Three Performance Philosophies of Bang Si-hyuk Embedded in the Integrated, High-Quality, and New Technology 'WeverseCon'

Artists Across Generations and Regions Share One Stage
Priority Application of Applicable New Technologies
Bang Si-hyuk "Comprehensive Methodology for Applying to Popular Arts"

Bang Si-hyuk, chairman of HYBE, said on the 5th about the Weverse Con Festival, “I want it to be a place where all new technologies and artistic methodologies based on popular art can be showcased.” Weverse Con was a festival hosted by HYBE last month. Through this, the dreams of Chairman Bang and HYBE can be summarized into three keywords: ‘integration,’ ‘high quality,’ and ‘new technology.’ Ultimately, they hope that Weverse Con will become the starting point for creating a sustainable entertainment ecosystem.

On June 10th and 11th, at the 'Weverse Con Festival's 'Weverse Con,' singer Uhm Jung-hwa and LE SSERAFIM performed Uhm Jung-hwa's signature song "Ending Credit." (Photo by HYBE)

First, Weverse Con reflected Chairman Bang Si-hyuk’s conviction that ‘a place for integration is necessary.’ In particular, the meaning of integration was realized by having not only HYBE artists but also artists from other entertainment companies that joined Weverse perform together on stage. For example, Kim Junsu took the stage for a joint concert for the first time in 14 years. Including tribute stages honoring legendary musicians such as the late Shin Hae-chul and Seo Taiji as important parts of the program also carries the meaning of integrating the past and present of K-pop. Chairman Bang explained, “Respect for the historical facts of popular music is necessary, and a space to commemorate and pay tribute to those facts is also needed. The Weverse Con Festival should be a stage that brings out the significance of the times.”

The intention of ‘creating even higher quality performances directly’ was also reflected. The LED panels installed on the stage were more than four times the amount typically used in solo concerts, providing eight giant screens. Various equipment such as trolleys, rotates, and lifts that lift, move, or rotate parts of the stage were also deployed. A HYBE official said, “To put 20 teams and 84 songs on stage over two days requires advanced directing skills and technology. It has to be a stage that any artist wants to perform on to become a stage that audiences worldwide want to see.” This means they aim to make K-concerts themselves a hit product.

The last point is the fusion of art and new technology. HYBE eliminated lines in front of event booths installed throughout the festival site by introducing an on-site customized service using QR codes. This new service is called ‘Weverse Queue.’ When visitors reserve a booth visit, they receive an alert when it is their turn. By entering the ‘Weverse by Fans’ menu, fans can create merchandise using their desired images and designs. The concert stage was live-streamed online in real time so that fans worldwide could watch, and a large outdoor screen was installed to allow attendees to fully enjoy the festival atmosphere, enabling various ways to experience the event. These changed services inside and outside the venue reflect Chairman Bang’s philosophy that ‘innovation is about solving immediate inconveniences,’ which was projected onto the concert site.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.