Making megastars BTS do their South Korean military service is slowing the global growth of K-pop, the chairman of the septet's agency HYBE said Wednesday.
The boyband are widely considered South Korea's biggest-ever cultural phenomenon, selling out stadiums around the world and dominating the charts while raking in billions for the country's economy and building a global legion of fans known as ARMYs.
But all able-bodied men in South Korea must serve at least 18 months in the military and, after a years-long debate about whether BTS deserved an exemption, Jin, the oldest member of the group, enlisted in December.
Bang Si-hyuk, chairman of HYBE and the mastermind behind BTS, said figures -- including global ratings and album sales -- now showed declining demand for K-pop.
"The absence of BTS is the first reason," Bang said.
"I think it's very clear that the fact BTS is not active as a team is playing the biggest role in bringing about this change in numbers," he told a forum in Seoul.
BTS are the most prominent K-pop figures globally, he said, adding: "the market narrows significantly when BTS is taken out."
His comments come days after HYBE suspended a controversial bid to acquire control of rival SM Entertainment, ending a lengthy, high-profile feud over the company's management.
He was accused of a hostile takeover and seeking to monopolise K-pop, but Bang defended his move as a solution to K-pop's slowing growth.
- J-Hope next -
HYBE announced last month that a second BTS member, J-Hope, has "initiated the military enlistment process", with local media reporting he was due to enlist in April.
On Sunday, J-Hope appeared on a late night music talk show on KBS and said goodbye to fans, telling them: "I will be back soon from the military."
Since their debut in 2013, BTS have been credited with generating billions for their country, as well as boosting the image and soft power of South Korea -- now a global cultural powerhouse.
They have been invited to speak at the United Nations, and to meet US President Joe Biden at the White House.
But analysts have questioned what the future holds for the group after all seven members complete their military service.
Some male K-pop stars have struggled to resume their careers after military service in a cut-throat industry where artists are easily replaceable.
"Obviously, I think it's true that enlisting in the military means the continuity of a person's career or their value as a national asset is damaged," said HYBE chairman Bang.
"However, I think it's a completely different matter for an individual to happily accept the duty of the military," he added, saying he was "happy" about the decisions by the BTS members.
ETX Studio
Thu Mar 16 2023
![BTS absence hurting global K-pop growth: HYBE chairman BTS absence hurting global K-pop growth: HYBE chairman](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2023-03/71678958022_bts.jpg)
BTS at the American Music Awards, Press Room, Microsoft Theater, Los Angeles, USA, November 2021 - ETX Studio
![Pasangan suami isteri dan anak lelaki nyaris lemas kereta terbabas dalam sungai Pasangan suami isteri dan anak lelaki nyaris lemas kereta terbabas dalam sungai](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/61720357777_lemassungai.jpg)
Pasangan suami isteri dan anak lelaki nyaris lemas kereta terbabas dalam sungai
Pasangan suami isteri serta anak lelaki mereka berusia tiga tahun nyaris lemas selepas kereta jenis Proton Pesona dinaiki mereka terbabas ke dalam sungai di Jalan Kangar-Alor Setar.
![KPT ucap tahniah kejayaan kontinjen negara di AUG 2024 KPT ucap tahniah kejayaan kontinjen negara di AUG 2024](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/61720355095_KejohananUniversit.jpg)
KPT ucap tahniah kejayaan kontinjen negara di AUG 2024
KPT merakamkan ucapan tahniah kepada kontinjen negara yang berjaya melepasi sasaran 35 pingat emas dan menduduki tempat ketiga negara terbaik pada kejohanan Sukan Universiti ASEAN (AUG) 2024.
![Demam denggi landa negeri selatan India Karnataka, Delhi pula catat 240 kes Demam denggi landa negeri selatan India Karnataka, Delhi pula catat 240 kes](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-03/61710238310_denggi.jpg)
Demam denggi landa negeri selatan India Karnataka, Delhi pula catat 240 kes
Demam denggi melanda beberapa bahagian di negeri selatan India, Karnataka, dengan hampir tujuh orang disyaki meninggal dunia akibat penyakit itu dan lebih 7,000 kes direkodkan.
