The Fair Trade Commission (FTC) officially announced on May 15th that HYBE has been designated as a conglomerate with total assets exceeding 5 trillion won. Chairman Bang Si-hyuk, founder of HYBE and its largest shareholder, leads the group with a 31.57% stake.
This milestone reflects the global expansion of K-pop, contributing to HYBE’s significant asset growth. HYBE’s latest business report reveals assets of 5.3457 trillion won as of last year, marking a 9.8% increase from the previous year and placing HYBE at No.85 on the asset chart.
Chairman Bang Si-hyuk’s inclusion in the conglomerate heads list amidst the ADOR dispute with CEO Min Hee-jin has drawn considerable attention. HYBE’s designation as the first entertainment conglomerate underscores the industry’s rapid evolution, particularly with BTS and K-pop’s rising global prominence.
Notably, Netmarble, led by Bang Jun-hyuk and a relative of Chairman Bang Si-hyuk, has been designated as a conglomerate since 2018. This marks a unique case of two relatives heading conglomerates under the FTC’s designation system introduced in 1986.
An FTC official highlighted K-pop’s impact on the global market, emphasizing the industry’s profitability through albums and performances. The designation underscores HYBE’s position at the forefront of the entertainment sector’s growth and influence.
