Jellyfish Entertainment (Korean: 젤리피쉬엔터테인먼트; RR: jellipiswi enteoteinmeonteu), is a South Korean entertainment company established by composer and producer Hwang Se-jun in Seoul, South Korea.[1]
Jellyfish Entertainment was founded on August 17, 2007 in Seoul by composer and producer Hwang Se-jun.[3] The first artist to sign under the company was the established ballad singer Sung Si-kyung, who released the single "Parting Once Again" (Korean: 한번 더 이별). 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".[4][unreliable source?] 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".[5][unreliable source?]
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,[6][7] 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"[8][unreliable source?] with the proceeds from the project donated to The Salvation Army Korea.[9][unreliable source?][10][unreliable source?]
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.[21][unreliable source?][22] 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.[23][24][unreliable source?][25] On June 3, Jellyfish Entertainment launch their new music channel Jelly Box.[26]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.[27][unreliable source?] On June 28, Jellyfish debuted the nine-member girl group Gugudan.[28][unreliable source?][29] In August, Park Hyo-shin departed from the agency after eight years working together.[30][unreliable source?] 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.[31][unreliable source?] In November, former Jewelry member Kim Ye-won, joined Jellyfish Entertainment as an actress.[32][unreliable source?] On December 13, Jellyfish Entertainment released their Jelly Christmas 2016 single album with the song, "Falling" (Korean: 니가 내려와), 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.[33][34][35][unreliable source?][36][unreliable source?][37]
In April 2017, agency trainee Yun Hee-seok represented Jellyfish Entertainment in the second season of the television survival show Produce 101.[38] On April 10, actress Cho Hye-jung joined Jellyfish Entertainment.[39][unreliable source?] 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%.[40] 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.[41] 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%.[42] 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.[43]
On March 31, 2021, Mimi, Soyee, and Nayoung announced that they would depart from Jellyfish after their contracts have ended.[44][45] On April 7, Haebin and Hyeyeon announced their departures from Jellyfish.[46] On April 30, Hana announced her departure from Jellyfish.[47] On May 11, Sejeong renewed her contract with Jellyfish Entertainment as a solo artist and actress.[48]
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.[49] On October 22, Dayeon successfully placed 4th in the final lineup of the show's debut group, Kep1er.[50][unreliable source?] The group's original contract lasted 2 years and 6 months, with it set to expire in July 2024. After discussion, 7 of the original 9 members decided to renew their contracts, of which including Dayeon.[51][52]
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.[53] On April 20, 2023, Gunwook successfully placed 5th in the final lineup of the show's resulting group, Zerobaseone (ZB1).[54][unreliable source?] 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.[55] They released their second EP Melting Point on November 6, 2023, selling over 2 million copies in its first week of release.[56] 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.[57][58]
Evnne debuted on On September 19, 2023, with the extended play 'Target: Me'.[59][60][61] Their second EP Un: Seen released on January 22, 2024, with its lead single "Ugly" winning Show Champion 9 days later.[62][63] Evnne's third EP, titled Ride or Die, is set to release on June 17, 2024.[64]
2012:MyDOL - Reality show that documented the formation and debut process of Jellyfish Entertainment's first boy band, VIXX.[75][unreliable source?][76]
^Yoon, Gi-baek (December 30, 2020). 구구단, 4년 만에 해체 [공식]. Naver (in Korean). E-Daily. Archived from the original on November 12, 2020. Retrieved December 30, 2020.
^김세정, 현 소속사 '젤리피쉬'와 재계약 [Kim Se-jung re-signed with current agency 'Jellyfish']. Naver (in Korean). May 11, 2021. Archived from the original on May 11, 2021. Retrieved May 11, 2021.
^Kim, Min-ji (May 30, 2024). 케플러, 마시로·강예서 제외 7인 재계약...활동 연장 [공식] [Kep1er, 7 members, minus Mashiro and Yeseo, renewed their contracts... to extend activity [Official]]. News1. Retrieved May 30, 2024 – via Naver.
^Kim, Min-ji (October 13, 2023). 제로베이스원, 데뷔 앨범 '더블 밀리언셀러' 달성...K팝 그룹 최초 [Zerobaseone achieves debut album 'Double Million Seller'...The first K-pop group] (in Korean). News1. Archived from the original on April 14, 2024. Retrieved October 13, 2023 – via Naver.
^Yoo, Jung-min (August 3, 2023). '보이즈 플래닛' 문정현→박지후, 7인조 '블릿' 데뷔 "젤리피쉬 기획" ['Boys Planet' Moon Jung-hyun → Park Ji-hoo, 7-member 'Blitz' debut "Jellyfish planning"]. iMBC (in Korean). Archived from the original on August 5, 2023. Retrieved August 5, 2023.
^Jeon, Hyo-jin (August 3, 2023). '보플' 문정현→케이타 7인조, '블릿'으로 하반기 데뷔 [공식] ['Bople' Jung-hyun Moon → Keita 7-member group, debuted in the second half of the year with 'Blitz' [Official]]. Sports Donga (in Korean). Archived from the original on August 5, 2023. Retrieved August 5, 2023.
^젤리피쉬 新 보이그룹 '이븐', 9월18일 데뷔 [Jellyfish's new boy group 'Evnne' to debut on 18 September]. Newsis (in Korean). August 16, 2023. Archived from the original on August 17, 2023. Retrieved August 16, 2023 – via Naver.
^이븐, 9월 18일 데뷔...완전체 실루엣 공개 [Evnne to debut on 18 September...full shots revealed]. Sports Donga (in Korean). August 16, 2023. Archived from the original on August 16, 2023. Retrieved August 16, 2023 – via Naver.
^Kim, Ji-won (December 29, 2023). [공식] 이븐, 1월 22일 컴백 '감각적 블루 무드' [[Official] Evnn, comeback on January 22nd 'Sensual Blue Mood'] (in Korean). Ten Asia. Archived from the original on December 29, 2023. Retrieved December 29, 2023 – via Naver.
^Ahn, Byung-gil (February 2, 2024). 이븐(EVNNE) '쇼챔' 삼켰다 [Evnne swallowed 'ShowCham'] (in Korean). Sports Kyunghyang. Archived from the original on February 4, 2024. Retrieved May 28, 2024 – via Naver.
^"actor". Jellyfish Entertainment. Archived from the original on May 31, 2016. Retrieved May 15, 2016.
^Yang, So-young (May 24, 2019). 빅스 측 "레오·켄·홍빈·혁 재계약, 라비 레이블 설립"(공식입장) [VIXX side "Renewed contracts with Leo, Ken, Hongbin, and Hyuk, and established Ravi label" (official position)] (in Korean). Maeil Business Newspaper. Archived from the original on January 3, 2022. Retrieved January 3, 2022 – via Naver.
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