Almost 1/3 Of HYBE Trainees Are Not Korean, Company Confirms

The K-Pop landscape has been consistently becoming more globally diverse in the past year, and it’s not going to stop anytime soon. HYBE, the eminent South Korean entertainment company behind global sensations such as BTS, has confirmed that close to a third of their idols-in-training are not Korean.

According to an official statement from the company in response to The Korea Herald, approximately 28% of trainees under HYBE’s domestic labels represent foreign nationalities. Despite not actively aiming to boost this proportion, HYBE prides itself on fostering talent from across the globe, demonstrating a growing shift towards internationalism within the K-Pop industry.

Three members of pre-debut boy group line up “Trainee A” are not Korean. | BIGHIT MUSIC

Our goal is to support the selection and development of trainees irrespective of country or region. We seek talented artists who will be active globally under the multilabel system.

— HYBE Spokesperson

The company, however, remained tight-lipped about the exact number of trainees and their national distribution.

If you don’t know Trainee A pic.twitter.com/Kxge1YIH8P

— mya (@TraineeAtrans) July 30, 2023

Known for managing a roster of hit K-Pop acts through its eight music labels, HYBE boasts an impressive lineup, including powerhouses like NewJeans, SEVENTEEN, ENHYPEN, and LE SSERAFIM. As the K-Pop industry expands its global footprint, this increased representation of international talent serves to solidify the genre’s worldwide appeal.

Other leading K-Pop agencies, including SM Entertainment, JYP Entertainment, and YG Entertainment, opted to keep their cards close to their chest. According to The Korea Herald, they declined to reveal the nationality proportions among their trainees, citing confidentiality.

All five members of SM Entertainment’s Red Velvet are Korean. | @Rvsmtown/Twitter

However, this trend of diversification is no surprise to industry experts like Lee Gyu Tag, an associate professor at George Mason University Korea, specializing in the globalization of K-Pop. Lee posited that HYBE’s significantly high proportion of non-Korean trainees is a reflection of a broader industry trend, with agencies scouring the globe through auditions in search of fresh talent to broaden their appeal.

Today, countless youngsters aspire to become K-Pop stars. The industry has recognized that incorporating East Asian members into their bands can prove to be a successful business strategy. Examples include BLACKPINK and EXO.

— Lee Gyu Tag

Three Chinese members left EXO after contractual battles with SM Entertainment. | SM Entertainment

Lisa, member of the hit quartet BLACKPINK, hails from Thailand, while EXO debuted in 2012 with four Chinese members amongst their original 12-member lineup.

| @lalalalisa_m/Instagram

It’s clear that HYBE, as a vanguard in the industry, is embracing this evolution, laying a global path for the future of K-Pop. As fans, all we can do is wait in eager anticipation to see the cultural richness this diversity will bring to the genre.