Originating from "it boy" and along the same lines as "
4th gen it boy," this term is used to described Ricky from ZEROBASEONE, globally the most popular and well known male 5th generation K-pop idol worldwide.
Although it is mostly used as an informal label by fans, a K-pop idol's status as an "it boy" is determined by their viral moments, how often they go viral, how many people in the
general public and non-K-pop fans know of them, their impact in numbers and
social media engagements, and the trends revolving around them, among other factors.