Jellyfish Entertainment

Jellyfish Entertainment, is a South Korean entertainment company established by composer and producer Hwang Se-jun in Seoul, South Korea.

Jellyfish Entertainment is the home of artists including Jang Hye-jin, VIXX, Verivery, Evnne and formerly gugudan, Park Yoon-ha. The agency is also the home of actors including Kim Sun-young, Kim Se-jeong, and Lim Seul-ong.

2007–2011: Founding and beginning
Jellyfish Entertainment was founded on August 17, 2007 in Seoul by composer and producer Hwang Se-jun. The first artist to sign under the company was the established ballad singer Sung Si-kyung, who released the single "Parting Once Again". One year later, the company signed Lisa and Park Hak-ki.

In November 2008, singer Park Hyo-shin signed to the agency and was featured on the album Hwang Project Vol.1 Welcome To The Fantastic World. The following year, Super Star K contestant Seo In-guk and Altair (Lee Ji-hoon) later joined Jellyfish Entertainment.

In December 2010, Jellyfish Entertainment artists collaborated for the Jelly Christmas holiday album project with the lead single "Christmas Time". In December 2011 Sung Si-kyung, Brian Joo, Seo In-guk, Park Hak-ki, Park Jang-hyun and Hwang Project collaborated again for Jelly Christmas with the single "Christmas for All".

2012–2015: VIXX and company acquisition
In April 2012, Jellyfish Entertainment revealed lineup trainees of their upcoming boy group and formed the boy group on MyDOL, a competition survival show that aired on Mnet. The winners debuted as a member of VIXX on May 24, 2012. In June, Lee Seok-hoon of SG Wannabe released the digital single "The Beginning of Love" (Y.Bird from Jellyfish Island with Lee Seok Hoon) as part of Hwang Se-jun's Y.Bird from Jellyfish Island project. On September 12, Jellyfish Entertainment held their first live concert Jellyfish Live at Tokyo's Zepp Diver City in Japan, and in December, both Park Hyo-shin and Sung Si-kyung held concert performances in Seoul. Jellyfish Entertainment's artists collaborated again for the Jelly Christmas 2012 Heart Project with the single "Because It's Christmas" with the proceeds from the project donated to The Salvation Army Korea.

In February 2013, the Y.Bird from Jellyfish Island project released the digital singles "I Can't Live Because of You" by Seo In-guk featuring Verbal Jint (Y.BIRD from Jellyfish Island With Seo In Guk) in February    and "Girl's Why?" by VIXX and indie duo OKDAL (Y.BIRD from Jellyfish with VIXX & OKDAL) in October. In December, 19% of Jellyfish's shares were acquired by their distributor, CJ E&M and joined the CJ E&M label system as an independent label.

In July 2015, K-pop Star 4 TOP 6 contestant Park Yoon-ha signed under the agency. following month, VIXX LR was formed as the sub-unit of VIXX, composed of rapper Ravi and vocalist Leo. The Jelly Christmas 2015 single was released on December 15 with the song "Love In The Air".

2016–2018: Produce, Gugudan, and expansion into acting
In the first half of 2016, Jellyfish trainees Kim Na-young, Kang Mi-na and Kim Se-jeong represented Jellyfish Entertainment in the television survival show Produce 101. Kang Mi-na and Kim Se-jeong winning the survival show debuted as part of the lineup of the year-long project girl group I.O.I, while still under Jellyfish Entertainment. It was confirmed that following their promotions as part of I.O.I, the trainees would officially debut as members of the agency's first girl group. On June 3, Jellyfish Entertainment launch their new music channel Jelly Box. Jelly Box is similar to Jellyfish Entertainment's previous project Y.Bird from Jellyfish Island and it will showcase Jellyfish Entertainment artists and producers and include collaborations with artists outside of the label. On June 28, Jellyfish debuted the nine-member girl group Gugudan. In August, Park Hyo-shin departed from the agency after eight years working together. In October, Jellyfish Entertainment announced that former Dal Shabet member Jiyul, signed a contract with the agency in order to pursue her career as an actress. In November, former Jewelry member Kim Ye-won, joined Jellyfish Entertainment as an actress. On December 13, Jellyfish Entertainment released their Jelly Christmas 2016 single album with the song, "Falling", as part of their digital music channel project Jelly Box. The Jellyfish artists participating were Seo In-guk, VIXX, Gugudan, Park Yoon-ha, Park Jung-ah, Kim Gyu-sun, Kim Ye-won and Jiyul.

