In the ever-evolving landscape of K-pop, the generational classification of idols has always been a topic of spirited discussion among fans. 

One group has always been at the center of this debate among online users and recently ignited the heated discussion once again.

Making their debut in 2019, ITZY has been known for their catchy tunes and powerful performances. As the K-pop industry ushers in a new wave of talent, K-netizens find themselves divided over whether ITZY belongs to the illustrious 4th generation of idols or if they still fall under the realm of the 3rd generation.

One netizen explained, "ITZY's fans are slowly starting to claim that ITZY is 4th generation, but ITZY is not 4th generation. The 4th generation starts from STAYC and aespa. People say ITZY opened the 4th generation with the 'DALLA DALLA' debut, but that was February 12, 2019. When was this time? It was right after BLACKPINK's 'DDU-DU DDU-DU' and TWICE's 'Yes or Yes.' It was before 'Kill This Love' and 'Fancy.' How were they able to open a new generation when there was the peak of the 3rd generation in 2019."

The netizen who created the online community post explaining this also added that ITZY has always been unclear as to which generation they belong to.

Other netizens joined the conversation and gave their two cents on this topic. They commented, "2019 wasn't even at the end of the 3rd generation, it was when TWICE was at the peak and BLACKPINK was gaining traction," "I'm sorry but you can know which generation ITZY belongs to just by looking at the media articles. There was a lot that said ITZY's generation is very ambiguous. People were discussing whether ITZY should be 3.5 or 4th generation. People are also saying they belong to the 3.5 generation," "ITZY didn't open the 4th generation," "I feel sad because I feel ITZY wasn't able to shine fully because of the time period in which they debuted," and "Even fans know ITZY doesn't belong in the 4th generation."