Netizens are discussing the subject of K-Pop's "golden age."

When exactly was the golden age of K-Pop? Some say the glory days were the very first generation of idols like H.O.T, g.o.d, Shinhwa, and S.E.S, while others indicate that the third generation offered the best era, with reigning idols like EXO, BTS, Seventeen, and the likes.

While it may be difficult to pinpoint which groups belong to which 'generation,' netizens are still talking about what they believe to be is (or was) the golden age of the K-Pop.

According to this forum post, the netizen categorized the groups based on the generations and added that the legends were from the "2nd generation, sometime between 2007-2012, when there were many national hits and high levels of individual popularity among the general masses."

"1st Gen - H.O.T, S.E.S, Fin.K.L, Sechskies, Shinhwa, g.o.d, etc.
2nd Gen - Girls' Generation, Big Bang, TVXQ, Wonder Girls, 2NE1, KARA, T-Ara, 2PM, BEAST, INFINITE, SHINee, Super Junior, etc.
3rd Gen - EXO, BTS, BLACKPINK, TWICE, Red Velvet, Wanna One, Seventeen, NCT, GFriend, MAMAMOO, etc.

4th Gen - TOMORROW x TOGETHER, ITZY, aespa, STAYC, IVE, ENHYPEN, Stray Kids, etc."

Netizens in the comments mostly agreed that the 2nd generation had many hits that were positively received by general public ("everyone in the country"), rather than specific fandoms.

Some reactions include:

"For sure it's 2nd generation...I think starting from the 3rd generation, people started to have different reactions to things and now...only fandoms are aware of these idols. The (Korean) masses don't really know the idols."

"I honestly think that K-Pop hit the pinnacle during 3rd gen"

"2nd gen"

"I think that the 'golden age' is now, but that definitely excludes the national approval from the (Korean) masses"

"I think that the year 2009 was legendary. Gee was the yearly #1, I Don't Care #2, and Abracadabra #3, Heart Breaker #5, Again & Again, and Sorry Sorry... And we also had KARA, T-Ara, After School, 4minute, SHINee, etc...what a line-up"

Others thought that this depended on one's age:

"I really think that this depends on the age...I went through 3rd gen, so to me my definition of K-Pop's heyday is 3rd gen. But I think people who have seen K-Pop since 2nd gen would say it's 2nd gen"

"I think people in their 20s now would think that the 2nd generation was the best"

More comments include:

"The golden age is now"

"K-Pop really made it thanks to BTS but I think it was the most fun during 2nd gen...I know that people around me who haven't even experienced 2nd gen still sing 2nd gen songs when they go to noraebang..."

"I think that 2015 was the defining moment between 2nd and 3rd gens"
"I think that the golden age of K-Pop itself is now -- the world is watching them? K-Pop changed from being a subculture to a form of mainstream culture."

What do you think?