Companies have a significant role in the Korean entertainment sector, particularly when it comes to music. An artist's career can occasionally be made or broken by a firm. Due to their desire for greater career control, some Korean musicians decide to start their agencies. Super Junior from K-pop, and artists CL, PSY, and Rain ruled radio and television in the good old days. Celebrities frequently pursue other interests while building on newly acquired talents during downtime from tours or filming. Countless Korean celebrities have ventured into the record label business, so let's check out which artists work for them. Below are the top 10 Korean artists who started their own companies.
1. Jay Park
Rapper, singer, and dancer Jay Park is a Korean-American talent who has always been a force to be reckoned with the most. Park is sometimes referred to as a scene mainstay of Korean R&B. Park first rose to fame as the frontman of the 2 PM boy band from South Korea. Jay Park decided to forge his path after working in the profession for a while. At the moment, Park spends his time managing two independent hip-hop record companies, AOMG, and H1ghr Music. AOMG is home to Lee Hi, Jay B, and Yugyeom from GOT7.
2. Psy
2013 saw the world dancing to Oppa Gangnam Style by Korean musician PSY. PSY became the first Korean artist to receive one billion views on the Internet thanks to the catchy song's beat and simple-to-follow dance moves. Psy officially departed YG Entertainment in 2018 after working there for eight years, making the launch of his firm one of the most talked-about ones. In 2019, he established his record label P Nation, and signed the Korean-American rapper Jessi as its first performer. Additionally signed by the label are Crush, Hyuna, Heize, and Dawn.
3. Hyun Bin
After their prior agency combined with SM Entertainment, actor Hyun Bin and actress companion Shin Min-ah decided to become self-reliant. Hyun Bin founded Vast Entertainment in 2016 alongside his mentor CEO Kang Kun-taek after his contract with O& expired. Vast joined Kakao M as a fully-owned subsidiary in 2019. Among its stars are Lee Yeon-hee from My Way and Kin Ji-in from Memorist.
4. CL
Due to her unmatched capabilities in singing, dancing, and rapping, CL has established solid prestige in the K-pop business. In 2020, the South Korean celebrity created Very Cherry, an agency founded to build a core team that has been hand-selected for CL and CL.
5. Rain
In 2007, while his career was at its height, Rain resigned from JYP Entertainment to found J. Tune Entertainment. In 2010, after Rain sold its shares to Park, it did, however, fully integrate with JYP. After several years of playing on stage and interacting with the industry backstage, he launched R.A.I.N Company in 2015. Rain has a keen sense of business because what began as a one-man agency has developed into a full-fledged organization and is now home to Ciipher, his first-ever seven-piece boy group, and the actress Oh Yeju.
6. Bae Yong Joon
Even at the beginning of his career, actor Bae Yong Joon had a keen business sense. The Winter Sonata actor opened many eateries and coffee shops that tapped into the nation's wellness craze, and he introduced his Gosire lunchboxes in convenience stores throughout Japan. He formed KeyEast Entertainment, which managed well-known actors such as Woo Do-hwan, Yoo Hae-jin, Jo Bo-ah, Moon Ga-young, Hwang In Yeop, and Kang Han-na, as one of the forerunners of the Hallyu wave. Bae hawked KeyEast to SM Entertainment, according to a 2018 AllKpop article.
7. Hyolyn
Former member Hyolyn was a part of the Starship Entertainment-affiliated South Korean girl group Sistar and its sub-unit Sistar19. Along with her incredible stage presence, she dazzled everyone with her strong vocals. It seemed only fitting that Hyolyn would establish her agency when SISTAR was disbanded and go on with her successful career. After working for the company for seven years, Hyolyn decided to depart and create Bridʒ, her own production company.
8. Kang Daniel
Kang Daniel took first place in Produce 101's second season of reality TV competition in 2017. He later rose to prominence in the Wanna One boy band, a parody of the show. Kang was a skilled actor and stage performer, in addition to being a gifted pianist and musician. Konnect Entertainment is a self-contained entertainment business founded by the K idol.
9. Kim So Hye
As a member of the renowned I.O.I., Kim So Hye initially came to public attention. So Hye decided to prioritize her acting career when the group broke up. So Hye founded her own company, S&P Entertainment, where she was the only artist during her tenure with I.O.I. She never wavered in her commitment, and her recent success on dramas and variety shows convinced the public that she had made the right decision.
10. Super Junior
It is beyond a shadow of a doubt that the group's numerous television arrivals and stage performances dramatically contributed to the spread of the Korean craze throughout Asia. SM Entertainment revealed that Label SJ, their entire label, would oversee Super Junior as of the latter group's tenth anniversary. Super Junior-T, Super Junior-H, Super Junior-M, Super Junior-K.R. Y, and Super Junior-D&E handle the new endeavor.