![Skuasy: Aifa-Aira juara beregu wanita Asia 2024 Skuasy: Aifa-Aira juara beregu wanita Asia 2024](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/71720360503_TBSkuasy.jpg)
Skuasy: Aifa-Aira juara beregu wanita Asia 2024
Gandingan adik beradik, Aifa Azman-Aira Azman menepati ramalan apabila bergelar juara beregu wanita Kejohanan Skuasy Beregu Asia 2024.
![Program MADANI Rakyat Zon Timur catat jumlah pengunjung tertinggi Program MADANI Rakyat Zon Timur catat jumlah pengunjung tertinggi](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/81720350205_TBMadani.jpg)
Program MADANI Rakyat Zon Timur catat jumlah pengunjung tertinggi
Program MADANI Rakyat (PMR) 2024 Zon Timur di Dataran Sayangi Kuantan melabuhkan tirai hari ini dengan mencatatkan jumlah pengunjung tertinggi dalam tiga siri penganjurannya iaitu jumlah pengunjung me
AWANI 7:45 [07/07/2024] - Peringatan Agong | Usah korban jati diri demi kuasa | Isu buli siber jadi tumpuan | Nasib berbeza dua 'gergasi' bola sepak
#AWANI745 malam ini bersama Syaff Shukri;
1. Agong ingatkan, jangan jadikan media sosial tempat buka aib
2. Jangan korban jati diri untuk kuasa dan populariti, pesan Sultan Kedah
3. Belum ada jaminan BN dan PH kerjasama hadapi PRU16
4. England gembira, Brazil berduka, nasib berbeza dua gergasi bola sepak
1. Agong ingatkan, jangan jadikan media sosial tempat buka aib
2. Jangan korban jati diri untuk kuasa dan populariti, pesan Sultan Kedah
3. Belum ada jaminan BN dan PH kerjasama hadapi PRU16
4. England gembira, Brazil berduka, nasib berbeza dua gergasi bola sepak
![1,400 veteran ATM disasar sertai Program Desa MADANI tahun ini 1,400 veteran ATM disasar sertai Program Desa MADANI tahun ini](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/81720353771_AdlyZahari.jpg)
1,400 veteran ATM disasar sertai Program Desa MADANI tahun ini
Kementerian Pertahanan menyasarkan 1,400 veteran Angkatan Tentera Malaysia (ATM) menyertai Program Veteran Desa Madani (VDM) seluruh negara tahun ini.
![Kekalahan di Sungai Bakap bukan penamat hadapi PRK seterusnya - Ahmad Zahid Kekalahan di Sungai Bakap bukan penamat hadapi PRK seterusnya - Ahmad Zahid](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/41720350017_TBZahidHamidi.jpg)
Kekalahan di Sungai Bakap bukan penamat hadapi PRK seterusnya - Ahmad Zahid
Kekalahan calon Pakatan Harapan (PH) pada Pilihan Raya Kecil (PRK) Dewan Undangan Negeri (DUN) Sungai Bakap di Pulau Pinang semalam bukanlah penamat kepada gabungan parti dalam Kerajaan Perpaduan khus
Pentas jual anugerahkan pakej media bernilai RM55,600
Jelajah JIWA SME 2024 melabuhkan tirai untuk siri pertama di Johor Bahru. Pemyampai Astro AWANI, Irfan Faruqi membawakan perinciannya.
Perpaduan kaum, agama asas penting mesti dipelihara - Agong
Sultan Ibrahim bertitah dalam konteks Malaysia, perpaduan kaum dan agama yang kukuh adalah asas penting yang mesti dipelihara.
![Cinta V BTS, Jennie BLACKPINK terlerai Cinta V BTS, Jennie BLACKPINK terlerai](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2023-12/51701934429_TBjenniejpg.jpg)
Cinta V BTS, Jennie BLACKPINK terlerai
Laporan yang dikeluarkan oleh JTBC itu bagaimanapun tidak mendedahkan mengenai punca percintaan mereka kandas.
