[Exclusive Interview] YANG HYUN SUK Announces, “We won’t hold any events to celebrate the 20th anniversary of YG this year.”
[OSEN=표재민 기자] YG Entertainment, which has produced a number of top global artists, celebrates the 20th anniversary of its establishment on May 20. YG’s CEO YANG HYUN SUK, who has reached the top both as an musician and a producer, announced that there won’t be any events, such as a concert, to celebrate YG’s 20th anniversary.
YANG HYUN SUK debuted as a member of Seotaiji and Boys in 1992. Even before the debut, he was considered to be one of the best dancers in Korea. Seotaiji and Boys gained great popularity until they disbanded in 1996 and became a legendary icon that opened up a new chapter in the history of Korean pop music.
After the disbandment, he established YG Entertainment in 1996 and made JINUSEAN, 1TYM, LEXY, SE7EN, WHEESUNG, GUMMY, BIG MAMA, BIGBANG, 2NE1, WINNER, iKON into stars and PSY into a “world star”. YG Entertainment manages not only musicians but also top actors and actresses such as CHA SEUNG WON, GANG DONG WON, LEE JONG SUK, KIM HEE AE, and CHOI JI WOO.
He reached the top as a dancer and then changed the history of Korean pop music as a member of Seotaiji and Boys. As an agent and producer, he also became the top. It is a well-known story that Seotaiji first wanted to debut as a solo singer, but when he came to YANG HYUN SUK to teach him how dancing, YANG HYUN SUK suggested that they should form a group. Even at that time, he had the talent to be a music manager.
We asked YANG HYUN SUK for an interview upon hearing the news that YG celebrated its 20th anniversary by giving rice cakes to its employees. When we asked him why YG wasn’t holding any events to celebrate this joyous occasion, he answered that they still have a long way to go. Following is the interview of YANG HYUN SUK.
-We heard that employees got rice cakes at lunch time?
It is our 20th anniversary, and I couldn’t let it just go by. So we had rice cakes prepared in the canteen and gave them out when they came to have their lunch.
-20th anniversary is a big occasion. Why aren’t you holding any events?
I established YG Entertainment on May 20, 1996. The registration card was issued on that day. It is our 20th anniversary, but we won’t be holding any events, not even a party or a concert. We have to launch a new girl group, and we have a lot of work to do. There’s no time to celebrate when we have so much work on our hands.
-So, there won’t be an YG Family Concert this year?
No, there won’t be one this year. People think YG is the best management company, but we still have a long way to go. I still have many things that I want to achieve. I want to do new things and I’m very excited about that too. I’m not excited about the money I’ll be making out of it, but about the fact that I’ll be making new values. When people feel happy when they listen to the music by the singers that I managed, this makes me really happy.
-It’s surprising that doing new things makes you feel happy.
I met SECHS KIES yesterday, and we had a drink. I told them, “I don’t look back on the past. I don’t think about the things I’ve done. I wake up every day and think about what’s new. The things that I could do for you are not just about money and material support. I could share my future-oriented and positive thoughts with you, and I hope you guys can also think like me.
I also asked them what they think true happiness is. I said to them, ‘Having a lot of money doesn’t necessarily mean that you are happy. Having no money doesn’t necessarily mean that you are unhappy. Money makes your life more comfortable, but it doesn’t make you happy. Happiness come from making those that you love feel happy. I hope that you become happy.’
I also told them, ‘When I wake up, I think about new things. SECHS KIES were at a standstill for 16 years. I hope that by working with me, you could think new and do new things. I hope you really become happy.’ When I said this they were really touched.”
-Some are skeptical about YG expanding its business into food and fashion.
We are not just thinking about the domestic market but the global market. It has only been seven months since we started our food business, and one year in fashion. You plant seeds, and it takes time for the seeds to grow and bear fruit. We’ve only just started, but many people want to see results really quick, maybe because they’re so interested in YG. But in my view, I’m sure that because we’ve planted seeds and they have begun to sprout, we’ll see some results next year.
2016. 5. 20.
