HYBE Confirms Plans to Launch Indian Subsidiary by Late 2025

After months of speculation, it’s official—HYBE is setting up shop in India. The South Korean music company behind BTS and NewJeans shared on June 30 that it’s preparing to launch a subsidiary in India by September or October 2025.

In a statement, HYBE said, “We are currently conducting local market research and handling the practicalities of setting up the corporation, with the goal of launching around September or October.”

This move is part of HYBE’s broader plan to adapt its K-pop training and production system to global markets while keeping the core aspects that have made it work: strict training, strong storytelling, and direct fan engagement.

India isn’t just a huge market—it’s one with serious potential. With a 1.4 billion population, mostly under the age of 30, and a growing appetite for Korean content, it makes sense that HYBE has chosen to invest here.

In fact, BTS is already one of the most-streamed international acts in India, and YouTube data shows India ranks fourth globally in BTS music video views—higher than even the U.S. and South Korea.

HYBE clearly sees an opportunity to nurture homegrown talent that can connect with Indian audiences while also appealing to fans worldwide.

So, what exactly is HYBE planning to do in India? The company will develop local artists using the same system they use in Korea—long-term training, tight storytelling, and fan-focused content—but adapted to Indian culture.

We’ve already seen this method in action in Latin America, where HYBE acquired Mexico-based Exile Music in 2023, expanded operations the following year, and launched a talent incubator in Colombia this April. More recently, they rolled out a Latin American talent show and auditions for a new boy group.

This time, it looks like India could be the next place to debut an act like KATSEYE, the U.S.-based girl group that made it to the Billboard Hot 100 with their single Gnarly. The group even includes Indian-origin singer Lara Rajagopalan, showing that HYBE is open to blending global and local identities in its artists.

HYBE isn’t the first label to try this. Sony Music India recently introduced a Hindi-pop girl group called Wish, styled and marketed like a K-pop act. But with HYBE’s proven model and massive global reach, its entry could raise the stakes.

A HYBE spokesperson added, “The strategy of establishing footholds in major global music markets and applying this methodology is already producing results. If this trend continues, the landscape of the global music industry—currently dominated by the so-called global ‘Big Three’ businesses—will undergo a significant transformation.”