In April 2017, agency trainee Yun Hee-seok represented Jellyfish Entertainment in the second season of the television survival show Produce 101. On April 10, actress Cho Hye-jung joined Jellyfish Entertainment. In June, actress Jung So-min joined Jellyfish Entertainment. In August, Jellyfish's 32% shares was acquired by CJ E&M, which previously acquired 19% of Jellyfish's shares in 2013 and effectively becoming Jellyfish Entertainment largest shareholder after having 51%. The following month, Gugudan 5959 was formed as the sub-unit of Gugudan, composed of Hyeyeon and Mina. On August 16, indie soloist Jang Hye-jin joined Jellyfish Entertainment.

2019–2021: Verivery debut and Gugudan disbandment
On January 9, 2019, Jellyfish debuted their second boy group Verivery. On May 3, agency trainee Kim Min-kyu and Choi Jun-seong represented Jellyfish Entertainment in the fourth season of the television survival show Produce X 101.

On February 4, 2020, it was announced that Lim Seul-ong signed under the label. On March 6, it was revealed that as of June 6, 2019, CJ E&M had sold 40,396 shares of Jellyfish Entertainment for 1.9 billion won. The stake was acquired by Hwang Se-jun, the CEO of the company, increasing his stake from 51% to 73.53%. From May to July, Gugudan member Sally participated in the Chinese television survival show Produce Camp 2020. She placed sixth and made into the final group, BonBon Girls 303. On December 30, Jellyfish Entertainment announced that Gugudan would end all group activities and officially disband on December 31, 2020.

On March 31, 2021, Mimi, Soyee, and Nayoung announced that they would depart from Jellyfish after their contracts have ended. On April 7, Haebin and Hyeyeon announced their departures from Jellyfish. On April 30, Hana announced her departure from Jellyfish. On May 11, Sejeong renewed her contract with Jellyfish Entertainment as a solo artist and actress.

2022–Present: Girls Planet 999 and Boys Planet
On August 6, Jellyfish Entertainment trainees Kim Da-yeon and Sakamoto Shihona competing in the television survival show Girls Planet 999. On October 22, Dayeon successfully placed 4th in the final lineup of the show's debut group, Kep1er. The group's original contract lasted 2 years and 6 months, with it set to expire on July 2024. After discussion, 7 of the original 9 members decided to renew their contracts, of which including Dayeon.

On December 30, 2022, Jellyfish Entertainment trainees Park Gunwook, Jang Yeojun, Park Hyunbeen and Han Yuseop were announced to be competing in the Mnet survival program, Boys Planet. On April 20, 2023, Gunwook successfully placed 5th in the final lineup of the show's resulting group, Zerobaseone (ZB1). On July 10, 2023, ZB1 debuted with the extended play (EP) Youth in the Shade, meeting commercial success with over 2 million sold units and high rankings in multiple charts internationally. They released their second EP Melting Point on November 6th, 2023, selling over 2 million copies in its first week of release. On May 13, 2024, ZB1's third EP titled You Had Me at Hello (EP) was released.

On August 3, 2023, Jellyfish announced their first project group and third overall boy group, Evnne, composed of Boys Planet contestants who were eliminated from debuting in the final lineup. These contestants were Park Hanbin, Terazono Keita, Yoo Seungeon, Lee Jeonghyeon, Ji Yunseo, Mun Junghyun, and Park Jihoo. Evnne debuted on On September 19, 2023, with the extended play 'Target: Me'. Their second EP Un: Seen released on January 22, 2024, with its lead single "Ugly" winning Show Champion 9 days later. Evnne's third EP, titled Ride or Die, is set to release on June 17, 2024.

