On the night of September 8th, The Fact Music Awards 2024 (TMA), which brought together a host of K-pop idols, officially took place in Japan. One of the most talked-about moments was the special interaction between aespa and NewJeans on stage.
The connection between the two groups is intriguing, as HYBE’s chairman Bang Si Hyuk once “confided” to NewJeans’ “creator” – Min Hee-jin about his desire to “surpass” aespa. However, at present, NewJeans is often seen as “the abandoned child” of HYBE’s chairman after disputes with Min Hee-jin.
Because of this, the photos featuring both aespa and NewJeans in the same frame were quickly shared across social media. Netizens praised the “visual overload” of these two girl groups, both representing the fourth generation of K-pop.
Moreover, the backstage moments between aespa and NewJeans, filled with warmth and friendliness, left fans thinking they looked like “sisters.” After aespa received the Daesang award, NewJeans had the chance to chat with their seniors. Images of the two groups chatting endlessly on stage and NewJeans members acting playfully with aespa delighted fans.
During the photo session, aespa even offered the front row to NewJeans, which made the HYBE girl group feel a bit shy and smile sheepishly in front of their seniors. The kindness shown by both leading girl groups of their generation made the competitive world of K-pop seem more beautiful than ever.
The images of aespa and NewJeans together reminded K-pop fans of a rare moment when Red Velvet and BLACKPINK were photographed together. At the 2019 Gaon Chart Music Awards, the face-off between these two same-generation groups caused a stir on social media.
Fans even went so far as to create edited images of both groups together, hoping they would merge into a 9-member girl group. In real life, BLACKPINK and Red Velvet have a close relationship, so fans are eager to see more legendary moments like that in the future.
Source: K14
