In a recent revelation that has sent ripples through the K-pop industry, a core member of SM Entertainment disclosed that HYBE Labels.

The parent company of BTS's agency HYBE Corporation, made concerted efforts to recruit a substantial portion of SM's workforce.

Inside the Industry

On May 3, a thread titled "HYBE contacted a lot of SM employees" emerged on the prominent Korean forum Instiz, swiftly grabbing attention from fans and industry insiders alike.

The thread cited statements from an anonymous core worker at SM Entertainment, who shared insights with CBS No Cut News regarding HYBE's aggressive recruitment tactics aimed at SM employees.

The core worker's revelations shed light on HYBE's persistent interest in SM's talent pool, stating,

"It's not new that HYBE paid close attention to SM. Among long-term employees here, not a single one hasn't been scouted by HYBE. Everyone has received an offer from them."

This phenomenon was noted to be particularly prevalent in departments focused on talent development and production.

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Netizens' Reactions

The news of HYBE's recruitment drive has left many Korean netizens puzzled by what some describe as an "obsession" with SM Entertainment.

This sentiment is heightened by previous reports indicating HYBE's efforts to secure a major stake in SM and comments from HYBE's founder Bang Si-hyuk expressing a desire to "trample on" the success of aespa, a popular girl group under SM.

Here are some reactions from netizens:

• "Just why is HYBE so obsessed with SM?"
• "Min Hee-jin was from SM, and NCT's manager also moved to HYBE. They have so many SM staff now."
• "Well, this is understandable though; a new company will obviously want experienced employees."
• "It seems like HYBE doesn't care about discovering new talents"
• "They just want the ones already established."

HYBE's Expansion Plans

This recruitment endeavor is seen within the broader context of HYBE's ambitious expansion plans, which encompass not only talent acquisition but also strategic moves towards becoming a major player in the entertainment industry.

The company's actions have sparked discussions about the dynamics of competition and collaboration within the fiercely competitive K-pop landscape.

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Written by Cassidy Jones.