Bang Si-hyuk

**Bang Si-Hyuk** (방시혁), also known as "**Hitman**" **Bang** (stylized as "**hitman**" **bang**) is a South Korean lyricist, composer, producer, and record executive. He is the founder and co-CEO of HYBE Corporation and Big Hit Music (formerly known as Big Hit Entertainment).

One of the fifty richest people in South Korea according to Forbes Asia, Bang Si-Hyuk is the only billionaire in the South Korean entertainment industry. As of July 2021, he is reportedly worth an estimated $3.2 billion, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.

## Early life and education

Bang Si-hyuk was born to Bang Geuk-yoon, former president of the Korea Workers' Compensation and Welfare Corporation at the Korea Social Insurance Research Institute, and his wife, Choi Myung-ja. He has a younger sister.

Bang developed a passion for music from an early age, having grown up in a musical home, but was discouraged from pursuing a career in the industry by his parents. Bang formed a band with his friends while in middle school and wrote and performed songs he composed. He attended Kyunggi High School before graduating from Seoul National University with a degree in aesthetics.

His distant relative, Bang Jun-hyu+k, is the founder of Netmarble, South Korea's largest mobile-gaming company, while his maternal uncle, politician and former journalist Choi Kyu-sik, was appointed as the South Korean ambassador to Hungary in 2018.

## Career

Bang debuted as a composer while in college. In 1994, he won the Yoo Jae-ha Music Contest and began his career in earnest writing and producing songs. He met Park Jin-young in 1997, and the pair often partnered together as a songwriting duo. When Park founded his company JYP Entertainment, Bang joined him as a composer, arranger and producer. One of their early successes was the first-generation group g.o.d. Some of g.o.d's most famous songs arranged by Bang include "One Candle" and "Road". He's stage name "Hitman" originated from this period, when g.o.d enjoyed success as one of the country's best-selling and most popular boy bands of the early 2000s, earning himself and Park a reputation as "hit makers". Besides g.o.d, Bang has produced or composed for many other artists, including veterans Im Chang-jung and Park Ji-yoon, singer-actor Rain, groups Wonder Girls, 2AM, Teen Top, and the R&B singer Baek Ji-young.

In 2005, Bang left JYP and founded his own company, Big Hit Entertainment, where he continued to write, compose and produce for its artists. Under the Big Hit label, he signed up RM, at age 15, who would go on to lead the boy band BTS. He co-wrote six songs for BTS in their 2016 album *WINGS*. Its success garnered Bang the Best Producer Award at the Mnet Asian Music Awards and the Songwriter Award at the Melon Music Awards that year. In June 2018, he was named one of *Variety*'s International Music Leaders due to BTS' achievements.

In April 2019, Bloomberg estimated Bang's worth to be about $770 million. The Big Hit IPO filed in October 2020 was the largest seen in South Korea in three years and skyrocketed Bang's net worth to $2.8 billion, making him the only billionaire in South Korea's entertainment industry and the sixth-richest person in the country. The success of the IPO, together with the commercial success of BTS that year, Bang's steps into diversification with apps like Weverse, and acquisitions of companies like Source Music and Pledis Entertainment among others, landed him on the 2020 edition of V*ariety500*, an annual index of the 500 most influential business leaders in the global media industry.

In June 2021, *Forbes Asia* published its annual list of Korea's 50 Richest People. One of only two newcomers to the ranking, Bang was listed as the 16th richest person in South Korea. On July 1, following an organizational restructuring, HYBE Corporation announced Bang's resignation as CEO of the company to return his focus to music production. He was replaced by Park Ji-won, but retained his position as Chairman of the Board of Directors. According to the *Bloomberg* Billionaires Index, Bang is worth an estimated $3.2 billion as of July 2021.

Bang was featured on the cover of the April 2022 issue of *Time* magazine, together with BTS, following the release of the outlet's annual list of the 100 Most Influential Companies in March. Later that month, he received an honorary doctorate in Business from Seoul National University (SNU) — he is the first figure in the entertainment industry to be awarded such—in recognition of his "contribution to the development and innovation of the nation's cultural and entertainment industry" and for his "role in turning K-pop into a global pop music culture".

### Comparing K-pop and the music scene in the West

When asked by *Time* magazine about the perception that in the K-pop industry, material is assigned by adults or committees to young artists, Bang expressed that in the West, there exists a fantasy where good music comes only from rock stars who act true to their individuality. An artist in the West usually works under the radar for many years before getting picked up by a major label. In Korea, more time is spent as a trainee, and good performances can appeal to an audience as well as original music can. It cannot be said for certain which system is better.

## Philanthropy

In October 2022, Bang donated 5 billion won (approximately $3.5 million) to the Community Chest of Korea. On February 17, 2023, Bang donated 200 million won to help 2023 Turkey–Syria earthquake, by donating money through Save the Children.

