ＢＴＳの不在、Ｋポップの世界的成長に打撃　事務所代表

【ソウル（韓国）ＡＦＰ＝時事】韓国の人気音楽グループ「ＢＴＳ（防弾少年団）」が所属する事務所代表は１５日、兵役に伴うメンバーの活動休止により、世界におけるＫポップ市場の成長が鈍化しているとの見方を示した。（写真は、 ＢＴＳメンバーのジンさんの写真を持ったファン。資料写真）
　ＢＴＳは韓国史上最大の文化現象と広く見なされている。世界各国でコンサートのチケットが完売し、音楽チャートを席巻。同国に大きな経済効果をもたらした。
　だが韓国では、健康な男性に少なくとも１年半の兵役が課される。ＢＴＳメンバーをめぐっては、例外が認められるべきか否かという議論が何年も続いたが、グループ最年長のジンさんが昨年１２月に入隊した。
　所属事務所「ＨＹＢＥ（ハイブ）」のパン・シヒョク代表は首都ソウルで行われたイベントに出席した際、世界チャートの順位やアルバム販売数などの数字からＫポップの需要が減少傾向にあることが分かると指摘し、「ＢＴＳの不在が第一の要因」だと述べた。
　さらに、ＢＴＳは世界で最も注目を集めているＫポップアーティストであり、「ＢＴＳがいなくなれば市場は大幅に縮小される」との考えを示した。
　ＨＹＢＥは先月、もう一人のＢＴＳメンバー、Ｊ－ＨＯＰＥ（ジェイホープ）が「入隊手続きを開始した」と発表。現地メディアは４月に入隊予定だと報じている。【翻訳編集ＡＦＰＢＢＮｅｗｓ】
〔ＡＦＰ＝時事〕（2023/03/16-15:06）

Making megastars BTS do their South Korean military service is slowing the global growth of K-pop, the chairman of the septet's agency HYBE said Wednesday.
The boyband are widely considered South Korea's biggest-ever cultural phenomenon, selling out stadiums around the world and dominating the charts while raking in billions for the country's economy and building a global legion of fans known as ARMYs.
But all able-bodied men in South Korea must serve at least 18 months in the military and, after a years-long debate about whether BTS deserved an exemption, Jin, the oldest member of the group, enlisted in December.
Bang Si-hyuk, chairman of HYBE and the mastermind behind BTS, said figures -- including global ratings and album sales -- now showed declining demand for K-pop.
The absence of BTS is the first reason, Bang said.
I think it's very clear that the fact BTS is not active as a team is playing the biggest role in bringing about this change in numbers, he told a forum in Seoul.
BTS are the most prominent K-pop figures globally, he said, adding: the market narrows significantly when BTS is taken out.
His comments come days after HYBE suspended a controversial bid to acquire control of rival SM Entertainment, ending a lengthy, high-profile feud over the company's management.
He was accused of a hostile takeover and seeking to monopolise K-pop, but Bang defended his move as a solution to K-pop's slowing growth.
- J-Hope next -
HYBE announced last month that a second BTS member, J-Hope, has initiated the military enlistment process, with local media reporting he was due to enlist in April.
On Sunday, J-Hope appeared on a late night music talk show on KBS and said goodbye to fans, telling them: I will be back soon from the military.
Since their debut in 2013, BTS have been credited with generating billions for their country, as well as boosting the image and soft power of South Korea -- now a global cultural powerhouse.
They have been invited to speak at the United Nations, and to meet US President Joe Biden at the White House.
But analysts have questioned what the future holds for the group after all seven members complete their military service.
Some male K-pop stars have struggled to resume their careers after military service in a cut-throat industry where artists are easily replaceable.
Obviously, I think it's true that enlisting in the military means the continuity of a person's career or their value as a national asset is damaged, said HYBE chairman Bang.
However, I think it's a completely different matter for an individual to happily accept the duty of the military, he added, saying he was happy about the decisions by the BTS members.