Konnect Entertainment
Defunct South Korean entertainment company founded by singer Kang Daniel.
Last updated August 24, 2026
AI crawler reads
No AI crawler has read this profile since Oct 28, 2026.
Overview
Konnect Entertainment was an independent South Korean entertainment company founded by singer Kang Daniel on June 5, 2019, shortly after the temporary idol group Wanna One ended. Based in Seoul's Gangnam District, it began as a one-artist agency designed to give Kang greater control over his music, management, and public activities after a contractual dispute with his former agency. The company name combined “Korea” and “connect,” reflecting an ambition to link Korean entertainment with international audiences. The company's first major activity was the production and release of Kang Daniel's solo debut extended play, Color on Me, with Sony Music Korea involved as investor and distributor. Konnect subsequently managed the promotional and commercial infrastructure around Kang's solo releases, including the Color series albums Cyan, Magenta, and Yellow, as well as later projects. The company also explored fan engagement and adjacent businesses. In 2020 it opened Cafe de Konnect in its Gangnam building, initially hosting fan events before opening to the public. The café later participated in branded collaborations, including projects connected with Kakao Friends and SpongeBob SquarePants. From 2021 onward, Konnect expanded beyond Kang Daniel. Singer-songwriter and producer Chancellor joined in 2021, and former GFriend member Yuju signed an exclusive contract later that year. The company also entered a domestic management arrangement with CL and her label Very Cherry, although this was a management partnership rather than a conventional transfer of ownership. In 2022, dance crew We Dem Boyz, with which Kang had a long-standing relationship, joined the company after appearing on Street Man Fighter. Konnect received the APAN K-pop Label Award in 2022 for its activities in promoting Korean popular culture. Konnect also developed digital and international initiatives. It launched a dedicated Kang Daniel fan application in 2021 with multilingual automatic translation, collaborated with Dalcomsoft on the rhythm game Superstar Kang Daniel, and later worked with Snowballs on the mobile puzzle game Starway Kang Daniel. Kang's Japanese activities were supported through a partnership with Warner Music Japan beginning in 2022. The company also worked with LIWU Law Group's Clean Internet Center on legal responses to malicious online comments and unlawful postings. The company entered a severe governance crisis in 2024. Kang Daniel filed a criminal complaint against an unnamed majority shareholder, alleging unauthorized use of his name and company seal, a large advance-distribution contract executed without his consent, embezzlement, breach of trust, and unauthorized withdrawals. The allegations were reported as matters under police investigation and should not be treated as proven findings. During the same period, Konnect's artists departed as contracts expired or were not renewed. We Dem Boyz left in 2023, Yuju's contract ended in April 2024, and Kang's artist contract ended in early June 2024, when he also resigned as chief executive. Employees subsequently left and the office was vacated. Kang announced on June 9, 2024 that Konnect Entertainment had closed after approximately five years of operation.
History
Konnect Entertainment was created on June 5, 2019 by Kang Daniel as an independent, artist-centered agency. Its formation followed the end of Wanna One and a legal dispute involving Kang's previous agency. The Seoul Central District Court allowed Kang to suspend his former exclusive contract, enabling him to resume solo activities. He established Konnect alongside KD Corporation Ltd., selecting a structure intended to accelerate his return to fans and give him control over long-term career decisions. The company's early business was built around Kang's solo career. Sony Music Korea participated as investor and distributor for his debut EP, Color on Me, and continued distributing subsequent releases, including the Cyan, Magenta, and Yellow projects. Konnect supplemented music management with direct-to-fan and lifestyle initiatives. Cafe de Konnect opened in Gangnam in February 2020, with preview events for fans and later public service. The venue also hosted collaborative food and beverage promotions associated with Kakao Friends and SpongeBob SquarePants. In 2021, the agency began building a broader technology and management ecosystem. It released the Kang Daniel mobile fan application, offering multilingual automatic translation and social-network functions. Konnect also collaborated with Dalcomsoft on Superstar Kang Daniel, a rhythm game dedicated to the singer. The company added Chancellor and Yuju to its roster and managed CL's domestic activities under a two-year arrangement with Very Cherry. These moves shifted the business from a one-man agency toward a wider entertainment-management company. In 2022, We Dem Boyz joined Konnect after its appearance on Street Man Fighter and its earlier working relationship with Kang's dance team. The agency was also recognized with the APAN K-pop Label Award. Kang's Japanese activities developed through a partnership with Warner Music Japan, while Snowballs and Konnect released Starway Kang Daniel, another mobile title. The company also maintained a legal-support partnership intended to address malicious comments and unlawful online content. The expansion was followed by contraction. We Dem Boyz's contract ended in November 2023, and Yuju's contract expired in April 2024. In May 2024, reports stated that Kang Daniel had submitted a criminal complaint concerning an unnamed shareholder who reportedly controlled about 70 percent of the company. The allegations included unauthorized execution of a distribution-related advance contract, alleged embezzlement, alleged misuse of corporate cards, and alleged unauthorized withdrawals. The claims were reported as accusations and are not equivalent to a final adjudication. Kang's artist contract ended in early June 2024, and he resigned as CEO. Chancellor and Yuju also left after their contracts ended or were not renewed. With the workforce gone and the office vacated, Kang announced on June 9 that Konnect Entertainment had closed. The company therefore operated for roughly five years, moving from a founder-led vehicle for one performer to a short-lived multi-artist agency before ceasing operations.
