Latest news with #BangSiHyuk
Indian Express
13-07-2025
- Business
- Indian Express
India to soon have its own K-pop bands backed by BTS' agency: Will HYBE's big bet challenge Bollywood's reign?
HYBE is officially expanding into India, planning to launch its subsidiary here, just like it did in the U.S. and Japan. And while that does mean the K-pop giant, led by Bang Si Hyuk and home to global phenomenon BTS, will open the floodgates for full-scale concerts in the country, there's more. As part of its 'multi-home, multi-genre' strategy, the company will likely debut its own K-pop wing in India, a crossover of Indian talent and Korean expertise. India's live music scene has exploded in recent years. Concert culture has hit new highs, with international artistes packing venues. In 2024 alone, the live events segment shot past Rs 12,000 crore, with a projected CAGR of 19% over the next three years. And 2025's already lining up multiple K-pop stadium headliners. But this isn't just about global acts rolling through. It's about India ready to have its own wave of I-pop. Here's how it's about to play out. Also read: BTS' Jimin said he felt 'suffocated' listening to RM's track, knew something was wrong: 'I wonder what kind of jerks he's met' When HYBE expanded into America under Scooter Braun, it launched the girl group Katseye in 2024, teaming up with Geffen Records (Universal Music Group). The idol selection process followed the same high-stakes model as Korea, members picked through a survival series. For Katseye, it was The Debut: Dream Academy. The group features members of mixed nationalities, American, Filipino, Swiss-Italian/Ghanaian, Indian-American, Chinese-Singaporean, and Korean. They operated from LA, but the method is all K-pop. There's more coming, like the upcoming U.S. boy group HYBE is building with Ryan Tedder. The Grammy-winning producer behind hits for Beyoncé and Adele is developing a male counterpart to Katseye, aiming to create a next-gen U.S. boy group. Moreover, a Latin American boy group, Santos Bravos, is also in the pipeline. Take a look at HYBE Japan, they've already rolled out Japanese boy groups like &TEAM and aoene. Both exploded to fame from day one, and every single release since has crushed the charts, overshadowing local acts. Now, with India next in line for its own HYBE subsidiary, we're just days away from seeing the first real India x K-pop collab take shape. Also read: Korean Rock band Catch The Young says Indian beats could inspire next-gen rock: 'Imagine a progressive twist' India's always been a stronghold for homegrown music, with Bollywood running the show. With large-scale K-pop concerts on the horizon, featuring HYBE's top-tier acts like BTS, SEVENTEEN, NewJeans, LE SSERAFIM, ENHYPEN, TXT, and others, the battle for dominance is just getting started. Earlier, a HYBE spokesperson in astatement said, 'We're actively conducting market research and working on the logistics for the Indian subsidiary,' adding that the expansion is 'driven by Chairman Bang Si Hyuk's vision to export K-pop methodologies globally.' In 2025, India ranked as the 15th largest recorded music market in the world (IFPI). With the world's biggest youth population, HYBE sees India as more fertile ground for K-pop than anywhere else. A spokesperson confirmed that the India venture will likely follow the same localisation playbook. As one executive put it: 'To win globally, you have to go local, and K-pop's entire success hinges on knowing its audience inside out.'
Pink Villa
09-07-2025
- Business
- Pink Villa
BTS agency chairman Bang Si Hyuk faces indictment over alleged 400 billion KRW stock fraud, HYBE reacts
Bang Si Hyuk, founder and chairman of HYBE, is now facing the possibility of formal indictment. The charges are tied to alleged capital market violations connected to HYBE's IPO process. On July 9, financial regulators confirmed that the Capital Market Investigation Deliberation Committee (CMIDC) had reviewed the case. The CMIDC operates under the Financial Services Commission's (FSC) Securities and Futures Commission (SFC). After deliberation, the committee voted to escalate the matter. The CMIDC's decision to forward Bang's case to the SFC indicates the severity of the allegations. The SFC is set to make the final call during its scheduled regular meeting on July 16. If it sides with the committee's recommendation, Bang Si Hyuk may face criminal charges for fraudulent and unfair trading under Korea's Capital Markets Act. HYBE responds Shortly after the news broke, HYBE issued an official statement addressing the investigation. The company began by expressing regret over the negative attention surrounding its IPO process. They acknowledged the concern it may have caused the public and investors. HYBE emphasized that it is 'actively cooperating with financial regulators and the police by providing detailed explanations and relevant materials related to the matter'. According to the agency, it remains confident that the public listing followed all legal requirements in place at the time. However, it also admitted that the process of clearing the allegations could take time. What sparked the investigation into HYBE's IPO dealings? The controversy dates back to 2020, before HYBE (then operating as Big Hit Entertainment) debuted on the stock market. According to investigative sources and reports from the investment sector, Bang Si Hyuk allegedly signed confidential shareholder agreements with several private equity firms. These included Stick Investment, Eastone Equity Partners, and Newmain Equity. The agreements were made months before HYBE's public listing. These agreements reportedly included a profit-sharing clause. It stated that Bang would receive 30% of the capital gains if the company successfully went public within a specific timeframe. If the IPO failed, Bang would be obligated to repurchase the shares at their original price, limiting the risk for the PEFs. HYBE did launch its IPO during the agreed period, and Bang is said to have earned over 400 billion KRW as a result of this setup. However, these deals were never publicly disclosed during the IPO process. HYBE and the underwriters were reportedly aware of the arrangements. However, they concluded, based on legal counsel at the time, that the agreements did not fall under mandatory disclosure requirements. Critics now argue that omitting this information deprived early investors of full transparency and may have influenced share prices and decisions. Search warrants for HYBE denied twice As the issue gained traction, early investors began voicing frustration, claiming they suffered financial damage due to the lack of information. Public pressure intensified, prompting both financial regulators and law enforcement to launch separate investigations into the matter. Law enforcement authorities have already attempted twice to secure search warrants for HYBE, but prosecutors rejected both requests. The outcome of the July 16th meeting will likely determine whether Bang Si Hyuk is formally prosecuted for his role in the alleged misconduct.
