“This explains alot about the company”- Netizens react as HYBE chairman Bang Si-hyuk says that skill isn’t most important in an idol

On August 21, 2024, a clip from Netflix's latest docuseries, Popstar Academy: KATSEYE, circulated on social media. It featured HYBE's Bang Si-hyuk confessing that skill was not the most important skill in the trainee, drawing mixed reactions from the K-pop community. The clip from the second episode showcased Bang Si-hyuk sharing his thoughts as the production team embarked on their hunt for the trainee.

According to Bang Si-hyuk, he believed that star power holds much more value than the skill of a trainee or an individual in the K-pop industry. He stated, as translated by Netflix:

"Usually, people believe that skill is the most important part, but for me, it's star power."

Subsequently, the K-pop community was divided into two groups. While one side supported Bang Si-hyuk's thoughts, the other part criticized him. As such, an X user tweeted:

"This explains a lot about the company."

Many K-pop enthusiasts continued to showcase their support for the chairperson of HYBE corporation. They thought that everyone could develop a certain skill over time.

"Where is the lie cos u can be as talented, can sing, can dance, can perform but u will need the star power or factor to hit big there soo many talented people out there but they can't hit big or be successful cos they don't have the star power and even if we look into,"- a fan reacted.

"Well Star power is what makes an idol, skill can be taught and improved over time. Since they don’t have to play instruments and write their own music, you can teach them to dance and no one sings live today anyway so, you prefer a perfect technical singer over that,"- a fan commented.

"You can teach a person skills but it's very hard to teach a person star power. It's the same way in during I-land, he asked the judges to notice potential & not just their level of skills... Potential & star power is the most important. Skills develop all the time,"- a fan mentioned.

However, some fans opposed Bang Si-hyuk's thoughts and had contrasting opinions.

"He only cares about money not art,"- a user reacted.

"I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again. If your vocal line is weak, your group is in trouble,"- a user commented.

"In order to have star power, u need to be talented in some way too,"- a user mentioned.

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More about Bang Si-hyuk

Bang Si-hyuk, popularly known as Hitman Bang, is one of the prominent figures in South Korea. He is a multitalented individual and works as a record producer, music executive, and songwriter, and currently serves as the chairperson of HYBE Corporation.

The 53-year-old was born on August 9, 1972, in Seoul, South Korea, and graduated from Seoul National University.

The HYBE corporation chairperson founded one of the biggest and most famous labels, BigHit Music, known for managing BTS. Subsequently, he founded the entertainment company Hybe Corporation and has been active in the industry since 1994.

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Bang Si-hyuk's Hybe Corporation owns several subsidiaries, including Belift Lab, Source Music, BigHit Music, Pledis Entertainment, ADOR, and others.