Zico, a member of Block B, disclosed the process through which HYBE acquired the entertainment company he established in 2019.
On the 286th episode of MBC’s ‘Point of Omniscient Interference’ aired on February 17, Zico made an appearance, offering viewers a peek into his diverse daily routine.
During this particular day, Zico provided fans with an inside look into his typical routine, beginning with his role as one of the head producers at KOZ Entertainment under HYBE. He commenced his day by hopping into a taxi to reach the company premises, where he entered the building after a facial recognition scan.
Curiosity piqued the hosts, prompting them to inquire about Zico’s employment at HYBE. Zico elaborated on how KOZ Entertainment came to be under HYBE’s umbrella. He revealed that approximately two years after founding KOZ Entertainment, HYBE Chairman Bang Si Hyuk initiated discussions with him regarding the potential acquisition of KOZ Entertainment.
Zico shared,
“It was about 2 years after I established KOZ, at that time, I received contact from chairman Bang Si Hyuk. He said he wanted to meet me to talk. At that time he asked me what I wanted to do and why I established the label. So, I explained to him all my plans. After hearing me out, he told me that I have sufficient talent as a creator (producer) but operating a label can be a completely different field of expertise. So he suggested that I go under the big system of HYBE and create a good synergy and suggested that we work together.”
The hosts’ curiosity extended to Zico’s compensation, to which he casually disclosed receiving a salary as a head producer.
Throughout the episode, Zico also provided a brief tour of the HYBE building, highlighting the spaces where he would convene with colleagues to discuss KOZ’s BOYNEXTDOOR.
Zico also took the time to share his apology to his fellow artists for making the dance challenges go viral in South Korea.
Recalling his promotion of the song “Any Song” in 2020, Zico reminisced about performing the choreography alongside other singers, which gained substantial traction. Reflecting on this experience, Zico shared,
“I’ve been feeling that a lot of people resent me because the dance challenge seems to have become an obligation.”
Zico elaborated,
“Originally, during breaks, singers should rest or practice in the waiting room. However, these days, (due to the dance challenge), during that time, colleagues meet and must learn each other’s choreography.” He then added, “I want to take this opportunity to offer some heartfelt apology to those affected by this.”