HYBE Q1 Revenue Hits 700 Billion Won

HYBE recorded its highest-ever first-quarter performance, a traditional off-season for the entertainment industry, with sales approaching 700 billion won. This achievement was driven by the comeback effect of BTS and the rapid growth of new artists.

HYBE's consolidated revenue for the first quarter of 2026 reached 698.3 billion won, a 40% increase compared to the same period last year (500.6 billion won), breaking its previous first-quarter record.

Direct engagement sales grew by 25% year-on-year to 403.7 billion won, with album sales in particular soaring by 99% to 271.5 billion won. This figure is comparable to the initial sales records set by SEVENTEEN's 11th mini-album ‘SEVENTEENTH HEAVEN’ and Jungkook's solo album ‘GOLDEN’.

At the center of the strong album sales was BTS's 5th full album ‘ARIRANG’. ‘ARIRANG’ sold 3.98 million copies on its release day, and its LP version sold 208,000 copies weekly, marking the group's highest weekly sales since tracking began in 1991. Furthermore, ‘ARIRANG’ became the first K-pop album by a Korean artist to hold the number one spot on the Billboard 200 chart for three consecutive weeks, and its title track ‘SWIM’ topped the Hot 100 chart.

ENHYPEN achieved their fourth consecutive double million-seller with their 7th mini-album ‘THE SIN : VANISH’. Among new artists, KATSEYE recorded the highest monthly listener count among global girl groups on Spotify with over 32 million listeners, and their two debut EPs have cumulatively sold 1 million copies. CORTIS's debut album ‘COLOR OUTSIDE THE LINES’ set a new record for K-pop group debut album sales, with cumulative sales reaching 2 million copies.