Hybe breaks 1 trillion won quarterly sales on BTS comeback momentum
Hybe achieves record 1.45 trillion won in quarterly sales, buoyed by BTS's world tour and album success across its artist roster.
K-pop entertainment powerhouse Hybe reported record-breaking financial results for the second quarter of 2026, becoming the first time the company's quarterly sales exceeded 1 trillion won.
According to Yonhap, operating profit for the April-to-June period reached 170.9 billion won (approximately US$117 million), up 159.3 per cent year-on-year. Quarterly sales soared to 1.45 trillion won, a 105.5 per cent increase, whilst net profit surged 613 per cent to 109.8 billion won. The company also recorded its first quarterly operating profit surpassing 100 billion won.
Hybe attributed the surge primarily to BTS's return and activities during the period. The supergroup's "Arirang" world tour, which launched in April, was described by the company as the largest in K-pop history. The group's fifth studio album, also titled "Arirang" and released in March, topped CD and vinyl sales charts in the United States. Hybe noted the album contributed to South Korea ranking third globally among music exporters, after the United States and Britain, citing data from music analytics firm Luminate.
Beyond BTS, several Hybe-affiliated artists bolstered the quarter's performance. Tomorrow X Together, Enhypen, &Team, Boynextdoor, Tws and rookie group Cortis all achieved million-seller status on Circle Chart during the first half of the year.
Hybe's first-half sales also exceeded 2 trillion won for the first time, driven largely by the strong Q2 showing. Chief executive Lee Jae-sang said the results demonstrated the company had "redefined the global entertainment market in the second quarter" and served as evidence of South Korea's cultural export infrastructure. He added that Hybe would pursue continued expansion and growth strategies moving forward, positioning the earnings as validation of the company's recent business reforms.