- 2024
Company closes
[1]Following a shareholder dispute and the departure of artists and employees, Konnect ceased operations.
- 2022
We Dem Boyz joins Konnect
[1]The dance crew signed an exclusive contract with the agency.
- 2021
Fan application launches
[1]Konnect released the Kang Daniel fan application with multilingual translation features.
- 2020
Cafe de Konnect opens
[1]The company opened a fan-oriented café in its Gangnam building.
- 2019
Company founded
[1]Kang Daniel founded Konnect Entertainment in Seoul as an independent agency for his solo career.
- 2019
Color on Me released
[1]Kang Daniel's solo debut EP was distributed with Sony Music Korea's participation.
Products and positioning
An artist-led Korean entertainment agency focused initially on Kang Daniel and later expanded into multi-artist management, fan technology, branded experiences, and international music activities.
Recorded music · 2019
Kang Daniel recorded music
Konnect's central commercial activity was managing and promoting Kang Daniel's solo recordings. The company supported his debut EP Color on Me and later releases including the Cyan, Magenta, and Yellow projects, with distribution handled through external music partners.
Branded café · 2020
Cafe de Konnect
A Gangnam café operated from Konnect's building. It combined a public food-and-beverage business with fan engagement, special events, and branded menus developed with partners such as Kakao Friends and SpongeBob SquarePants.
Fan-community application · 2021
Kang Daniel fan application
A free official mobile application developed by Konnect for Kang Daniel's fan community. It included social functions and automatic translation covering Korean, English, Chinese, Japanese, and several other languages.
Mobile rhythm game · 2021
Superstar Kang Daniel
A Dalcomsoft rhythm game developed in collaboration with Konnect and centered exclusively on Kang Daniel's music. It was released for iOS and Android in 2021.
Mobile puzzle game · 2022
Starway Kang Daniel
A mobile puzzle game created with Snowballs, featuring Kang Daniel as its central character. It was released for iOS and Android in 2022.
Controversies
2024
Shareholder and financial misconduct allegations
Kang Daniel filed a criminal complaint against an unnamed majority shareholder, alleging unauthorized use of company documents and seal, a large advance-distribution contract signed without his approval, embezzlement, breach of trust, computer fraud, improper corporate-card use, and unauthorized withdrawals. The allegations were reported as an investigation and do not establish criminal liability.
2019
KONNECT Entertainment files a second lawsuit over malicious online posts
KONNECT Entertainment said it filed a second complaint in South Korea concerning malicious online posts and comments about Kang Daniel, citing allegations including rumors, sexual harassment, defamation, personal attacks and privacy violations. The article does not report a court determination.
Marketing campaigns
- 2022SpongeBob SquarePants café collaboration
South Korea
Cafe de Konnect introduced a themed beverage and dessert menu commemorating a Kang Daniel and SpongeBob SquarePants collaboration.
Outcome. The promotion expanded the café's branded fan-experience format.
- 2020Please Protect Me
South Korea
Kang Daniel and Konnect staff joined Holt Children's Services by making and delivering 100 book covers. The associated kit proceeds supported children's medical, mental-health, housing, living, and educational needs.
Outcome. The completed covers and related purchases contributed to Holt Children's Services programs.
- 2020Kakao Friends café collaboration
South Korea
Cafe de Konnect participated in a limited-edition beverage and dessert collaboration connected with Kang Daniel and Kakao Friends.
Outcome. The menu was offered through three cafés, including Cafe de Konnect.
- 2019Briquette donation campaign
South Korea
Konnect donated 31,000 briquettes to 31 briquette banks nationwide in connection with Kang Daniel's birthday and fan-led charitable activity.
Outcome. The donation supported heating assistance for people in need.
Brand decisions
2024
Close the companyOtherBackground
Artist departures, the end of Kang Daniel's contract, his resignation as CEO, and the departure of employees left the agency without an operating workforce.
Action taken
Kang Daniel announced that Konnect Entertainment had closed after approximately five years.
Aftermath
The company became defunct and its office was vacated.
2021
Launch a dedicated fan applicationProduct launchBackground
Konnect sought to move Kang Daniel's official fan community from its website into a dedicated mobile service.
Action taken
The company released a free iOS and Android application with social features and multilingual automatic translation.
Aftermath
The application became one of the agency's notable direct-to-fan digital initiatives.
2019
Adopt an artist-led agency modelStrategyBackground
After a dispute with his former agency, Kang Daniel sought a structure that would let him return to activities quickly and exercise greater control over his career.
Action taken
He founded Konnect Entertainment as an independent company centered initially on his own work.
Aftermath
The model enabled Kang's solo debut and later provided a platform for broader artist management.
Recent events
KONNECT Entertainment files a second lawsuit over malicious online posts[2]
Reported:
KONNECT Entertainment said it filed a second complaint in South Korea concerning malicious online posts and comments about Kang Daniel, citing allegations including rumors, sexual harassment, defamation, personal attacks and privacy violations. The article does not report a court determination.
Sources2 sources
Cite this profile: Cite the canonical profile. /brand-wiki/konnect-entertainment · Editorial policy · How profiles are compiled