The United Nations General Assembly this week serves as an important time for us to reinforce and continue building our relationships with allies from around the world. Among those whose relationship has proved critical and must continue to be strengthened is with the Republic of Korea.
South Korea is one of our most important partners in the Asia-Pacific region. The mutual benefits of our relationship are numerous – from protecting against threats through joint military cooperation to enhancing each other’s economies through a robust trade of high-tech goods and the establishment of overseas supply chains for such goods.
But our relationship is more than security reinforcement and semiconductor trade. Diplomacy is also sharing ideas and culture. Here in the U.S. – and globally – there’s one element of South Korean culture that has successfully infiltrated our spheres of diplomacy and influence – K-pop.
K-pop is everywhere. These trendy pop bands from South Korea have blown up into a multi-billion dollar industry. The true impact is hard to measure as the marketing and endorsement of these bands infiltrate industries beyond entertainment. As of 2021, BTS, the first internationally renowned K-pop group, was bringing $5 billion to the nation annually.
BTS, and the success of K-pop more broadly, can be traced back to HYBE. HYBE is a South Korean entertainment label founded and led by a man who can be described as none other than the pioneer of K-pop – Bang Si-hyuk. Bang and HYBE have dominated the K-pop market, founding and managing the industry's most viral talent.
Bang is to thank for the explosion of an industry that has transformed South Korea’s economy. But the star talent treatment is the opposite of what he’s getting.
Bang is currently being prosecuted by South Korean authorities for alleged fraudulent activity surrounding HYBE’s IPO. Despite evidence against such charges, complex financial technicalities are being exploited in an effort to take down one of South Korea’s most successful and influential business leaders.
During my time at the State Department, I worked with Korean counterparts on key issues involving the Korean Peninsula. North of the DMZ, Kim Jong Un and his regime censor information and limit economic activity to a central state-controlled marketplace. The chilling effect limits hopes, dreams and ambition. The lack of entrepreneurship combined with abundant propaganda ensures there is no cultural development - let alone K-pop or a global phenomenon.
South Korea’s market principles have allowed K-pop to thrive. So why risk suppressing the geniuses like Bang who are to thank? It’s concerning to see a nation living under a democracy targeting voices of inspiration like their neighbors to the North.
Mistreatment of innovative and visionary leaders is becoming commonplace in even the strongest of democracies. Just look at the way that President Trump has been villainized.
President Trump’s career as a businessman has informed many aspects of his presidency. He’s a savvy negotiator with expertise in the art of dealmaking. His successful tariff negotiations with numerous nations have put these skills on full display, correcting trade imbalances costing our nation billions in deficit.
And yet, he remains the center of several witch-hunts to tear him and his Administration down. Rather than allowing our Commander in Chief to remain resolutely focused on America’s pressing economic needs, his critics throw accusations, lawsuits, and other detractors his way in an effort to undermine his authority and return to a status quo of leadership that frankly wasn’t achieving results in the way President Trump has.
The parallels between President Trump and Bang are clear.
This weaponized prosecution of leadership must end. A nation that perpetrates unfair prosecution of its top lawmakers and executives is an unsafe nation for business. Future investment and partnership could be jeopardized for South Korea.
Diplomacy involves having strong and direct conversations, even with our allies. America should emphasize the need for equal treatment for leaders like Bang and a fair international business landscape, which will allow for the US-Korean relationship to continue to flourish.
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