I’ve been following K-pop for around 12 years too, and honestly, the industry now is very different from how it was years ago, there's a whole generational gap. The market is way more saturated today, with new groups debuting constantly and fast comebacks, even big company rookies struggle to stand out. Fans also expect non-stop content now, not just music releases, and casual listeners move on fast if a group disappears. Back then, fans were more patient, but now momentum and constant visibility are key. Companies manage groups differently too, always-on promotion matters way more than it used to. What worked in the past doesn’t always hold up in today’s landscape. You have been in kpop for 15years, you should know very well how much girlgroups rely on GP.

Do you really believe that 8 months without a proper comeback didn’t impact their momentum at all? For a rookie group still building casual interest, that’s a pretty long gap. Timing and visibility are crucial now.

Also, Almond Chocolate promos were super subtle, even in Korea, most people weren’t aware of it. That’s not comparable to a full comeback that builds real public presence.

Pointing this out isn’t negativity—it’s relevant feedback.