Recording artists
Soloists
 * Jang Hye-jin
 * Lim Seul-ong
 * Kim Se-jeong
 * Son Chamchi

Groups
 * VIXX
 * Verivery
 * Evnne

Notable trainees
 * Kim Da-yeon (Kep1er)
 * Park Gun-wook (Zerobaseone)

Studio artists
Source:
 * Hwang Se-jun (YellowBIRD/Y.BIRD) (executive)
 * MELODESIGN

Actors

 * Park Jung-ah
 * Kim Young-ju
 * Nam Bo-ra
 * Kim Se-jeong
 * Park Si-young
 * Tak-ion
 * Ryu Won-woo

Source:

Former artists

 * Kim Hyeong-jung (2008–2009)
 * Altair (Lee Ji-hoon) (2009)
 * Kyun Woo (2010)
 * Lisa (2008–2010)
 * Park Hak-ki (2008–2011)
 * Park Jang-hyun (2011)
 * Brian Joo (2010–2012)
 * Lee Seok-hoon (2012–2013)
 * Park Hyo-shin (2008–2016)
 * Seo In-guk (2009–2017)
 * Sung Si-kyung (2007–2018)
 * Jung So-min (2017–2019)
 * Kim Ye-won (2016–2022)
 * VIXX
 * VIXX LR (2015–2023)
 * Ravi (2012–2019)
 * Leo (2012–2024)
 * Hongbin (2012–2020)
 * N (2012–2020)
 * Hyuk (2012–2022)
 * Ken (2012–2024)
 * Gong Hyun-joo (2016–2020)
 * Gugudan (2016–2020)
 * Mimi (2016–2021)
 * Hana (2016–2021)
 * Haebin (2016–2021)
 * Soyee (2016–2021)
 * Sally (2016–2023)
 * Gugudan 5959 (2017–2018)
 * Hyeyeon (2016–2021)
 * Gugudan SeMiNa (2018)
 * Nayoung (2016–2021)
 * Mina (2016–2023)
 * Park Yoon-ha
 * Kim Min-kyu (2019–2023)
 * Park Ki-woong
 * Lim Seul-ong

Jelly Christmas

 * Jelly Christmas (2010)
 * Jelly Christmas 2011
 * Jelly Christmas 2012 Heart Project
 * 겨울 고백 (Jelly Christmas 2013)
 * Jelly Christmas 2015 – 4랑
 * Jelly Christmas 2016

Y.Bird from Jellyfish Island

 * Y.Bird from Jellyfish Island with Lee Seok Hoon (2012)
 * Y.BIRD from Jellyfish Island With Seo In Guk (2013)
 * Y.BIRD from Jellyfish Island With VIXX & OKDAL (2013)
 * Y.BIRD from Jellyfish with LYn X Leo (2014)

Projects

 * Jelly Box - music channel

Soundtracks

 * The Legend of the Blue Sea: Original Soundtrack (2017)
 * Touch Your Heart: Original Soundtrack (2019)

Concerts

 * Jellyfish Live (Japan, 2012)
 * Y.Bird from Jellyfish Island Showcase (2013)

Filmography

 * 2012: MyDOL - Reality show that documented the formation and debut process of Jellyfish Entertainment's first boy band, VIXX.

Partnership
Distributing labels
 * 🇰🇷 Kakao Entertainment (2020–present)
 * 🇯🇵 CJ Victor Entertainment (VIXX) (2012–present)
 * 🇯🇵 Nippon Crown (Seo In-guk) (2013–2017)
 * 🇨🇳 QQ (VIXX) (2015–present)
 * 🇹🇼 Avex Taiwan (VIXX, Gugudan) (2015–present)