HYBE has surpassed 1 trillion KRW in quarterly revenue for the first time in its history.

On July 28, HYBE announced that it recorded 1.45 trillion KRW in revenue and 170.9 billion KRW in operating profit for the second quarter of 2026. This marks the first time HYBE's quarterly revenue has exceeded 1 trillion KRW, and its quarterly operating profit has also surpassed 100 billion KRW for the first time. Cumulative revenue for the first half of the year also broke the 2 trillion KRW mark. The operating profit margin stands at 11.8%. By sector, concert revenue reached 647.7 billion KRW, and music and album revenue recorded 326.8 billion KRW. MD and licensing revenue amounted to 310.6 billion KRW.

BTS, who launched their world tour in April, served as the primary driver of the second-quarter results. According to global music data analytics firm Luminate, their comeback album "ARIRANG" ranked number one in vinyl and CD album sales within the United States, leading a general revival in the physical album market. "ARIRANG" also contributed to South Korea ranking as the world's third-largest music exporter, following the United States and the United Kingdom.

The BTS world tour generated massive economic effects in every region where concerts were held, coining the new term "BTS-nomics." On the 20th (Korean time), they appeared in the first-ever World Cup final halftime show in tournament history, showcasing their influence and status as global icons.

Album sales for artists under HYBE Music Group also increased. According to Circle Chart, seven teams became million-sellers in the first half of the year alone: BTS, TOMORROW X TOGETHER, ENHYPEN, &TEAM, BOYNEXTDOOR, TWS, and CORTIS. KATSEYE won three awards at the "2026 American Music Awards." CORTIS sold a cumulative 5.25 million copies with their 1st mini album "COLOR OUTSIDE THE LINES" and 2nd mini album "GREENGREEN."

The digital single "ICONIC BY MISTAKE," featuring LE SSERAFIM, ILLIT, and KATSEYE, landed on Billboard and Spotify charts.

The number of concerts also increased. In the first half of the year, 12 teams from HYBE Music Group held 119 concerts, and more than 200 shows are scheduled for the second half. This compares to 10 teams and 279 shows last year. ENHYPEN sold out South American stadium shows on their world tour, which has been underway since May. LE SSERAFIM is launching tours across Japan, North America, Europe, and Asia as they begin promotions for their 2nd full-length album. BOYNEXTDOOR kicked off their first-ever world tour since debut in July, and KATSEYE sold out all seats for their scheduled September world tour, prompting them to add more dates.

Weverse MAU reached 14.43 million, setting a new record following the first quarter. Payment amounts increased by 12% compared to the previous quarter, and ARPPU rose by 24%.

Lee Jae-sang, CEO of HYBE, stated, "HYBE has proven through its performance this quarter that it is a company redefining the global entertainment market and functioning as a core export infrastructure for South Korea's cultural industry. We will continue to steadily pursue our expansion and growth strategies moving forward."

HYBE's concert schedule for the second half of the year is expected to exceed 200 shows.

(SBS Entertainment News | Kang Kyung-youn)