IST Entertainment is a record label established by Kakao M in November 2021. The label (previously known as Play M Entertainment) was established with the merger of Plan A Entertainment and FAVE Entertainment in April 2019. On November 1, 2021, Play M Entertainment merged with Cre.ker Entertainment. The agency currently houses the groups Apink, Victon, The Boyz, Bandage, Weeekly, and ATBO.
BLUEDOT Entertainment was established by Kakao M (formerly known as LOEN Entertainment) to manage their newest boygroup Just B that debuted on June 30, 2021. It is their first boy group to be launched after The Boyz who debuted in 2017.
EDAM Entertainment was established by Kakao M to manage their long-time soloist IU in 2020. The name EDAM (이담) is the reverse word of "Made" and stands for 이 다음 (E-da-um = the next), bringing the meaning of reversing the obvious ideas to make the next things go beyond times.[1] On July 5, 2021, actress Shin Se-kyung signed with the label.[2] On October 25, 2022, singer Woodz signed with the label.[3]
Starship Entertainment is an entertainment company founded by Kim Shi-dae in 2008. In 2013, Kakao M (formerly LOEN Entertainment) acquired 70% shares of Starship, became a majority owner of the label and making Starship as an independent subsidiary of Kakao M.[4] In the same year, Starship announced its first subsidiary label "Starship X", which rapper Mad Clown was signed under.[5] In 2015, King Kong Entertainment was acquired by Starship.[6] In 2017, upon the merger of the businesses of the two companies, the company was relaunched as "King Kong by Starship".[7] In the same year, Starship launched another subsidiary label House of Music, which focused on recruiting smaller, independent artists, with artist MoonMoon being the first signed under the label.[5] In 2018, Starship renamed the label "Highline Entertainment".[8][9]
Mun Hwa In is an independent record label established by Kakao M (formerly LOEN Entertainment) in June 2016. It is currently being co-distributed by Kakao M and Mirrorball Music.
High Up Entertainment, also simply known as High Up, is a South Korean entertainment agency founded by producer duo Black Eyed Pilseung, in partnership with CJ E&M, in 2017.
On June 10, 2021, it was announced that Kakao Entertainment had acquired High Up Entertainment after becoming their largest shareholder, and therefore would become a Kakao Entertainment subsidiary.
WS Entertainment was a joint venture between Warner Music Korea, SK-KTB Music Investment Fund, and Seoul Records (now LOEN Entertainment). It was founded in 2006 and currently led by Philip Oh.[15][16] The initial WS stands for Warner Music and SK Telecom.
E&T Story Entertainment was founded on December 26, 2017, by Kakao M (formerly LOEN Entertainment) as a one-person agency of actress Kim So-hyun and led by Park Chan-woo.[17][18] As January 2018, Play M Entertainment was acquisition 60% of E&T Story Entertainment shares.
