The Korean entertainment industry has long been shaped by visionary producers, but this week presented a striking contrast between two of its most powerful figures: JYP Entertainment founder Park Jin-young and Hybe chairman Bang Si-hyuk.
On September 9, President Lee Jae Myung appointed Park Jin-young, the singer, songwriter, and producer behind some of K-pop’s most iconic acts, to co-chair the newly established Commission on Pop-Culture Exchange. The commission, backed at the ministerial level, aims to expand Korea’s cultural influence worldwide through music, drama, film, and gaming.
Billboard described Park’s appointment as “unprecedented,” emphasizing the rarity of an active artist assuming such a high-level public role. Since debuting in 1994 and founding JYP in 1997, Park has overseen the rise of global stars including Stray Kids, Rain, Wonder Girls and TWICE, solidifying JYP’s status as one of Korea’s most successful entertainment companies. His new role signals recognition not only of his achievements in music but also of his ability to represent K-pop as a cultural ambassador.
J.Y. Park, Founder of JYP Entertainment, Enters Politicshttps://t.co/8HTPbYwwU0
— billboard (@billboard) September 11, 2025
Meanwhile, across Seoul, Hybe’s Bang Si-hyuk is preparing for a far different kind of public appearance. On September 15, the founder of the company behind BTS is set to face police questioning over allegations of stock fraud linked to Hybe’s initial public offering. Investigators suspect Bang misled early investors about the company’s IPO plans, raising questions under Korea’s Capital Markets Act. Authorities have already raided Hybe’s headquarters and the Korea Exchange as part of the probe.
Bang, who recently returned to Korea after months abroad, has pledged to cooperate fully with investigators, stating he hopes the process will “clarify the facts” and “reveal the truth.”
The juxtaposition is striking: while Park Jin-young is being celebrated on an international stage for his contributions to cultural diplomacy, Bang Si-hyuk is navigating the most serious legal challenge of his career.
For fans and industry watchers, the moment underscores two very different narratives unfolding at the top of K-pop’s power structure—one of recognition and influence, the other of scrutiny and uncertainty.