## Credits

◯ = *Participates as writing/composer/producer*, ✖ = *Not participated as writing/composer/producer*, W = *Writing*, C = *Composer*, P = *Producer*

## References

1. ↑ 방탄소년단 탄생시킨 방시혁의 아버지 방극윤 전 이사장 “나는 기타 하나 사준 것 밖에 없습니다”
2. ↑ [방시혁 대표의 어머니 최명자 여사] 온유하며 강인한 어머니의 사랑이 이룬 결실
3. ↑ [쿠키人터뷰] ‘히트 메이커’ 방시혁 “미쓰에이 보고 충격 받았다”
4. ↑ 방시혁, 서울대 강의 "완전체아이돌 나올 것"
5. ↑ "Bang Si-hyuk: from 'hitman' to 'motivator'"
6. ↑ [Who Is...?] 방시혁 빅히트엔터테인먼트 대표이사
7. ↑ "[기업 포커스] 손 맞잡은 '친척' 방준혁·방시혁"
8. ↑ 文정부 첫 재외공관장 인사, 60명 교체…'非외교관' 공관장 증가(종합)
9. ↑ "The Mastermind Behind BTS Explains the K-Pop Group's Success"
10. ↑ "HYBE founder Bang Si-hyuk donates $3.5 million to Community Chest of Korea"
11. ↑ "방시혁, 튀르키예 시리아 지진 피해자 위해 2억원 기부"
12. ↑ Information of the Song "We Are Bulletproof Pt.2" on Melon
13. ↑ Information of the Song "Skit: On the Start Line" on Genius
14. ↑ Information of the Song "No More Dream" on Melon
15. ↑ Information of the Song "Road/Path" on Genius
16. ↑ Information of the Song "N.O" on Melon
17. ↑ Information of the Song "Boy In Luv" on Melon
18. ↑ Information of the Song "Miss Right" on Melon
19. ↑ Information of the Song "Danger" on Melon
20. ↑ Information of the Song "Embarrassed" on Melon
21. ↑ Information of the Song "MISS RIGHT -Japanese Ver.-" on Melon
22. ↑ Information of the Song "Danger -Japanese Ver.-" on Melon
23. ↑ Information of the Song "BOY IN LUV -Japanese Ver.-" on Melon
24. ↑ Information of the Song "NO MORE DREAM -Japanese Ver.-" on Melon
25. ↑ Information of the Song "N.O -Japanese Ver.-" on Melon
26. ↑ Information of the Song "I Need U" on Melon
27. ↑ Information of the Song "Skit: Expectation!" on Melon
28. ↑ Information of the Song "Dope" on Melon
29. ↑ Information of the Song "Boyz with Fun" on Melon
30. ↑ Information of the Song "Run" on Melon
31. ↑ Information of the Song "Butterfly" on Melon
32. ↑ Information of the Song "Whalien 52" on Melon
33. ↑ Information of the Song "Ma City" on Melon
34. ↑ Information of the Song "Skit: One Night in a Strange City" on Melon
35. ↑ Information of the Song "Autumn Leaves" on Melon
36. ↑ Information of the Song "Outro: House of Cards" on Melon
37. ↑ Information of the Song "Butterfly (Prologue Mix)" on Melon
38. ↑ 38.0 38.1 Information of the Song "Fire" on Melon
39. ↑ 39.0 39.1 Information of the Song "Epilogue: Young Forever" on Melon
40. ↑ 40.0 40.1 Information of the Song "House Of Cards (Full Length Edition)" on Melon
41. ↑ 41.0 41.1 Information of the Song "Introduction: Youth" on Melon
42. ↑ 42.0 42.1 Information of the Song "Blood Sweat & Tears" on Melon
43. ↑ 43.0 43.1 Information of the Song "Lie" on Melon
44. ↑ 44.0 44.1 Information of the Song "Stigma" on Melon
45. ↑ 45.0 45.1 Information of the Song "Awake" on Melon
46. ↑ 46.0 46.1 Information of the Song "21st Century Girl" on Melon
47. ↑ 47.0 47.1 Information of the Song "2! 3!" on Melon
48. ↑ 48.0 48.1 Information of the Song "Spring Day" on Melon
49. ↑ 49.0 49.1 Information of the Song "Not Today" on Melon
50. ↑ 50.0 50.1 Information of the Song "A Supplementary Story: You Never Walk Alone" on Melon
51. ↑ Information of the Song "FAKE LOVE (Rocking Vibe Mix)" on Melon
52. ↑ Information of the Song "Euphoria" on Melon
53. ↑ Information of the Song "Serendipity (Full Length Edition)" on Melon
54. ↑ Information of the Song "Epiphany" on Melon
55. ↑ Information of the Song "IDOL" on Melon
56. ↑ Information of the Song "DNA (Pedal 2 LA Mix)" on Melon
57. ↑ Information of the Song "IDOL (feat. Nicki Minaj)" on Melon
58. ↑ Information of the Song "Boy With Luv (feat. Halsey)" on Melon
59. ↑ Information of the Song "Jamais Vu" on Melon
60. ↑ Information of the Song "Heartbeat" on Melon
61. ↑ Information of the Song "Boy With Luv (Japanese Ver.)" on Melon
62. ↑ Information of the Song "Boy In Luv (Demo Ver.)" on Genius
63. ↑ Information of the Song "Boyz with Fun (Demo Ver.)" on Genius
64. ↑ Information of the Song "Spring Day (V Demo Ver.)" on Genius
65. ↑ Information of the Song "For Youth" on Melon