Star Empire Entertainment

Star Empire Entertainment
Native name
(주) 스타제국
Company typePrivate
Industry
Genre
FoundedFebruary 9, 2000; 24 years ago (2000-02-09)
FounderShin Ju-hak
Defunct2024
Headquarters,
Number of locations
376-28 Hapjeongdong, Mapo-gu
Key people
Shin Ju-hak (CEO)
Websitestarempire.co.kr

Star Empire Entertainment (Korean:스타제국 Seuta Jeguk) was a South Korean private-held entertainment company founded in 2000 by Shin Ju-hak.

It was formerly home to artists like Jewelry, Nine Muses, ZE:A, V.O.S, Imfact, and Ariaz.

History

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2000–2009: Established and first generation artists

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Star Empire Entertainment was founded in 2000 and successfully debuted idol groups Jewelry in 2001 and V.O.S. in 2004.

In 2007, Star Empire signed established artist Poppin' Hyun Joon.

In February 2009, Star Empire debuted soloist Kim Sori, who joined the agency after failing the audition to become a new member of Jewelry in late 2006.

2010–2014: Joint ventures and second generation artists

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Star Empire debuted a nine-member boy group ZE:A in January 2010, the first boy group since V.O.S six years prior. In March 2010, KMP Holdings, "Korean Music Power," was established via a joint venture between SM, YG, JYP, Star Empire Entertainment, and other companies including Medialine, CAN Entertainment and Music Factory among others as the official distributor of their releases.[1]

Star Empire debuted a nine-member girl group Nine Muses in August 2010 with an admissions and graduation concept. It was the company's first girl group since Jewelry nine years prior.

In January, Nine Muses members Bini and Rana left the group following the expiration of their contracts, while Euaerin rejoined the group.

In November 2012, KMP Holdings was acquired by KT Music, and in June 2013, KT Music absorbed KMP's distribution network.[2]

On January and June 2014, Lee Sem and Eunji had left the group and the agency, Ryu Sera also left Nine Muses and the company after her contract expired.

Star Empire debuted a four-member boy group SoReal in 2014. On January 7, 2015, Star Empire announced that Jewelry officially disbanded 14 years after debut.[3] At the end of 2015, V.O.S officially left the company after their contracts expired.

2016–present: Third generation artists and Rising Star Entertainment

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In January 2016, Star Empire debuted boy group Imfact. On March 4, former Jewelry member, Seo In-young again signed with Star Empire Entertainment after previously parting ways in 2012.[4]

On February 9, 2017, it was falsely stated that ZE:A were disbanding after reports surfaced of group members departing the company.[5] However, it was later confirmed by the members themselves that this was not the case, and that for the time being they would focus on solo activities.[6][7] On April 12, Star Empire gave an official statement confirming that ZE:A is not disbanding and will come back as a group again when the time comes.[8]

On July 18, 2018, SoReal's three members (Ryu Phillip, Ju Daegeon, Kang Sungho) released a song "One and Only" as Tri:al (트라이얼) under Together E&M Entertainment confirming their departure from Star Empire.[9]

On February 10, 2019, Star Empire announced the official disbandment of Nine Muses when members Hyemi, Keumjo and Sojin left the company.[10] On July 31, 2019, Gyeongree became the last member of the band to part ways with the company following her contract expiration.[11] This also marked the disbandment of NASTY NASTY, a co-ed project group also containing Gyeongree and Sojin.

In September 2019, Star Empire announced that six-member girl group Ariaz will debut on October 24, 2019, under their affiliate, Rising Star Entertainment.[12]

On January 4, 2022, Star Empire announced that the members of Imfact have chosen to depart from the company.[13]

On April 10, 2022, Rising Star announced that Yunji, Yeori and Hyogyeong have terminated their contracts with them and left the group. On the same day, Jueun posted on Instagram confirming that she has left the group, effectively disbanding Ariaz.[14]

As of 2024, Star Empire Entertainment's website has been officially shut down.

Artists

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Recording artists

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Groups

  • ZE:A
    • ZE:A 4U
    • ZE:A Five
    • ZE:A J

Former artists

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Former recording artists

  • A-Force (2009–2013, project group)
  • Kim Sori (2006–2009)
  • Poppin' Hyun Joon (2007–2013)[15]
  • Nine Muses (2010–2019)[16]
    • Jaekyung (2010)
    • Rana (2010–2011)
    • Bini (2010–2011)
    • Lee Sem (2010–2014)
    • Park Eunji (2010–2014)
    • Ryu Sera (2010–2014)
    • E.u.e.rine (2010–2016)
    • Minha (2010–2016)
    • Moon Hyuna (2010–2016)
    • Pyo Hyemi (2010–2019)
    • Son Sungah (2012–2019)
    • Park Gyeongree (2012–2019)
    • Jo Sojin (2014–2019)
    • Lee Keumjo (2015–2019)
  • Jewelry (2001–2015)[17][18]
  • V.O.S (2004–2015)
  • ZE:A
  • Nasty Nasty
  • SoReal
  • Imfact (2016–2022)
    • Jeup (2016–2022)
    • Taeho (2016–2022)
    • Jian (2016–2022)
    • Sang (2016–2022)
    • Ungjae (2016–2022)
  • Ariaz
    • Yunji (2019–2022)
    • Yeori (2019–2022)
    • Hyogyeong (2019–2022)

