K-pop has truly become a billion-dollar industry, growing at an impressive pace over the past two decades. Today, it is one of South кσяєα’s largest cultural exports, contributing billions of dollars to the national economy every year.

In 2023, the global K-pop market was estimated to be worth over 10 billion USD. Major entertainment companies like HYBE, SM, JYP, and YG are all publicly traded, with market capitalizations in the billions.

BTS stands out as a group once estimated to bring in around 3.6 billion USD per year for South кσяєα through album sales, tours, merchandise, and tourism.

Given this bright outlook, many dream of starting their own entertainment companies — or even more ambitiously, retracing the path that BTS and Big Hit Music once took, hoping to achieve the same admirable level of success.

Even SUGA himself once entertained the idea of forming his own idol group in the future. With his experience and pαѕѕion, the idea didn’t seem too far-fetched. Many artists and idols follow this path after retiring from the stage.

However, the reality is far more challenging than it sounds. In fact, SUGA has admitted that after witnessing the struggles that BTS — and especially Bang PD, the man who created the group — endured from debut until now, he decided to abandon the idea altogether.

In a previous interview, SUGA shared that if given the chance, he would start his own group or a hip-hop label once he’s no longer an active artist. He was so pαѕѕionate that he even stu∂ιєd how Pledis CEO (SEVENTEEN’s agency) and HYBE founder Bang Si-hyuk trained their idols.

“I've been learning the business from Producer Bang CEO Han Sung-soo and Producer Bang Si-hyuk. I know really well how they train their trainees. Seeing all that, I could tell how much you went through to perform on stage,” he said.

However, when asked again about starting an idol group in the future, SUGA revealed a major shift in his mindset. He quickly stated that he had given up on the idea.

Explaining his decision, SUGA said: “I talked about it a few times with some friends. But it requires making decisions about someone's life. Like when you first started training and when I first started training. With young kids who are still teenagers. It's their lives...I think it'll be too much for me to handle. The heads of our agencies get their feelings нυят too. There are a lot of times when they feel really нυят by what the members say. But they don't talk about it…".

SUGA originally wanted to create a successful new generation of idols, but he knows firsthand how many years of hard work and struggle it took for BTS to reach where they are today. Likewise, leaders like Bang PD face enormous pressure when making decisions about idols’ careers — because one wrong move could mean not only losing mαѕѕive investments but also jeopardizing the future of those young trainees.

And no one can guarantee that another “second BTS” could ever be created — or even a group that resonates with the public. Creating an idol group requires far more determination, thought, and responsibility than just a plan or a dream.

But, at the same time, this also shows that if SUGA ever does decide to create a group in the future, he would likely excel as a mentor — because he understands the emotions of both the producers and the trainees. Who knows — when he feels ready and inspired, he just might return to that dream one day.