[THE INVESTOR] YG Entertainment’s rookie groups will boost the company in the latter half, said Hanwha Investment and Securities on July 10, maintaining a “buy” recommendation and raising the target price to 47,000 won (US$42.30) from 36,000 won.

It has come out of turmoil caused by the void of its main group Big Bang, and is beginning to stabilize, ready to reclaim the music industry armed with new group artists. Black Pink is fast becoming popular in Korea and Japan, while boy bands iKON and Winner have entered a growth phase based on their steadily growing fandom in Asia, said analyst Ji In-hae.

Big Bang’s Seungri is doing well and will appear in a Netflix exclusive entertainment program, while other members of the group will complete serving in the military next year, the analyst noted. 

By Hwang You-mee (glamazon@heraldcorp.com)