Artist
A South Korean actor-founded talent agency that represents film and television performers and participates in screen production.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
Artist Company is a South Korean entertainment and talent-management agency established in Seoul in 2016 by actors Jung Woo-sung and Lee Jung-jae. The two founders had maintained a close professional relationship for many years and created the company with the stated goal of building a more rational and systematic management organization for actors. Its core business is artist representation, including career management and related entertainment activities, while its broader scope has included film and drama production through associated production activities. The agency's roster has included prominent figures from the Korean film and television industry. Publicly associated artists include the founders themselves as well as actors such as Bae Seong-woo, Ahn Sung-ki, Park So-dam, Cho Yi-hyun, Yeom Jeong-ah, Kim Jun-han, Park Hoon, P.O, Lim Ji-yeon and Won Jin-ah. The roster has changed over time, and a number of performers previously represented by the company have subsequently departed. This combination of established film performers and younger television and film actors has positioned Artist Company as an actor-centered management house rather than a broad idol-focused entertainment conglomerate. Artist Company underwent an early leadership change in December 2017, when Jung Woo-sung left the chief executive role to concentrate on acting. Kim Byung-sun, previously associated with Star K Entertainment, was appointed chief executive. The change allowed the founders to remain connected to the business while separating executive administration from their acting careers. The company has also been linked to Artist Studio, a production entity represented by the two founders and formerly known as RaemongRaein. Its production and co-production activities have been associated with projects including The Silent Sea, Hunt, Tell Me That You Love Me and Trade Your Love. These activities illustrate a strategy that extends beyond representing performers into the development and production of screen content. Artist Company has also been associated with the men's cosmetics brand MONSIEURJ. In late 2021, Artist Company and Artist Studio entered detailed discussions concerning a proposed transaction involving Com2uS and WYSIWYG Studios. The announced structure contemplated investments totaling 105 billion Korean won for management rights in the two entities. Com2uS subsequently withdrew from the proposed acquisition of Artist Company in May 2022, so the transaction did not proceed as originally announced. A separate corporate development occurred in December 2023, when Lee Jung-jae and Jung Woo-sung acquired stakes in the KOSDAQ-listed advertising company Wider Planet through a paid capital increase. Lee Jung-jae became Wider Planet's largest shareholder, while Jung Woo-sung also acquired a stake. In March 2024, Wider Planet adopted the name Artist United and appointed both actors as inside directors; its headquarters were moved to Artist Company's premises. These developments prompted public speculation about a possible relationship or future combination between the companies, but a completed merger of Artist Company and Artist United is not established by the available reference material.
History
Artist Company was founded on May 19, 2016, by actors Jung Woo-sung and Lee Jung-jae. The founders had worked in the Korean entertainment industry for many years and were longstanding colleagues and friends. Their purpose was to establish a management company with a more rational and systematic approach to representing actors. From its beginning, the company was therefore distinguished by its actor-led identity and by the direct involvement of two established film performers. The agency developed a roster containing recognized Korean actors from film and television. Its publicly associated artists have included Jung Woo-sung, Lee Jung-jae, Ahn Sung-ki, Bae Seong-woo, Park So-dam, Cho Yi-hyun, Yeom Jeong-ah and other performers. The roster has changed over time, with former artists including figures such as Ha Jung-woo, Go Ara, Esom, Kim Eui-sung, Lee El, Nam Ji-hyun and Park So-dam. The available source material does not establish the dates of every artist's affiliation, so the roster should be understood as historical rather than a complete current membership list. On December 27, 2017, Jung Woo-sung stepped down from the CEO position in order to focus on his acting work. Kim Byung-sun, who had previously worked with Star K Entertainment, became the agency's new CEO. This leadership transition separated day-to-day corporate management from the founders' work as performers while preserving the company's founder-led identity. Artist Company's activities expanded beyond traditional talent representation. Artist Studio, a production entity also associated with Jung Woo-sung and Lee Jung-jae and formerly known as RaemongRaein, became part of the broader business structure surrounding their entertainment activities. The related production and co-production portfolio has included Trade Your Love, The Silent Sea, Hunt and Tell Me That You Love Me. The company has also been connected with Following through joint distribution arrangements and with MONSIEURJ, a men's cosmetics brand. On November 26, 2021, Artist Company and Artist Studio announced that they were in detailed discussions regarding a transaction with Com2uS and WYSIWYG Studios. On December 23, the proposed structure was described as an investment of 25 billion Korean won in Artist Studio and 80 billion Korean won in Artist Company, for a combined 105 billion Korean won. The plan concerned management rights, but it did not reach completion for Artist Company: on May 30, 2022, Com2uS withdrew its decision to acquire the agency. In December 2023, Lee Jung-jae and Jung Woo-sung invested in Wider Planet, a KOSDAQ-listed advertising company, through a paid capital increase. Lee acquired 45 percent and Jung acquired 9 percent according to the reference material, making Lee the largest shareholder. In March 2024, Wider Planet changed its name to Artist United and appointed both actors as inside directors. The company's headquarters were moved to Artist Company's premises, leading to speculation about a possible future merger or closer combination. The available material does not confirm that such a merger occurred. Artist Company remains best characterized as a South Korean actor-management agency with associated production and entertainment ventures.