![Empat anggota BTS sedia mulakan khidmat tentera Empat anggota BTS sedia mulakan khidmat tentera](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2023-01/41674099648_JinBTS.jpg)
Empat anggota BTS sedia mulakan khidmat tentera
Mereka bakal mengikut jejak langkah tiga anggota lain kumpulan K-pop itu yang berkhidmat dalam pasukan tentera selama dua tahun.
!['Syukur mereka ada masa untuk saya' - Jungkook tak peduli komen haters 'Syukur mereka ada masa untuk saya' - Jungkook tak peduli komen haters](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2023-10/81696322188_TBJungkook.jpg)
'Syukur mereka ada masa untuk saya' - Jungkook tak peduli komen haters
Menurut Jungkook, daripada sakit hati memikirkan komen-komen buruk, dia lebih suka fokus kepada golongan yang sentiasa menyokong perjuangan BTS dan karier solonya.
![Lirik lagu BTS jadi talian hayat bagi advokasi kesihatan mental Lirik lagu BTS jadi talian hayat bagi advokasi kesihatan mental](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2023-02/61676003911_bts.jpg)
Lirik lagu BTS jadi talian hayat bagi advokasi kesihatan mental
Banyak lagu BTS menyentuh tema kesihatan mental dan muzik mereka sering bergema dalam kalangan pendengar yang mencari ketenangan.
![BTS punyai jumlah peminat terbesar, diikuti Blackpink - Kajian BTS punyai jumlah peminat terbesar, diikuti Blackpink - Kajian](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2023-08/41692953803_TBblackpink.jpg)
BTS punyai jumlah peminat terbesar, diikuti Blackpink - Kajian
Akaun budaya pop @viraltakes di X baru-baru ini berkongsi 10 kumpulan K-Pop dengan jumlah pengikut terbesar di pelbagai platform.
![Pecah rekod, single 'Seven' nyanyian Jungkook raih 15 juta penstriman di Spotify Pecah rekod, single 'Seven' nyanyian Jungkook raih 15 juta penstriman di Spotify](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2023-07/71689498486_Jungkook.jpg)
Pecah rekod, single 'Seven' nyanyian Jungkook raih 15 juta penstriman di Spotify
Muzik video nyanyian penyanyi berusia 26 tahun itu turut meraih jumlah tontonan tertinggi dalam masa 24 jam.
![Lagu nyanyian anak Nora Ariffin terima anugerah MBOR, terima reaksi Jungkook BTS Lagu nyanyian anak Nora Ariffin terima anugerah MBOR, terima reaksi Jungkook BTS](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2023-07/51688885751_TBAnakNoraAriffin.jpg)
Lagu nyanyian anak Nora Ariffin terima anugerah MBOR, terima reaksi Jungkook BTS
Penyanyi, Putri Dahlia mengucapkan rasa syukur apabila lagunya yang berjudul Old Love menerima Anugerah The Malaysia Book Of Records.
![Korea Selatan sambut ulang tahun ke-10 BTS Korea Selatan sambut ulang tahun ke-10 BTS](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2023-06/41686620154_TBbts.jpg)
Korea Selatan sambut ulang tahun ke-10 BTS
Budaya pop Korea Selatan merentasi populasi global menerusi muzik yang diperjuangkan BTS.
!['Saya akan kembali', J-Hope BTS mula khidmat tentera hari ini 'Saya akan kembali', J-Hope BTS mula khidmat tentera hari ini](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2023-04/61681813961_TBjHope.jpg)
'Saya akan kembali', J-Hope BTS mula khidmat tentera hari ini
J-Hope merupakan anggota kedua yang menyertai perkhidmatan wajib negara itu selepas seorang lagi anggota BTS, Jin.
![Suga BTS jadi duta bola keranjang NBA Suga BTS jadi duta bola keranjang NBA](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2023-04/61680944332_TBSugaBTS.jpg)
Suga BTS jadi duta bola keranjang NBA
Suga menyampaikan rasa teruja dengan menyifatkan pemilihannya sebagai mimpi menjadi kenyataan.