HYBE‘s chairman, Bang Si Hyuk, recently sat down to hold an interview with CNN during which he revealed a lot of details regarding BTS, HYBE artists, as well as the shares acquisition of SM Entertainment. When talking about K-Pop as an industry, Bang said something that caused quite a commotion, with K-Pop fans taking to online platforms to express disappointment.
He admitted to thinking that K-Pop “fizzling out” is a major concern of his. Bang Si Hyuk explained that when you look at the “export indicators and streaming growth,” according to him, the slowdown in growth is “very clear.”
He even went on to talk about how BTS’s military enlistment might have affected the industry.
It would be fortunate if this is a temporary phenomenon caused by BTS’s military enlistment, but I doubt that.
— Bang Si Hyuk
Bang then mentioned this potential slowdown as the reason why he’s been “more aggressive” about the SM takeover.
We absolutely need to raise the level of awareness in the global market.
— Bang Si Hyuk
However, most K-Pop fans seem to not agree with Bang’s opinion on the industry’s growth. Many took to Twitter to counter his theory by mentioning K-Pop artists’ recent album sales, streams, as well as ticket sales, and tour stops.
I just greatly disagree https://t.co/BCi5agNo6L pic.twitter.com/H9xKENK8cS
— KpopTookOverMyLife (@mheiligm) March 2, 2023
kpop is not slowing down. groups are selling millions of albums every comeback. debuts are becoming bigger and bigger. he knows after this length of time in the business what enlistment does to a group and he’s panicked. why can’t he just be honest? not to mention he has other… https://t.co/EyZ20O7Ud7
— ᴋᴊ²⁹ ✨ (@music_remedy33) March 3, 2023
Some fans even reminded Bang of the groups “with untapped potential” that are under his own multi-label company and their incredible achievements.
i’m gonna stick this here as further proof of what i said. show me where there is a slow down in this tour data? https://t.co/y6uBkP4uEh
— ᴋᴊ²⁹ ✨ (@music_remedy33) March 3, 2023
“Kpop is slowing down” and yet you let jungkook, the biggest name in kpop stagnant for how many months now. Lol ewanko sayo sarap mong bigwasan
— AMA🎼 (@jjkAMA07) March 3, 2023
Others accused him of trying to “manipulate” people into thinking his way and excusing the takeovers of multiple labels.
the kpop is no slowing down, it’s just his profit from b5s will slow down for 2 years, let’s be honest, he want to takeover to fill this gap he will lose when all of them will go for 2 years. He said it himself that he been aggressive about takeover. he’s not knight on white hors https://t.co/7zWGbXHUkK
— 🤎 Doki 🖤 JH x JK | FAN ACCOUNT (@DokiMBB) March 3, 2023
he’s such a manipulator only thing he’s worried about is his pockets bc his biggest money makers are on hiatus he’s not the savior of a genre that was doing well even without him https://t.co/lwBgvXkZbw
— . (@ertqkmk) March 3, 2023
Meanwhile, there are also fans who agree with Bang Si Hyuk’s point of view, claiming that album sales aren’t exactly proof of K-Pop’s growth.
i think y’all are mad because he just burst your little bubble where you think a kpop group being famous on kpop stan twt means they’re famous worldwide https://t.co/ovh2DSmLAC
— ً (@vantelore) March 3, 2023
the quotes.. kpop fans who mass buy albums for photocards is not making kpop successful hes Right https://t.co/ZA6m2VBLrF
— 🌸 (@jinastrous) March 3, 2023
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