First-half 2025 financial performances and employee statistics of K-Pop's Big 4 companies revealed

Netizens reviewed the financial performances and gender pay gaps at K-Pop’s Big 4 companies for the first half of 2025.

On an online forum, netizens discussed data shared online that analyzed the net profits and margins of HYBE, SM Entertainment, JYP Entertainment, and YG Entertainment. Often referred to as the "Big 4," these leading companies in the K-Pop industry reported the following results so far this year:

HYBE

• Revenue: KRW 1,206,200,000,000 (≈ $867 million)

  • Q1: KRW 500,600,000,000 (≈ $360 million)

  • Q2: KRW 705,600,000,000 (≈ $508 million)

• Operating Profit: KRW 87,500,000,000 (≈ $63 million)

  • Q1: KRW 21,600,000,000 (≈ $15 million)

  • Q2: KRW 65,900,000,000 (≈ $47 million)

• Operating Margin: 7.2%

• Net Profit: KRW 69,800,000,000 (≈ $50 million)

  • Q1: KRW 54,300,000,000 (≈ $39 million)

  • Q2: KRW 15,400,000,000 (≈ $11 million)

• Net Profit Margin: 5.7%

SM Entertainment

• Revenue: KRW 534,300,000,000 (≈ $384 million)

  • Q1: KRW 231,400,000,000 (≈ $167 million)

  • Q2: KRW 302,900,000,000 (≈ $218 million)

• Operating Profit: KRW 80,100,000,000 (≈ $58 million)

  • Q1: KRW 32,500,000,000 (≈ $23 million)

  • Q2: KRW 47,600,000,000 (≈ $34 million)

• Operating Margin: 15%

• Net Profit: KRW 283,600,000,000 (≈ $204 million)

  • Q1: KRW 252,700,000,000 (≈ $182 million)

  • Q2: KRW 30,800,000,000 (≈ $22 million)

• Net Profit Margin: 53%

JYP Entertainment

• Revenue: KRW 356,500,000,000 (≈ $256 million)

  • Q1: KRW 140,700,000,000 (≈ $101 million)

  • Q2: KRW 215,800,000,000 (≈ $155 million)

• Operating Profit: KRW 72,500,000,000 (≈ $52 million)

  • Q1: KRW 19,600,000,000 (≈ $14 million)

  • Q2: KRW 52,900,000,000 (≈ $38 million)

• Operating Margin: 20.3%

• Net Profit: KRW 105,500,000,000 (≈ $76 million)

  • Q1: KRW 69,200,000,000 (≈ $50 million)

  • Q2: KRW 36,200,000,000 (≈ $26 million)

• Net Profit Margin: 29.5%

YG Entertainment

• Revenue: KRW 200,500,000,000 (≈ $144 million)

• • Q1: KRW 100,100,000,000 (≈ $72 million)

  • Q2: KRW 100,400,000,000 (≈ $72 million)

• Operating Profit: KRW 17,800,000,000 (≈ $13 million)

  • Q1: KRW 9,500,000,000 (≈ $7 million)

  • Q2: KRW 8,300,000,000 (≈ $6 million)

• Operating Margin: 8.9%

• Net Profit: KRW 21,400,000,000 (≈ $15 million)

  • Q1: KRW 10,200,000,000 (≈ $7 million)

  • Q2: KRW 11,200,000,000 (≈ $8 million)

• Net Profit Margin: 10.6%

Netizens also examined employee data, noting that while women make up the majority of the workforce at all four companies, men earn higher average salaries.

Many speculated that the pay gap is largely due to men holding more executive and senior positions. Among the four, HYBE stood out with the largest discrepancy, where male employees earn an average of KRW 23,000,000 (≈ $16,500) more per year than female employees.

One netizen remarked that SM Entertainment "probably earns a lot of their revenue from selling merchandise," adding that goods are often sold at a "very high price." Others observed that despite HYBE’s larger scale, SM’s financial performance seemed relatively stronger.

In terms of fair pay, netizens noted that JYP Entertainment appears to treat its employees better, with salaries more evenly distributed between genders.

Overall, commenters shared their opinions on the "mysteries of HYBE," questioning how the company "doesn’t seem to be doing better" despite its heavy investments and size.

Comments include:

"Why are the salaries at every company except JYP so badㅠ These are all big-name entertainment firms."

"What is HYBE even doingㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ They need a serious audit."

"HYBE, seriously what is going on."

"Why is HYBE’s net profit like that?"

"All HYBE executives are menㅋ They must be pocketing huge amountsㅋ"

"As expected, this is an industry that runs on grinding down women."

"At least JYP seems to pay employees better and has less of a gender pay gap. The whole industry runs on women’s ideas and creativity, but the men take the top positions and the big salaries—especially at HYBE, it’s disgusting… But wait, YG’s average annual salary for female workers is KRW 28,000,000 (≈ $20,000)? Are they basically paying minimum wage while employing over 200 women? How can the average look that bad…"

"JYP looks good."

"SM, you have so many groups, treat your employees better… the wages are pitifulㅠㅠㅠㅠ"

"Where on earth is HYBE throwing away all its money…?"

"Sigh, f***, except for JYP the wage gapsㅋㅋㅋ JYP, please hire more employees, damn."

"Wow… what’s with the gender pay gap.."

"JYP has a smaller difference."

"Where is HYBE spreading its money around, tsk tsk."

"There are twice as many female employees, but their salaries are half of men’sㅋㅋ All the cushy head positions are filled by men, while women get peanuts and grunt work. At least JYP has the smallest gender wage gap."

"Why is HYBE’s net profit like thatㅋㅋ No wonder they only hype up their revenue numbers."

"Is HYBE just throwing money into the ground? At that level they clearly have zero business sense, it’s like they’re addicted to wasting money."

"JYP salaries are really high."

"HYBE only looks flashy in media play, but inside it’s weak."

"HYBE is clearly just a résumé builder… The inside of the company must be hollow."

"Is it real that YG female workers’ average salary is only KRW 28,000,000 (≈ $20,000)?"

"What’s going on with HYBE’s gender wage gap."

"Is HYBE’s net profit figure even correct?"

"Where did all of HYBE’s profit go?"

"Where is HYBE spending its money?"

"SM, promote some women. Most of the staff doing the grunt work are women, damn."

"JYP’s net profit looks good and so do their salaries."

"I’m curious about Starship too."

"SM’s net profit is crazy? It suddenly jumped. Even though they’re still cleaning up those old ventures, it already shows results."

"Now that Lee Soo Man is out, the difference in net profit is massive."

"Yeah, it’s known that entertainment salaries are low, but isn’t this too low? Even aside from the gender wage gap, are those salaries for real? Wow."

"I think I saw an article saying SM’s Q1 profit was boosted by temporary revenue from Chinese music platforms."

"SM’s net profit is insane. Raise the female employees’ wages."

"SM’s profit suddenly went up, surprisingㅋㅋㅋ They used to earn and then blow it all immediately."

"YG has more employees than I expected."

"What’s up with HYBE’s profit margin?"

"Isn’t all of SM’s money from merch? They release way too much, too often, and at high prices. But the average salary is still higher for men."

"Did SM cut unnecessary businesses, is that why profit looks so good?"

"SM must be really raking it in right now."

"Artists are under exclusive contracts, not counted as employees, so their earnings aren’t included in company salary data."

"SM is really lean and profitable, what’s with that net profit?"

"Did SM trim all its unnecessary side businesses? Their net profit looks great."

In related news, the Big 4 companies previously revealed their business strategies for 2025 back in January.

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