HYBE Chairman Bang Si Hyuk, recognized as a pioneer in promoting Asian culture globally, emphasized the importance of collaboration in K-pop's success during his speech at the Asia Game Changer Awards held last month.

Bang attended the awards ceremony on October 25 (KST) at Cipriani in New York City, where he received the prestigious honor. The award celebrates individuals who have brought global recognition to Asian content across various fields, including journalism, music, film, and comedy. Although the ceremony took place last month, Bang's acceptance speech was released on YouTube on November 19.

Delivering his speech in Korean, Bang highlighted the significance of cultural exchange:
"From my youth until now, I’ve collaborated with musicians from various cultural backgrounds. Through these experiences, I’ve learned to respect and understand the diversity of individuals and cultures. As a producer experimenting with multiple genres and as the chairman of HYBE, headquartered in Korea, the U.S., Japan, and Latin America, I firmly believe that integrating differences leads to richer and more creative musical outcomes."

Bang attributed K-pop's global appeal to its ability to combine relatable storytelling with the strengths of diverse genres:
"The reason K-pop resonates worldwide is because it tells universally relatable stories while blending the most appealing aspects of various genres. For instance, BTS member Jungkook's song ‘Seven’ drew inspiration from the UK garage genre and included a collaboration with the acclaimed American artist Latto."

He also highlighted notable collaborations within the HYBE family:
"LE SSERAFIM, one of our girl groups, released ‘Unforgiven,’ which sampled Ennio Morricone’s ‘The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly.’ The track featured legendary American guitarist Nile Rodgers. Similarly, our boy group Tomorrow X Together worked with Brazilian artist Anitta on the song ‘Back for More,’ which significantly expanded their listener base."

Bang further discussed HYBE's efforts to promote K-pop globally by partnering with top American labels:
"To showcase the strengths of K-pop in the U.S. and beyond, we’ve collaborated with Geffen Records, a division of Universal Music. This partnership led to the debut of the global girl group CAT'S EYE this summer, achieving remarkable chart success in the international market."

Bang concluded his speech by reiterating that K-pop’s strength lies in its ability to connect diverse cultures and create innovative music, ensuring its continued growth and influence on the global stage.