HYBE Suffers Huge Losses In 2026, Sparking Heated Speculation

The figures are not good.

HYBE is one of the biggest names in K-pop. Home to BTS, TXT, SEVENTEEN, and more, the company has built a global empire over the last decade. So when their latest financial results dropped, fans and investors were paying close attention.

The numbers were not good.

BTS released “Arirang” on March 20. | BigHit Music

HYBE reported an operating loss of ₩197 billion KRW (about $133 million USD) in Q1 2026, a massive swing from the ₩21.6 billion KRW (about $14.7 million USD) profit they made in the same period last year.

Revenue actually grew 39.5% to ₩698 billion KRW (about $474 million USD), which makes the loss even harder to explain. While analysts had predicted a profit of ₩42.6 billion KRW (about $28.9 million USD), the real number wasn’t even close.

| News1

As a result, fans online were quick to ask where all the money went.

Revenue keeps growing every quarter, yet they’re still in the red. Is it because they’re burning through cash running media response teams and legal response teams, or is the revenue figure just inflated?

— Netizen via X

매출은 매번 느는데 왜 적자일까. 언론 대응팀 법률 대응팀 돌리느라 그런 걸까 매출이 허수라 그런 걸까. 곧 공시 분석 올라오겠네 https://t.co/2WkOD1dkV9

— 나비효과걍누렁 | F.N 🦋⁵ (@sigolnurung) April 29, 2026

And meanwhile the executives are throwing themselves a bonus party. Total legends, absolute dinosaurs, like some army recreational football club.

— Netizen via X

이러고 임원들 포상잔치하는거 존나레전드개저씨군대축구동호회 https://t.co/lSYhRYCu8l

— mallow (@outtatheburrow) April 29, 2026

Must be nice blowing company money however they please to harass people, dodging taxes or paying next to nothing, and then acting all patriotic and taking all the credit.

— Netizen via X

회삿돈 지들 맘대로 남 괴롭히는데 펑펑 쓰고 세금도 안/덜 내면서 국뽕 생색은 다 내고 좋겠네 https://t.co/05INkk3a3T

— Runniez | FREE NEWJEANS (@RunforNJZ) April 29, 2026

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