Hybe Stock Drops After BTS Return Concert Draws Smaller Crowd Than Expected

Hybe, the company managing BTS, saw its stock decline by 15.5% following the group's first concert since 2022, which attracted approximately 100,000 attendees in Seoul's Gwanghwamun Square instead of the anticipated 250,000. The free event marked BTS's return after a three-year hiatus during which members completed mandatory military service. Despite the lower turnout, BTS's new album sold nearly 4 million copies on its first day, and their world tour has sold out 82 dates. The concert was streamed globally on Netflix. The K-pop landscape has evolved during BTS's absence, with groups like Blackpink gaining prominence.