Over-saturation of visuals: No one stands out anymore

Lately, I've been thinking about how visuals in K-pop have become so over-saturated that beautiful faces aren’t even surprising anymore. Back in the 2nd and 3rd gen, groups had idols like Irene or Tzuyu whose stunning visuals helped them stand out and were used as major marketing tools. But now, it feels like every group has a “visual,” and they all start to look the same. Idols are beginning to blend together so much that it’s hard to distinguish anyone based on their looks.

A VERY POPULAR example is the group ME0VV; they're all gorgeous, but the overwhelming perfection makes it kind of predictable? When every member is so SIMILARLY stunning, it doesn't create an individualized reaction. Narin is absolutely gorgeous, yet some netizens still criticized her, saying she wasn't pretty enough. It's mind-boggling that someone so beautiful could be torn apart for the most minimal reasons. I wonder if her debut reaction would have been a different story if she was part of an older generation, or if the group consisted of more "regular" looks.

It’s not just about looks anymore, though. There seems to be a lack of "trendsetters" or idols with a strong aura; those who could truly captivate you. Very few groups seem to have that magnetic presence, where they break new ground or leave a lasting impression. Instead, many are just following trends, playing it safe to meet expectations rather than pushing creative boundaries; this also plays with looks. K-Beauty has become so normalized in K-pop that it’s not even interesting anymore. Social media amplifies this by turning beauty into an expectation rather than something special to celebrate. Beauty is so avaliable/expected that it loses it's impact. <-This can be contradictory though.

I do think every group will eventually have distinguishable members as time goes on, but I remember when groups would debut and the members, specifically, gained my interest because each had a blend of their own. (Also I've been noticing a lot less colors in everyone's concepts, especially in gg debut releases. I really want the personality of colorful concepts back!)

Is anybody just so unfazed by beautiful people in K-pop because it’s just been oversupplied, or is it just me? (I also know that pretty much every idol is beautiful, but not all of them had the same features compared to the present.)

Disclaimer: this post is not meant to downplay the talent(s) idols' have just because they are overly attractive! It's a discussion to see if people's perception of beauty appreciation has changed.