Jellyfish Entertainment

**Jellyfish Entertainment** (젤리피쉬엔터테인먼트) is a South Korean music label and entertainment agency founded in 2007. It currently manages artists VERIVERY, VIXX, Jang Hye Jin, Park Yun Ha, Lim Seul Ong and Sejeong.

The agency is also home to actors including Kim Sun Young and Kim Min Kyu.

## History

### 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" (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". 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 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" (Korean: 사랑난로).

### 2016–2018: *Produce*, Gugudan, and expanding 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" (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.

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–present: Verivery debut and Gugudan disbandment, *Girls' Planet 999*

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 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, 2021, Jellyfish announced that Sejeong renewed her exclusive contract with the agency.

On August 6, trainees Kim Da-yeon and Sakamoto Shihona were revealed as representing Jellyfish Entertainment 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.

## Artists

### Groups

* VERIVERY
* VIXX
	+ VIXX LR

### Soloists

* Sejeong
* Park Yun Ha
* Jang Hye Jin
* Lim Seul Ong

### Actors and actresses

* Julien Kang
* Park Jung A
* Park Ye Jin
* Ko Yoon
* Park Jung Su
* Lee Jong Won
* Kim Sun Young
* Kong Hyun Joo
* Jung Kyeong Ho
* Choi Jina
* Song Yi Woo
* Kim Gyu Sun
* Yu Se Hyeong
* Lee Arin
* Kim Tae Yun
* Baek Seo E
* Nam Bo Ra
* Jiyul

### Trainees

* Kim Min Kyu
* Kim Da Yeon (currently active in Kep1er)
* Sakamoto Shihona
* Park Geon Wook

## Former artists

* Park Hyo Shin (2009–2016)
* Seo In Guk (2009–2017)
* Sung Si Kyung (2007–2018)
* VIXX
	+ Ravi (2012–2019)
	+ Hongbin (2012–2020)
* gugudan (2016–2020)
	+ Mimi (2016–2021)
	+ Soyee (2016–2021)
	+ Hana (2016-2021)
	+ Nayoung (2016-2021)
	+ Hyeyeon (2016-2021)
	+ Haebin (2016-2021)

### Trainees

* Cho Yubin
* Choi Jun Seong

## Official links

* Website
* Facebook
* Instagram
* Twitter
* YouTube