First off, sorry if i make some mistakes, english is not my first language.
So, since Woni became massively popular in Korea thanks to her personality, and it’s arguably the most popular 5th gen idol there, this is something i’ve thought about a lot, specially when ppl give arguments why she CAN’T be an it girl.
Sometimes, people talk abt being a it girl like it was “vibes”, usually it’s related to extremely aspirational figures. But, it girls are mostly simply the most popular girls, and if you want to make a distinction, true it girls are the ones that have a reach outside their fanbase, with this i mean, people that aren’t necessarely their fan, might buy or do something She does (this is why it girls are more common, there’s very few male idols that cross this thresold, even if popular).
Since globally kpop isn’t massive to have that type of influence, you can measure it in Korea, specially when they haven’t blow up internationally. In Korea, you have two female idols that are very popular: Woni and Wonhee. And before i start, i’m not saying they’re it girls, but i do believe they represent a change in status.
Woni became popular bcs of her personality and accent (and more stuff), Wonhee became popular because…her personality and being real (talking abt buying cheap but good makeup products, and overall doing very teenager stuff). Although they are beautiful, they didn’t become it girls because they were this perfect unreachable ideal, it’s actually the opposite. I’ll give my arguments.
1) In a industry where you already have Karina and Wonyoung being very active and dominating, there’s no way a new idol can suprass them in their own lane. In the eyes of the GP, no one can compete unless they slow down.
2) Aspirational figures aren’t as trendy. While it’s great wanting to be like them, there has been 10 years of them already, and as i stated in point 1, it’s unreachable for other female idols, let alone common people. Economically, no one even feels like they can dream abt being dressed in expensive dresses and spent vacations travelling the world. This is a pesimistic generation and they don’t think they can actually do those stuff or even pretend. Meanwhile, figures with whom you can relate, might become easier, they don’t represent other world, they live in your reality too (not absolutely, but feel closer to it).
3) They have influence: Both have brand deals, are to a certain extent, known outside their core fandoms. For example, Wonhee (whom i follow for longer) became popular with brands bcs she used to recommend them in lives, she doesn’t overspent in stuff like makeup (well she does, just not in a single product), so these brands (that weren’t a first option) saw an increase in sales, because surprise! people want to look good but not spend 30% of their savings in a lipstick. Again, i’m not saying they are as popular as other it girls, just that they have a grip in the GP.
4) Korea is aging. Aspirational figures work best in younger people, as they’re searching for an identity. In a country with a smaller younger population each year, not only you have an economic factor, but also, age wise. It’s more likely for a 28 yo woman would like a funny, relatable idol than a baddass 18yo.
So, when i see argument about why both can’t be considered it girls (at least currently, of their own gen) the argument it’s usually about their vibes, but i don’t think being an ideal unreachable, looking like a model, etc makes you an it girl, it’s simply the type of popularity you have, it so happens that for a long time it was that what made you popular.
There has been multiple it girls that didn’t have global popularity, or that didn’t really had “those” vibes, it’s a pick and choose really, but what all of them had in common was that they were VERY popular with the GP, and had some commercial influence.
Anyways, let’s hear what you think, i’m open to corrections or different opinions.
submitted by /u/SeaZookeepergame1992
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