Without Bang Si-hyuk, the creator of BTS, there would be no global success for K－POP... Interview with Kim Young-min, Chairman of HYBE JAPAN

This is an interview on Yomiuri Shimbun of HYBE Japan Chairman Kim Young Min.

He was SM CEO and the person behind BoA's promotion in Japan.

「ＢＴＳの生みの親」バン・シヒョク氏がいなければ「Ｋ－ＰＯＰのグローバルな成功はなかった」…キム・ヨンミンＨＹＢＥ ＪＡＰＡＮ会長に聞く

【読売新聞】　世界的人気を誇る男性７人組グループ「ＢＴＳ」をはじめ、「ＳＥＶＥＮＴＥＥＮ」や「ＬＥ　ＳＳＥＲＡＦＩＭ（ル　セラフィム）」など人気グループを擁する、韓国の芸能事務所「ＨＹＢＥ（ハイブ）」。２００５年に音楽プロデューサー

www.yomiuri.co.jp

Some (MTLed) notable parts

Quote

Kim first learned of Bang when he was president of SM. Regarding Mr. Bang's impression at the time, he said, "There was a surprise that this is what happens when a genius is hardworking. I think it's quite difficult to combine genius and hard work..." he recalls.

"A genius is a talent that comes from heaven. That ability is often thought of as the opposite of studying or looking at markets or data, driven by sensation or chance. On the other hand, businessmen tend to have an image of being able to study marketing, legal affairs, finance, etc. It seemed like a combination of these two opposing images. While building on his creative background, he continues to study and work hard, and runs the business with professional information and data in mind. I see that balance as what makes him extraordinary."

Quote

The big markets are "fandom businesses that make good use of social media (to increase their loyal fans while also increasing their contact with artists and increasing their revenue)" and "American-based global expansion."

Kpop fans have been making fun of BSH when both SM's founder and ex-CEO speak highly about him.

May be it's a norm these days so people don't notice it but the strategy of using social media to build fandom was unthinkable that time.

Quote from Drew_B

Even if this is true I don't see it as a good thing.

The creator of Neon Genesis Evangelion recently made a controversial statement saying he makes anime for Japan only and the industry needs to stop catering to the global audience. Anime fans from all over are praising him.

I don't like Bang's strategy too but have to acknowledge his ideal.

Quote from WhyKnock

he screwed up SNSD and let Iu walk over it all the time

he also hurt F(x)

Bad news for LS and Illit

Kim Young Min served as SM CEO from 2005 to 2020. If anything, he is the reason for all of SNSD accomplishments. Don't think iu had anything to do with him tho.

Quote from WhyKnock

I think you were not in KPop during 2010s

He was the public enemy no.1 for Sones and f(x) fandom.

His philosophy was that boy groups brought all the revenues and girl groups were worthless, so he pushed Super Junior and EXO before SNSD and F(x), and led to the decline of these

He did everything he could to hinder the progress of SNSD, F(x) and Red Velvet, and only after he left in 2020 that aespa could debut

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I'm officially got into kpop since 2008.

The philosophy wasn't particularly wrong tho. This is the general sentiment of kpop industry at that time, girl groups were just hard too make money from. Most of fandom were boygroup stans, the 2 most profitable sources for girl groups were brand deals and festivals, in both case most of money went to the idols. It's understandable agencies invested more to boy groups than girl groups.

That said, most executives don't actually want to hinder their own groups. f(x) and Red Velvel suffered too many unfortunate unforeseeable events: political, member leaving, accident, scandals, etc. SNSD? He at least in 2010 let the group more active than they should be to squeeze last remains of Gee-hype: 3 comebacks in a single year was unheard of. Their lack of activities post-2010 were just the natural decline and members pursuing individual careers after idol goals had archived, not KYM's fault.

TLDR: don't blame the players, blame the game.