On August 21, the documentary Popstar Academy officially premiered on Netflix. The documentary covers the process of creating the multinational girl group KATSEYE. The rookie girl group debuted in June 2024 and was produced in collaboration between HYBE and Geffen Records, a subsidiary of UMG. Bang Si Hyuk, Chairman of HYBE, played a crucial role in guiding, discovering talent, and training the group.
In the documentary, Bang Si Hyuk introduces several concepts about the power of a star. According to the HYBE Chairman, the criterion for evaluating an idol’s stage presence is not necessarily talent. The “star power” is what truly captivates Bang Si Hyuk, even though this concept is quite vague and difficult for trainees to discern. However, with his extensive experience as a producer, Bang Si Hyuk has the ability to detect this quality from just one scene.
“People often believe that skill is the most important factor, but for me, it’s star power,” Bang Si Hyuk said.
The HYBE Chairman’s remarks quickly went viral on K-pop forums, generating mixed reactions. Many criticized Bang Si Hyuk’s approach to selecting stars, arguing that he undervalues the talent of idols.
This has led people to re-examine the talent crisis at HYBE. Focusing solely on “first impressions” and “star power” has caused HYBE to neglect the selection of truly talented idols.
The groups trained under this company have frequently sparked controversies regarding their skills. LE SSERAFIM, the most disliked girl group in K-pop, is a clear example. After their disastrous performance at Coachella and a series of plagiarism scandals, the public’s perception of HYBE’s artists has become more negative than ever. Bang Si Hyuk, who once made BTS a K-pop icon, is now criticized as someone who is “destroying K-pop.”
