HYBE CEO Bang Si Hyuk Credits BTS for Global Success of K-Pop and Korean Culture

Last update:December 24, 2024, 4:28 p.m. IST

Bang Si Hyuk, in a recent interview, spoke about BTS’s journey, crediting the boy band with gaining recognition for Korean culture.

HYBE Chairman Bang Si Hyuk has been making headlines in recent months due to his company’s ongoing feud with former ADOR CEO Min Hee Jin. Amid this, Bang Si Hyuk recently spoke candidly about the success of K-pop and Korean culture, heavily crediting BTS for its contribution. In an interview with a YouTube channel, the HYBE CEO spoke at length about the rise of Korean culture, K-pop and BTS.

In the video titled “HYBE’s Bang Si-Hyuk Discusses BTS, the Rise of K-Pop and Korean Culture, and His Creative Process,” the CEO not only reflected on the boy band’s journey, but also recognized the type of success they achieved together. Bang Si Hyuk claimed that he and the group have made collective efforts to reshape the world’s perception of Korean culture.

“Honestly, I never imagined such success. When I was young, the global market or the American market, which represents the global market, seemed very far from me. Everyone involved was a hero to me that I could never get close to. And when BTS and I embarked on this journey together, I never thought it would lead us to where we are today,” he told Asia Society.

Continuing here, Bang Si Hyuk added, “About two and a half years after BTS debuted, I felt like I could actually achieve things that had never been done before in Asia. I really encouraged the BTS members and I to do our best to achieve our dreams. And step by step, as we chased the dreams before us, we got to where we are today. Looking back, the things I do often seem surreal, just like what’s happening tonight.”

The HYBE CEO, while noting that he doesn’t want to take credit, added that the understanding of Asian culture was very limited and narrow before BTS.

However, Bang Si Hyuk’s latest remarks didn’t sit very well with all fans as many were divided. While some fans acknowledged his comments about BTS, others criticized him for exaggerating his own contributions, also mocking recent disputes over ADOR and NewJeans. Some even felt that it was very unfair of Bang Si Hyuk to neglect the contributions of other K-pop groups and artists.