Jisoo, Jennie, and Lisa of BLACKPINK have each established their own agencies for solo activities. Rosé recently released her album, which includes her successful collaboration with Bruno Mars. Lisa has been busy with promotions in the United States, while Jennie and Jisoo have both announced their upcoming album releases.
Before them, many other idols and Korean celebrities also founded their own agencies. A few are thriving, some are barely surviving, and many have already closed their doors—proving that being a great artist doesn’t always translate into being a great businessperson.
1. Kim Jaejoong
Kim Jaejoong, a former member of TVXQ and lead vocalist of JYJ, has built a successful solo career. At 35, he remains one of the wealthiest idols in the industry. Known for his entrepreneurial streak, Jaejoong has ventured into several businesses, including his cosmetic brand Kii and Café J Holic. However, he has also faced challenges such as tax issues and the pandemic, which led to some of his ventures shutting down.
His latest project is iNKODE Entertainment, a K-pop agency that recently debuted its first rookie girl group, SAY MY NAME. The group is seeing early success and gradually building its fanbase.
iNKODE also launched the 2025 iNKODE Global Audition, which will be held in five major Korean cities (Daejeon, Daegu, Gwangju, Busan, and Jeju), as well as internationally in Japan (Tokyo, Osaka), China (Beijing, Shanghai), Thailand, and the United States. The goal is to debut iNKODE’s first boy group—one that represents the next generation of K-pop.
Crucially, Jaejoong partnered with Noh Hyun-tae, the former Vice President of Cube Entertainment, bringing experienced management into the company.
READ ABOUT BTS’S BUSINESS MODEL THAT GEFFEN & UNIVERSAL WILL COPY
2. Minzy of 2NE1
After leaving 2NE1, Minzy founded her own dance academy, Millennium Dance Academy, and later signed with MusicWorks, where she was reportedly promised four albums a year. That deal ended in a legal dispute.
She went on to establish MZ Entertainment, releasing several singles under the label. However, it has been two years since she last posted on her YouTube channel and three years since her last music release. Minzy recently reunited with 2NE1 but has not commented on the status of her agency.
The official MZ Entertainment website has been deleted, and its social media accounts have shown no activity since January 2024. Minzy’s agency Instagram (@mz.ent.official) is also inactive, fueling speculation that MZ Entertainment has quietly closed.
3. Kang Daniel
In June 2019, Kang Daniel founded two companies: Konnect Entertainment and KD Corporation Ltd., serving as CEO of both. Konnect managed his entertainment career, while KD Corporation oversaw his other ventures, including Café de Konnect, the “Kang Daniel” fan café mobile app, and game collaborations like Superstar Kang Daniel and Starway Kang Daniel.
However, Konnect became embroiled in a major legal battle between Daniel and a primary shareholder known only as “A,” who owned 70% of the company. Fans were shocked, believing Daniel held full ownership.
In May 2024, Daniel filed a criminal complaint against “A” on charges including document forgery, embezzlement, breach of trust, violation of communications laws, and computer fraud.
The conflict began in January 2023, when Daniel discovered a prepayment distribution contract worth over ₩10 billion KRW (~$7.4 million USD) had been signed without his knowledge, using his name and company seal. His investigation uncovered unauthorized overseas remittances totaling ₩2 billion KRW (~$1.5 million USD), missing personal funds of ₩1.7 billion KRW (~$1.3 million USD), and false expenses charged to corporate cards.
Following the scandal, Konnect Entertainment was dissolved.
Being a great artist doesn’t always translate into being a great businessperson. From boardrooms to practice rooms, idols are learning that freedom comes with invoices, contracts, and debt.
4. Nam Tae-hyun
Nam Taehyun left WINNER on November 25, 2016, after creative clashes with YG Entertainment’s strict production system. Seeking more artistic freedom, he founded his own label, South Buyers Club, in March 2017, and formed the band South Club, where he served as leader, vocalist, guitarist, and composer.
In June 2018, Nam revealed he had accumulated about ₩500 million KRW (~$395,000 USD) in debt from running the label—covering production, staff, and operational costs. Despite his passion, the lack of large-scale resources made sustainability impossible.
South Buyers Club officially closed in November 2019. The band later signed with a different management company.
5. Zico (Block B)
In 2019, Zico launched KOZ Entertainment (King of the Zungle) to gain more creative control and develop new talent. Despite early promise, KOZ faced intense competition and financial strain from larger agencies. In 2020, HYBE acquired KOZ Entertainment to expand its hip-hop and R&B portfolio.
However, challenges persisted. In June 2023, KOZ’s CEO resigned, followed by the departure of a long-time manager in early 2024. Reports cited poor performance as a key factor—KOZ recorded ₩19.4 billion KRW (~$14.2 million USD) in sales, the lowest among HYBE’s subsidiary labels.
6. Jay Park (Former Member of 2PM)
Jay Park, who debuted with 2PM, left the group following controversy over old social media posts. In 2013, he founded AOMG, and in 2017, co-founded H1GHR Music with producer Cha Cha Malone. Both labels became influential forces in Korean hip-hop and R&B.
On December 31, 2021, Jay Park stepped down as CEO of both companies, saying he wanted to focus on music while taking a step back from management responsibilities.
7. Tiger JK
Tiger JK (Seo Jung-kwon), one of the most respected figures in Korean hip-hop, first gained fame with Drunken Tiger, which helped bring hip-hop into Korea’s mainstream. In 2013, he co-founded Jungle Entertainment, which was later acquired by Signal Entertainment Group. He and his wife, Yoon Mi-rae, then launched Feel Ghood Music alongside fellow artist Bizzy.
Despite their success, the couple later discovered that company staff had embezzled approximately $4.7 million USD over the course of a year. The revelation underscored the risks of trusting internal management in artist-led companies.
After years of restrictive contracts, it’s natural for idols to dream of creative independence — but even passion can’t pay rent in the entertainment business.
8. Hyolyn (Former Member of SISTAR)
Hyolyn established her own one-person agency, Bridʒ, in November 2017 after SISTAR’s disbandment. In a December 2023 interview, she spoke openly about the financial challenges of running an independent label.
She shared that despite her dedication, the company has not yet turned a profit, and she has invested most of her SISTAR-era earnings into keeping it afloat. Hyolyn emphasized that she prioritizes paying her staff on time, even if it means forgoing her own income, and admitted it would be difficult to sign other artists under current conditions.
9. Rain
Rain, one of South Korea’s most iconic soloists, began under JYP Entertainment before making his Hollywood debut in Speed Racer (2008) and Ninja Assassin (2009)—becoming the first Korean to win an MTV Movie Award.
In 2013, he left JYP to join Cube DC and later founded J.Tune Entertainment, through which he launched groups like MBLAQ and MadTown. J.Tune eventually declared bankruptcy, prompting Rain to establish a new company, R.A.I.N. Company, which now manages the boy group Ciipher and actress Oh Yeju.
10. PSY
Following the global success of Gangnam Style, PSY founded P Nation, immediately signing HyunA and Dawn after their controversial departure from Cube Entertainment. Both left P Nation later without releasing a full album.
P Nation has since signed artists including Jessi, Crush, Heize, Penomeco, Swings, D.Ark, and Hwasa, though several—like Jessi and D.Ark—also left before releasing full-length projects.
Other idols who have launched their own agencies and continue to manage themselves include Henry Lau, Baekhyun, D.O., Shinhwa, GOT7, Jackson Wang, and Super Junior’s Donghae and Eunhyuk, among others.