Former actors

Discography

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Concert and tours

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  • 2016 Star Empire 1st Concert "Family Concert"
    • 2 September - Tokyo, Japan at Zepp Tokyo

Notes

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References

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  1. ^ "Korean Music Power: KMP Holdings Co. Ltd. Launched!" Archived 2013-10-22 at the Wayback Machine Maeil Kyungje. 18 March 2010. Retrieved 2012-10-06 (in Korean)
  2. ^ "(kt PR room) KT to acquire KMP Holdings to strengthen its music businesses". KT Corporation. November 23, 2012. Archived from the original on 19 June 2020. Retrieved 2 August 2013.
  3. ^ 걸그룹 쥬얼리, 데뷔 14년만에 해체 선언 [Girl group Jewelry, breaks up 14 years after their debut] (in Korean). The Korea Herald. January 7, 2015. Archived from the original on March 6, 2016. Retrieved January 7, 2015.
  4. ^ "Seo In-young is going back home to Star Empire Entertainment". Allkpop. March 4, 2016. Archived from the original on August 3, 2016. Retrieved March 5, 2016.
  5. ^ Son, Ye-ji (February 9, 2017). 제국의아이들 리더 문준영 "멤버들 새 시작 응원 부탁". 10asia (in Korean). Korea Entertainment Media. Archived from the original on February 9, 2017. Retrieved February 9, 2017.
  6. ^ "Is ZE:A disbanding? Siwan responds to split reports". IB Times. 24 March 2017. Archived from the original on 2017-03-28. Retrieved 2017-12-31.
  7. ^ "ZE:A Band Member Siwan Debunks Disbandment Speculation Amidst Park Hyung Sik's Alleged Move To New Agency". Korea Portal. 27 March 2017. Archived from the original on 2017-03-31. Retrieved 2017-12-31.
  8. ^ "제국의아이들 측 "해체 아냐…추후 완전체 가능성"[공식]". Naver. Archived from the original on 2017-12-31. Retrieved 2017-07-06.
  9. ^ "[공식]'류필립 그룹' 소리얼→트라이얼 변경, 18일 4년만의 컴백". Archived from the original on 2019-02-24. Retrieved 2019-02-23.
  10. ^ "나인뮤지스 9년만 해체 "팬미팅 끝으로 그룹활동 종료"(공식입장 전문)". Archived from the original on 2021-01-21. Retrieved 2019-09-29.
  11. ^ "경리, 스타제국과 전속계약 만료 "7년간 함께해줘 감사"(공식입장 전문)". Archived from the original on 2019-08-30. Retrieved 2019-09-29.
  12. ^ "스타제국 레이블, 6인 걸그룹 10월 론칭..'프듀101' 윤지·시현-'믹나' 효경 합류(공식)". Archived from the original on 2019-11-23. Retrieved 2019-09-29.
  13. ^ "그룹 임팩트, 스타제국과 전속계약 종료". Retrieved January 4, 2022.
  14. ^ @official_ARIAZ (9 April 2022). "라이징스타 엔터테인먼트 에서 알려 드립니다" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  15. ^ 팝핀현준·박애리 부부, 달샤벳 소속사와 전속계약 Archived 2014-08-12 at the Wayback Machine. OhMyStar (July 31, 2014). Retrieved on July 31, 2014.
  16. ^ "[SBS Star] 9MUSES Announces Its Disbandment & Last Fan Meeting Date - 오늘의뉴스". 11 February 2019. Archived from the original on 2019-02-12. Retrieved 2019-02-11.
  17. ^ a b c d 쥬얼리, 14년만에 해체…"김예원만 소속사 남아" (in Korean). Yonhap News Agency. January 7, 2015. Archived from the original on February 8, 2015. Retrieved January 8, 2015.
  18. ^ a b c d 쥬얼리 해체,14년 만에...하주연 박세미 떠나고 김예원 따로 활동 (in Korean). DongAh News. January 7, 2015. Archived from the original on February 8, 2015. Retrieved January 8, 2015.
  19. ^ "´나는펫´ 한세주, 소속사 두고 연예활동 돌입". 2 December 2008. Archived from the original on 2017-07-30. Retrieved 2017-07-30.
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