- 2024
Wider Planet renamed Artist United
[1]Wider Planet adopts the Artist United name and appoints Lee Jung-jae and Jung Woo-sung as inside directors after their investments.
- 2022
Proposed acquisition withdrawn
[1]Com2uS withdraws its decision to acquire Artist Company.
- 2021
Proposed Com2uS and WYSIWYG Studios transaction
[1]Artist Company and Artist Studio begin detailed discussions concerning a transaction with Com2uS and WYSIWYG Studios.
- 2017
Chief executive transition
[1]Jung Woo-sung leaves the CEO role to concentrate on acting, and Kim Byung-sun becomes CEO.
- 2016
Artist Company is founded
[1]Jung Woo-sung and Lee Jung-jae establish the agency on May 19 to provide systematic management for actors.
Products and positioning
An actor-led South Korean talent agency combining performer management with selected film, drama and entertainment-content production activities.
Talent services · 2016
Actor management
Artist Company's principal business is the representation and career management of actors working in Korean film and television. Its roster has included both established screen performers and newer actors, with services centered on professional management and entertainment-industry activities.
Screen production
Film and drama production
Through Artist Studio and related production arrangements, the broader Artist Company group has participated in developing, producing or co-producing screen projects. Associated titles include The Silent Sea, Hunt, Tell Me That You Love Me and Trade Your Love.
Men's cosmetics
MONSIEURJ
MONSIEURJ is a men's cosmetics brand listed among Artist Company's associated subsidiaries and brands. Detailed product, distribution and operating information is not specified in the available source material.
Brand decisions
2023
Investment in Wider PlanetStrategyBackground
The founders pursued a corporate investment linking their entertainment activities with Wider Planet, a KOSDAQ-listed advertising company.
Action taken
Lee Jung-jae and Jung Woo-sung acquired stakes through a paid capital increase, with Lee becoming Wider Planet's largest shareholder.
Aftermath
Wider Planet was renamed Artist United in 2024 and appointed both actors as inside directors; a completed merger with Artist Company is not confirmed.
2021
Proposed sale of management rights to Com2uS and WYSIWYG StudiosM&ABackground
Artist Company and Artist Studio explored a transaction with Com2uS and WYSIWYG Studios as part of a broader entertainment-business investment plan.
Action taken
The parties announced a proposed investment totaling 105 billion Korean won, allocated between Artist Company and Artist Studio.
Aftermath
Com2uS withdrew its decision to acquire Artist Company in May 2022, so the proposed acquisition did not proceed.
Proposed investment. 105 billion KRW proposed total investment (December 2021)
2017
Separate executive management from founder acting careersStrategyBackground
Jung Woo-sung was both a founder and the agency's chief executive, but his acting career required greater focus.
Action taken
He stepped down as CEO and the company appointed Kim Byung-sun to lead the agency.
Aftermath
The change established a professional executive transition while Jung Woo-sung continued as an actor and founder.
Recent events
- 2024
Wider Planet becomes Artist United[1]
M&A · Leadership change · Other
After Lee Jung-jae and Jung Woo-sung acquired stakes in Wider Planet, the company changed its name to Artist United and appointed both actors as inside directors.
- 2022
Com2uS withdraws proposed acquisition of Artist Company[1]
M&A
Com2uS withdrew its decision to acquire Artist Company, ending the proposed transaction.
- 2021
Artist Company and Artist Studio discuss transaction with Com2uS and WYSIWYG Studios[1]
M&A
The two Artist entities entered detailed discussions regarding a proposed transaction involving Com2uS and WYSIWYG Studios.
- 2021
Com2uS announces proposed investment in Artist Company and Artist Studio[1]
M&A
Com2uS and WYSIWYG Studios announced an agreement involving a combined proposed investment of 105 billion Korean won for management rights in Artist Company and Artist Studio.
- 2017
Jung Woo-sung steps down as chief executive[1]
Leadership change
Jung Woo-sung left the CEO position to focus on acting, and Kim Byung-sun was appointed to lead the agency.
- 2016
Artist Company established by Jung Woo-sung and Lee Jung-jae[1]
Other
The two actors founded Artist Company on May 19, creating a management agency intended to operate in a rational and systematic manner.
Sources1 sources
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