Bang Si-hyuk / Xportsnews
Bang Si-hyuk, the chairman of HYBE and nicknamed the “father of BTS,” has once again taken the top spot among K-culture stock tycoons — this time by an overwhelming margin that is sparking renewed attention across the industry.
According to a report released on March 19 by the Korea CXO Institute, Bang holds shares valued at 4.8 trillion won ($3.6 billion), making him the richest individual in Korea’s cultural content sector through stock holdings.
The survey analyzed shareholders with stakes exceeding 10 billion won in publicly listed companies involved in film, music, dramas, webtoons and web novels. As of March 17, a total of 27 individuals met that threshold, with their combined stock holdings reaching 6.127 trillion won — up by more than 127.6 billion won in just over three months.
What stands out is just how dominant Bang’s position is. His holdings alone account for roughly 78 percent of the total wealth among the top 27 shareholders, underscoring HYBE’s outsized influence in the K-pop economy.
Trailing far behind in second place is JYP Entertainment founder Park Jin-young, whose shares are valued at 362.7 billion won. Yang Hyun-suk of YG Entertainment ranks third with 225 billion won, followed by Danal chairman Park Sung-chan and Cube Entertainment CEO Kang Seung-gon.
Despite their global fame, BTS members themselves hold significantly smaller stock portfolios. Each of the seven members is estimated to own shares worth around 20 billion won, a stark contrast to their producer’s multitrillion-won fortune.
Their exact holdings and finances are less transparent than in the past. In September 2023, the members were no longer classified as parties related to HYBE’s largest shareholder, meaning they are no longer required to publicly disclose stock changes.
This article from Xportsnews is adapted by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times.