This is a plan put in place to ensure the company’s revenue when BTS members fulfill their military services.
After two years of being limited due to the pandemic, K-pop offline activities and concerts with a live audience are taking place again. For example, many groups have announced their 2022 world tours that start in the second quarter. Concert sales are expected to boost the revenue and profit for Korean entertainment companies for the rest of the year.
The recently published first-quarter earnings of BTS’s company HYBE, remained the highest among all leading entertainment companies but failed to exceed the market’s expectations. According to Allkpop’s analysis, the uncertainty regarding BTS’s military service has affected HYBE’s earnings immensely in Q1 2022, given the fact that BTS is the company’s No.1 source of income. When asked about this issue, a representative of HYBE revealed that the company had prepared a plan to secure the company’s future growth in case BTS members are not exempted from mandatory military service.
Meanwhile, HYBE is now investing in LE SSERAFIM, the company’s first girl group in a long time that is expected to lead the 4th generation, following their senior groups. However, LE SSERAFIM has gotten in trouble ever since they were introduced due to member Kim Garam’s alleged school violence.
Source: K14, AllKpop
