The founder of HYBE, often called the “father of BTS,” continues to show his massive influence in the entertainment business. According to fresh data from the Korea CXO Research Institute, Bang Si Hyuk now sits at the very top of the K-culture stock rich list. His stock holdings are valued at an incredible 4.8 trillion Korean won as of March 17, 2026.
This new report, released on March 19, looked at shareholders in companies that produce films, music, dramas, webtoons, and web novels. Out of 27 people who own more than 10 billion won in such stocks, Bang Si Hyuk is far ahead of everyone else. His personal stake of over 13.15 million shares in HYBE makes up about 78% of the total wealth held by the top 27 shareholders combined.
Bang Si Hyuk’s Wealth Keeps Growing Before BTS Concert
The numbers show that Bang Si Hyuk is not just staying rich—he is getting richer. His stock value went up by 249.8 billion won (5.5%) in just the last 80 days. Researchers point to HYBE’s rising stock price as the main reason. Investors are getting excited about the upcoming BTS concert at Gwanghwamun in Seoul on March 21. Large events like this usually bring more attention to the company and its value.
To put his wealth in perspective, Bang Si Hyuk’s 4.8 trillion won stock fortune is more than 13 times bigger than the second-place holder on the list.
JYP’s Park Jin Young and YG’s Yang Hyun Suk Follow Behind
While Bang Si Hyuk dominates the list, other big names in K-pop also made the cut. Park Jin Young, the founder of JYP Entertainment, took second place. His stock holdings are valued at 362.7 billion won. He also serves as co-chair of the Presidential Committee on Popular Culture Exchange.
Third place went to Yang Hyun Suk, the largest shareholder of YG Entertainment, with stocks worth 225 billion won. His brother, Yang Min Seok, who is president of YG, also made the list with 40.3 billion won.
Other entertainment figures on the list include Kang Seung Kwon, CEO of Cube Entertainment, with 62.8 billion won, and Lee Jae Hyun, chairman of CJ ENM, with 25.2 billion won.
BTS Members’ Stock Holdings Estimated Around 20 Billion Won Each
Fans often wonder how much the BTS members themselves own in stocks. The report estimates that each of the seven members holds shares worth about 20 billion won. Since September 2023, the members are no longer considered “specially related persons” to HYBE’s largest shareholder. This means they do not have to publicly report changes in their stock holdings anymore.
Based on the assumption that they kept their original shares, here is the estimated breakdown per member:
- V (Kim Tae Hyung), Suga (Min Yoon Gi), Jimin (Park Ji Min), and Jung Kook (Jeon Jung Kook): 24.9 billion won each
- J-Hope (Jung Ho Seok): 22.9 billion won
- RM (Kim Nam Joon): 21.1 billion won
- Jin (Kim Seok Jin): 19.1 billion won
It is important to note that these are estimates. Because the members no longer have to disclose their holdings, the exact numbers are private. The estimates are based on them keeping the same number of shares they had before the disclosure rules changed.
What Is Driving This High Interest in K-Culture Stocks?
According to Oh Il Seon, head of the Korea CXO Institute, two main things are boosting interest in the sector right now.
“With BTS expected to hold a large-scale concert in Gwanghwamun on the 21st, drawing hundreds of thousands of people, and with the film directed by Jang Hang-jun surpassing 13 million viewers, interest in the Korean culture and content sector has significantly increased recently.”
He also noted that despite this high public interest, the overall valuation of listed stocks in the industry remains relatively low. He suggested that a turnaround is needed to match the public’s excitement.
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The Big Picture of K-Culture Wealth
The total combined stock value of the top 27 K-culture shareholders now stands at 6.127 trillion won. This is an increase of 127.6 billion won (2.1%) compared to early January. This shows that the business side of K-pop and Korean entertainment is growing along with its global popularity.
For Bang Si Hyuk, this ranking confirms his place as the top businessman in Korean entertainment. His vision with HYBE and the global success of BTS have built a fortune that separates him from competitors by a massive margin. As BTS prepares for their upcoming concert and continues to make music, the financial world will keep watching how these numbers move.
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Sources: Daum
