Who Is Park Jiwon? HYBE’s CEO reported to have shared resignation plans after 4 years in charge

On July 24, 2024, MTN News reported that Park Jiwon, the Chief Executive Officer of HYBE, is considering resigning after four years, having taken on the position in 2020. For those unfamiliar, Park Jiwon joined Big Hit Entertainment (now HYBE) as the HQ CEO in 2021 and later became the CEO of HYBE.

MTN News also reported that CEO Park Jiwon recently revealed his intentions following the completion of external investment efforts for one of HYBE's affiliates.

Following the news of his potential resignation, the reports by Joy News stated that no final decision had been made and that the matter could not be discussed in detail. However, it is anticipated that HYBE will soon appoint a successor if the resignation comes through.

This unexpected development has piqued the interest of netizens, especially as the company faces recent controversies, including a long-standing internal dispute with ADOR’s CEO, Min Hee-jin.

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More about Park Jiwon and his tenure at HYBE

Before joining HYBE, Park Jiwon served as the CEO of NEXON Korea, a leading gaming firm, starting in 2014. He advanced to the role of COO at NEXON Japan Global in 2018. He transitioned to HYBE in 2020, where he made substantial contributions as CEO.

His tenure at HYBE included overseeing the company's IPO, rebranding it from BIG HIT Entertainment to HYBE, and implementing a comprehensive multi-label system overhaul along with Chairman Bang Si-hyuk. Park’s strategic leadership was instrumental in transforming the company’s operations, enabling it to grow from a small entertainment firm into a prominent industry leader.

Despite his achievements, Park Jiwon's tenure was not without controversies. Amid ongoing disputes with ADOR and its CEO, Min Hee-jin, netizens revisited past controversies associated with Park, including an issue from his time at NEXON Korea.

During his leadership, a video game released by NEXON Korea faced backlash and was eventually banned due to allegations of s*xualization of female characters. This controversy resurfaced as tensions heightened between HYBE and ADOR, particularly concerning the treatment of the girl group NewJeans.

As speculation about the CEO’s potential resignation circulates online, opinions among netizens are split. Some are surprised by the prospect of his departure before Min Hee-jin, while others view it as a preemptive move to avoid further complications amid internal disputes.

For those unaware, the conflict initially emerged on April 22, 2024, when reports revealed that HYBE had launched an audit of ADOR, driven by suspicions that Min Hee-jin was attempting a hostile takeover of independent management rights. The situation remains under investigation.

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Although there has been no official confirmation from Park Jiwon regarding his resignation, netizens are eagerly awaiting further developments.