K-pop is no longer a peripheral genre but has risen to the mainstream of the global music market, and Yang Hyun-suk, the chief producer and head of YG Entertainment (hereinafter YG), one of its central pillars, has stepped forward personally and signaled an unrestrained course of action. In a message given directly to the press for the first time in about five years, his message is clear. 'Not waiting' but a global market reshaping through 'aggressive creation'.
Chief Yang Hyun-suk, who had cut off contact with the media for a long time, recently broke his silence in a phone call with OSEN, and candidly revealed the fierce global competition YG is currently facing and the reasons why he had no choice but to come back to the forefront. He is currently directly leading trainees who will become YG's future while extremely limiting outside commitments.
He said, "I attend outside appointments only once or twice a month. I feel comfortable when I bury myself in the studio and devote myself to work day and night. I just want to get the second GD (G-Dragon) and Jennie out into the world as soon as possible," expressing his thirst for being on the scene.
YG announced the holding of '2026 YG SPECIAL AUDITION : GO! DEBUT' on its official blog on the 5th. The biggest distinction of this audition is that chief producer Yang Hyun-suk will personally take part from the first gate of the audition, the document screening.
Chief Yang said, "Since parents trust YG and send their young children, shouldn't I see them personally? These are idol candidates who dream of becoming stars after going through a process so difficult and fierce that a camel must pass through the eye of a needle. If so, an appropriate screening process and support must follow. I want to give them the possibility that 'they can succeed' and the belief and trust that I will watch that possibility through to the end. The passion I had when searching for young talents like GD and Jennie is burning brightly again inside me," he said.
Unlike the past when K-pop was consumed mainly in Asia, now aspiring artists from around the world are knocking on the doors of Korean agencies. Chief Yang used the example of a 'fisherman with 30 years of experience' to explain the attitude the head of a large agency should have in this changed environment.
He warned, "Even if K-pop has become the mainstream of the global pop market and aspiring artists from around the world flock to major Korean agencies, sitting in the office and waiting will never produce a second GD and Jennie."
He emphasized the importance of 'movement' by saying, "Even a fisherman with about 30 years of experience does not just go out to sea without any preparation. Based on accumulated experience and knowledge, he predicts and analyzes fish movements and then sets out with the boat."
Chief Yang's recent actions mean more than simple talent scouting. YG is currently operating 10 studios simultaneously and conducting a companywide 'song camp.' This project, which has some 70 artists and dozens of foreign composers involved, is a massive project to open a new chapter for YG.
Chief Yang said, "The goal is to create two to three new YG intellectual properties within a year. We are putting all our efforts into this," providing a specific timeframe.
He also explained why communication channels with fans had recently slowed: "We have opened 10 studios. Dozens of foreign artists are also entering and exiting the country repeatedly to participate in the project. The reason we temporarily skipped the events that used to communicate with fans through recent company videos is precisely this background."
Using the successful settling of BABYMONSTER as a springboard, chief Yang Hyun-suk has lit the studio fires once again. The world music market is focused on how his gamble will change the K-pop landscape.
[Photo] YG Entertainment
[OSEN]