News18
09-07-2025
- Business
- News18
HYBE Is Coming To India As Part Of Its ‘Multi-Home, Multi-Genre' Strategy
Previously, the company has established its subsidiaries in China, Japan, the US and South America. HYBE, the South Korean entertainment giant behind popular K-pop groups such as BTS, TXT, and SEVENTEEN, is gearing up to enter the Indian market. The Seoul-based company confirmed that it is planning to open its Indian office by September or October of this year. HYBE aims to expand the growth and success of K-pop to other parts of the world, and India is a significant step in that plan. In a statement to the media, the company stated, 'We are currently conducting local market research and handling the practicalities of setting up the corporation, with the goal of launching around September or October." This move is part of Chairman Bang Si Hyuk's strategy, 'multi-home, multi-genre." HYBE has been focused on launching new labels with companies based in other countries, as well as conducting auditions for new artists and arranging TV appearances for them. The company also shared that the expansion is driven by the chairman's vision to 'export K-pop methodologies globally." HYBE already has offices in China, Japan, the US, and South America, with its office in China launched in April 2025. HYBE's move to enter the Indian market shouldn't come as a surprise, from a business perspective, as the country has the 15th largest recorded music market globally. With a population of approximately 1.4 billion and a large number of young, digitally savvy individuals, the company sees India as an opportunity to apply its proven formula of idol training, fandom building, and high-production content. The Seoul-based company has already tasted success with their model in other countries. In the US, they partnered with Universal Music Group's Geffen Records and launched the girl group KATSEYE. They made it to the Billboard Hot 100 chart, less than a year after their debut. Meanwhile, in Latin America, HYBE, in collaboration with the Spanish-language network Telemundo, launched the hit audition show Pasa a la Fama. From a business perspective, despite HYBE generating 2.26 trillion won (approximately $1.56 billion) in 2024, which is a record high, its profits decreased by 38 per cent. The primary reason behind the drop was BTS being on hiatus due to the members' mandatory military service. Last year, 34% of Hybe's revenue came from South Korea, while the rest of Asia accounted for 37% and North America accounted for 24%. With the new expansion into India, HYBE plans to continue growing. view comments First Published: July 09, 2025, 09:36 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Malay Mail
03-07-2025
- Business
- Malay Mail
Hybe chairman Bang Si Hyuk questioned by South Korean police, regulator over RM1.42b fraudulent trading claims
SEOUL, July 3 — Hybe chairman Bang Si Hyuk has been questioned by South Korea's Financial Supervisory Service (FSS) as investigations continue into allegations of fraudulent and unfair trading under the Capital Markets Act. Hybe Labels said Bang answered all questions 'truthfully and sincerely.' According to South Korean media reports, the Seoul Metropolitan Police's financial crimes unit recently executed a search and seizure at Hybe headquarters after prosecutors rejected two previous warrant requests. Police and the FSS are investigating allegations that Bang personally received around 400 billion KRW (approximately RM1.42 billion) from private equity funds under an undisclosed earn-out contract tied to Hybe's initial public offering. The contract reportedly entitled Bang to receive 30 per cent of the profits earned by these funds following Hybe's IPO, and the agreement was not included in securities registration statements submitted to authorities, according to allkpop. The funds involved — including STIC, Estone PE, and New Main Equity — invested in Hybe near the time of its October 2020 listing and sold shares post-IPO, earning significant profits through a profit-sharing arrangement that was not disclosed to public investors, according to MBC. Hybe Labels previously stated, 'It's true that we provided shareholders with the agreement in question prior to the IPO. We do not believe that there was any violation of laws during the listing process.' Investigators are examining whether Bang's receipt of the funds could constitute a breach of trust or bribery if proven to involve unlawful solicitation while he was handling company duties. The FSS typically hands over its findings to prosecutors once its investigation concludes, with the case proceeding alongside President Lee Jae-myung's emphasis on fair capital markets and investor protection. In May, Hybe was also searched by authorities in a separate case involving allegations that a former executive engaged in insider trading for personal gain. Investigations into the allegations against Bang remain ongoing.
Yahoo
01-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
HYBE to expand to India in fourth quarter of 2025
1 Jul - K-pop powerhouse HYBE is continuing its expansion to other countries, with the latest being India. The news was announced by the agency on 30 June, stating that it is set to establish its Indian branch in September or October as part of HYBE founder Bang Si-hyuk's "multi-home, multi-genre" strategy. "[This] means that we lead a local music market by blending in with the local culture. We have already seen visible results from the United States through this strategy. HYBE America's girl group KATSEYE landed on the major music chart Billboard Hot 100 within less than a year of debut," HYBE stated in its press release. It continued, "Chairman Bang has a strong belief that K-pop should not just remain a genre of music, but a methodology of itself that generates super intellectual properties based on the wants and needs of the public." The agency bought Scooter Braun's Ithaca Holdings back in 2021 and launched KATSEYE as its first international girl group. It later established HYBE Japan, which manages boy bands &TEAM and aoen, as well as HYBE Latin America in 2023. It also has a Chinese branch called HYBE China. (Photo Source: KATSEYE IG, All Kpop)
