Investors are singing along with excitement. HYBE Corp., the powerhouse behind BTS, has seen its shares soar nearly 24% in just a month, driven by growing optimism over the group’s long-awaited return next year.
According to the Korea Exchange on Wednesday, HYBE closed at 332,000 won (about $240), down 2.64% from the previous session but still up 23.9% from early October when it traded at 268,000 won. The surge stands in sharp contrast to declines of more than 10% each at rivals YG Entertainment and SM Entertainment over the same period.
Analysts say the rally reflects expectations for a strong rebound in earnings once BTS reunites as a full group in the first quarter of 2026. “The BTS comeback effect will be clearly reflected in HYBE’s performance,” said Lee Hwan-wook, an analyst at Yuanta Securities. “Additional revenue from BTS-related intellectual property alone could exceed 1 trillion won (about $725 million).”
The recent court ruling against girl group NewJeans in its legal dispute with its agency ADOR—which effectively prevents the group from pursuing independent activities—also contributed to HYBE’s stock gains.
Optimism over easing China restrictions on Korean pop culture following a recent Seoul-Beijing summit also bolstered sentiment. “With improving Korea-China relations, HYBE is likely to outperform the Kospi next year as the leader of the entertainment sector,” Lee added.
