Quick Facts: HYBE Corporation
| Founder & Chairman | Bang Si-hyuk (“Bang PD”) |
| Ownership Type | Public — KRX: 352820 |
| Headquarters | Seoul, South Korea |
| Founded | 2005 (as Big Hit Entertainment) |
| Artists | BTS, TXT, Seventeen, NewJeans, & more |
| Largest Individual Shareholder | Bang Si-hyuk (~20%+ stake) |
| IPO | October 2020 (Korea Stock Exchange) |
| Publicly Traded | Yes — KRX: 352820 |
Who Owns HYBE?
HYBE Corporation is a publicly traded entertainment and music company listed on the Korea Stock Exchange (KRX: 352820). The company was founded in 2005 by Bang Si-hyuk — widely known as “Bang PD” — under its original name Big Hit Entertainment. Bang remains HYBE’s founder and Chairman, and is the largest individual shareholder, holding an approximate stake of over 20% in the company. While Bang is the controlling founder-shareholder, HYBE is publicly traded, meaning a significant portion of its shares are held by institutional investors, retail shareholders, and index funds. HYBE manages some of the world’s most commercially successful K-pop acts, including BTS, TOMORROW X TOGETHER (TXT), Seventeen, NewJeans, and others.
About Bang Si-hyuk
Bang Si-hyuk (born 1972) is a South Korean music producer, songwriter, and executive who founded Big Hit Entertainment in 2005 and transformed it into one of the most valuable entertainment companies in the world. Known universally as “Bang PD” within the K-pop industry, he is the primary architect of the BTS phenomenon — signing the group in 2013 and guiding them to unprecedented global success. Under his leadership, Big Hit rebranded as HYBE Corporation in 2021 and expanded through major acquisitions, including US artist management company Ithaca Holdings (home to Justin Bieber and Ariana Grande) and the company behind Big Machine Label Group’s successor operations. HYBE went public in October 2020 in one of South Korea’s most successful IPOs in years.
Key Ownership Highlights
- Bang Si-hyuk founded HYBE (as Big Hit Entertainment) in 2005 and remains its Chairman and largest individual shareholder.
- HYBE listed on the Korea Stock Exchange in October 2020 (KRX: 352820) in a landmark IPO that briefly made Bang one of South Korea’s wealthiest individuals.
- HYBE’s artist roster includes BTS, TXT, Seventeen, NewJeans, ENHYPEN, and international acts via its US subsidiary HYBE America (Ithaca Holdings).
- The company has grown through acquisitions and label investments, including stakes in Pledis Entertainment, Big Machine Records, and Quality Control Music.
- HYBE is publicly traded — shares are available on the KRX and held by institutional and retail investors globally.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who owns HYBE Corporation?
HYBE Corporation is publicly traded (KRX: 352820). Bang Si-hyuk (Bang PD) is the founder, Chairman, and largest individual shareholder. No single entity holds an outright majority.
Is HYBE publicly traded?
Yes. HYBE Corporation is listed on the Korea Stock Exchange under the ticker KRX: 352820. It went public in October 2020.
Who is Bang Si-hyuk?
Bang Si-hyuk (Bang PD) is the founder and Chairman of HYBE Corporation. He is the music producer and executive who signed BTS in 2013 and built Big Hit Entertainment into the global K-pop powerhouse HYBE.
What artists does HYBE manage?
HYBE manages BTS, TOMORROW X TOGETHER (TXT), Seventeen, NewJeans, ENHYPEN, and several other K-pop and international acts through its label subsidiaries and HYBE America.
