HYBE CEO named vice-chair of Korea venture business group
HYBE chief executive Jason Jaesang Lee has been named a vice-chair of the Korea Venture Business Association (KOVA), alongside Musicow chair Jung Hyun-kyung.
The appointments were confirmed at KOVA's third regular board meeting of 2026, held on 18 September, according to Music Business Worldwide. The industry body, which represents venture businesses in South Korea, added six executives to its leadership team at the meeting.
Four executives were named as vice-chairs. Alongside Lee and Jung, they include Park Ki-ho, chief executive of LB Investment, and Lee Jun-hyeok, chief executive of Geumyong Machinery.
Two further chief executives join as directors. They are Lee Jin of LBox and Seo Jae-won of TUgether. KOVA is chaired by Song Byung-joon.
Lee took over as chief executive of HYBE in July 2024, succeeding Jiwon Park. His appointment puts the head of one of South Korea's largest music companies inside the leadership of a mainstream business lobby, rather than a music-only trade group.
The scale of that company was set out in recent results. HYBE posted revenue of KRW 1.45 trillion for the second quarter of 2026, up 105.5% year on year, after full-year 2025 revenue of KRW 2.65 trillion, according to Music Business Worldwide.
What makes this stand out for general readers is the mix at the top table. A music company chief and the head of a music rights platform will now sit beside investors and manufacturers in the same organisation. For fans, this means the business of music is being counted in the same room as other venture industries.
