXO). - 4th Gen (2018–2022): High-concept lore, massive album sales & TikTok boom (Stray Kids, aespa, IVE, NewJeans). - 5th Gen (2023–present): Coined by K-media around 2023 (ZB1, RIIZE, ILLIT, BABYMONSTER), heavily focused on short-form content and easy-listening tracks. (And don't worry, 6th gen definitely hasn't started yet!) Since you love ILLIT, ARTMS, and aespa, you should check out: - LOONA - ARTMS members are originally from LOONA! Try Butterfly, Star, or Girl Front for amazing synth-pop. - tripleS - Produced by Jaden Jeong (the same director behind ARTMS/LOONA). Try Girls' Capitalism or Generation. - RESCENE - Has a wonderful dreamy, chic vibe similar to ILLIT (Love Attack, UhUh). - Red Velvet - The original queens of dual experimental/pop concepts that paved the way for aespa (Feel My Rhythm, Psycho).

camsicle05OP

omg thank you so much!!!

https_soojin__5

For me, the 5th gen started with either Kiss of Life debut or BABYMONSTER debut, but it’s quit blur. Cause the music started to change, the age of the idols too and many others small things. For me what define the start of a generation is a noticeable change in MV direction, music and style. For some people, we’re still in 4th gen and for others we started the 6th gen.

camsicle05OP

thank you! i was thinking it was more subjective but i am so appreciative for the response