In 2024, HYBE launched the multinational girl group KATSEYE, initially considering several names for the group. Among the frontrunners were “NEWCRAZY” and “KATSEYE,” as revealed in their documentary, “Pop Star Academy: KATSEYE”.
While “NEWCRAZY” may have seemed unremarkable before, recent disclosures from HYBE’s internal report have prompted netizens to connect the name to the girl group NewJeans. The report highlighted the trending term “New-I-LE,” which originally referred to NewJeans, IVE, and LE SSERAFIM as leading figures of the fourth generation of K-pop. However, HYBE later replaced “IVE” with “ILLIT,” transforming it into “HYBE’s New-ILL-LE,” indicating a potential strategy to eliminate “New” (NewJeans) from the narrative.
As online discussions began to utilize “HYBE’s New-ILL-LE” to reference NewJeans, ILLIT, and LE SSERAFIM, the focus shifted towards ILLIT. The report suggested a need to categorize LE SSERAFIM alongside established groups like BLACKPINK, aespa, and IVE as million-selling artists within the first week of album sales, thus distinguishing them from the fourth generation.
In light of these developments, netizens have come to realize that the name “NEWCRAZY” might have been intended as a replacement for NewJeans.
Below are some K-netizen’s comments:
- Ah, it’s not even funny now… They’re trying to steal what’s not theirs, copy one’s identity and take everything and replace them… I’m really creeped out. I don’t want to deal with them.
- Wow, this is so pathetic. Because the fans were using “New-I-LE aces” they got obsessed over it and tried to insert themselves.
- I thought KATSEYE was tacky at first, but TF is NEWCRAZY.
- Ah, they succeeded in ousting aespa from “New-I-LE” and then they succeeded in forcing ILLIT into the equation instead of IVE, but they were unable to have their way with NewJeans, so they totally just planned to exclude them like they did with aespa.
- LOL, they’re such a bunch of crazies.
Source: KoreaBoo
