Open World Entertainment

Open World Entertainment was a South Korean independent entertainment company founded in 2000 by Jang Seok-woo. Based in Cheongdam-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, the company operated as both a record label and a talent-management agency. Its activities included the development and promotion of recording artists, the release of albums and singles, management of performers, and arrangements connected with concerts and licensing. The company’s roster during its documented period included recording artists and groups such as Jun Jin, The Boss, X-5, and Lug, as well as the project group Popsicle. It also represented actors including Ko Joo-won and Shin Ji-soo, although both actors were reported to have left the company in 2012. Releases associated with the label included Jun Jin’s solo albums Love Doesn't Come, New Decade, and Fascination; The Boss releases such as The Admirer, Awake, Love Power, Love Bingo!, Love Parade, Lady, Love Days, Love Letters, Jumping, and Honki Magic; X-5’s Xenos and Dangerous; and Popsicle’s I Love You Until It Snows In Summer. The label also participated in the Young Producers Association project album, which involved several Korean singers and groups. Open World’s records were distributed by LOEN Entertainment, and the company maintained a partnership with Sony Music Entertainment Japan. Its international-facing activities included a concert event in Tokyo, the first Open World Festival, held on 26 November 2011. The company also had a significant relationship with Shinhwa. In 2011, Open World, which held trademark rights connected with the Shinhwa name, permitted the group to use the name on the condition that its members perform together as a group. This arrangement helped enable the creation of Shinhwa Company, a joint venture agency for the members’ group activities. Open World additionally held rights relating to Shinhwa’s overseas concerts in cooperation with Shinhwa Company and overseas licensing of the group’s albums. The company’s public profile was severely damaged in 2012 after its chief executive, Jang Seok-woo, was arrested and investigated over allegations of sexual harassment and sexual assault involving singers and trainees. Police reports described numerous alleged victims and investigated claims that the executive had used his position to coerce or direct abusive conduct. Open World initially issued a statement disputing what it characterized as exaggerated or false reporting and threatened legal action against media outlets. Following the arrest, The Boss cancelled the planned release of a Korean album and both The Boss and X-5 halted activities and performances. Jang later admitted to some offenses and, after appeal proceedings, was sentenced in June 2013 to six years in prison for drugging and sexually assaulting eleven female trainees, some of whom were minors at the time. Public sources do not clearly document the company’s subsequent corporate status, leadership, or continuing operations.

Open World Entertainment was established in South Korea in 2000 by Jang Seok-woo as an independent record label and talent-management business. Operating from Cheongdam-dong in Seoul’s Gangnam district, it combined music production and distribution with the management of singers, idol groups, actors, and trainees. The company’s documented roster included Lug, solo performer Jun Jin, The Boss, X-5, Popsicle, Ko Joo-won, and Shin Ji-soo. During the mid-to-late 2000s, Open World released a series of solo recordings by Jun Jin, including Love Doesn't Come in 2006, New Decade in 2008, and Fascination in 2009. In the following years, the company expanded its visible idol-group activities. The Boss released The Admirer and Awake in 2010, followed by several releases in 2011 and 2012. X-5 debuted releases including Xenos and Dangerous, while Popsicle was associated with the project album I Love You Until It Snows In Summer. The company’s distribution relationship with LOEN Entertainment provided an established channel for its recorded output, and a partnership with Sony Music Entertainment Japan supported its connection to the Japanese market. Open World also participated in broader Korean entertainment projects. Its Young Producers Association project album brought together performers including Jun Jin, Gan Miyeon, Tei, K.Will, Brown Eyed Girls, and After School. In November 2011, the company organized the first Open World Festival in Tokyo. Another important business relationship involved Shinhwa. Open World held trademark rights associated with the group’s name and granted permission for the members to use it for collective activities, helping facilitate the creation of Shinhwa Company. The arrangement also covered cooperation over overseas concerts and overseas licensing of Shinhwa albums. The company entered a major crisis in April 2012 when Jang Seok-woo was arrested by undercover police investigators at the company’s office. He faced allegations that he had sexually harassed and assaulted singers and trainees and had used his authority over aspiring performers to facilitate abuse. Police investigations referred to numerous alleged victims, including minors, and examined claims that male idol-group members had been pressured or instructed to participate in abusive conduct. Jang initially denied the allegations, while Open World issued a public statement accusing media outlets of exaggeration and false reporting and threatening legal action over alleged defamation. He later admitted to some offenses. The scandal immediately affected the company’s artists. The Boss cancelled the planned release of its first Korean album, and both The Boss and X-5 stopped activities and performances. Ko Joo-won and Shin Ji-soo were also reported to have left the company in 2012. In June 2013, after appeal proceedings, Jang Seok-woo was sentenced to six years in prison for drugging and sexually assaulting eleven female trainees, some of whom had been minors when the assaults occurred. Publicly available reference material does not establish whether Open World Entertainment formally dissolved, continued under another name, or retained an operating business after the case. Its later corporate status therefore remains unclear.

• 2013

  Jang Seok-woo receives a six-year prison sentence

  [1]Open World Entertainmenten.wikipedia.org

  Following appeal proceedings, Jang is sentenced to six years in prison for drugging and sexually assaulting eleven female trainees.

• 2012

  Chief executive is arrested

  [1]Open World Entertainmenten.wikipedia.org

  Jang Seok-woo is arrested and investigated over allegations involving the sexual abuse of singers and trainees.

• 2011

  Open World supports Shinhwa group activities

  [1]Open World Entertainmenten.wikipedia.org

  The company permits Shinhwa to use its name for collective performances and cooperates with Shinhwa Company on overseas concerts and album licensing.

• 2011

  First Open World Festival takes place in Tokyo

  [1]Open World Entertainmenten.wikipedia.org

  Open World holds its first Open World Festival in Tokyo on 26 November.

• 2010

  The Boss begins its documented release period

  [1]Open World Entertainmenten.wikipedia.org

  The Boss releases The Admirer and Awake under Open World Entertainment.

• 2009

  Jun Jin releases Fascination

  [1]Open World Entertainmenten.wikipedia.org

  Jun Jin’s Fascination is released through the company’s documented music activities.

• 2008

  Jun Jin releases New Decade

  [1]Open World Entertainmenten.wikipedia.org

  Open World’s discography records the release of Jun Jin’s New Decade.

• 2006

  Jun Jin releases Love Doesn't Come

  [1]Open World Entertainmenten.wikipedia.org

  The label’s documented discography includes Jun Jin’s solo album Love Doesn't Come.

• 2000

  Open World Entertainment is founded

  [1]Open World Entertainmenten.wikipedia.org

  Jang Seok-woo establishes Open World Entertainment in South Korea as an independent record label and talent-management company.

An independent Korean record label and talent-management agency focused on developing idol groups, solo recording artists, actors, and related international entertainment activities.

• Music releases · 2006

  Recorded music

  Open World Entertainment issued albums and singles by solo artists, idol groups, and project units. Its documented catalogue spans Jun Jin’s solo albums, releases by The Boss and X-5, and the Popsicle project. The company’s records were distributed by LOEN Entertainment, while its partnership with Sony Music Entertainment Japan connected parts of its business to the Japanese market.

• Talent management · 2000

  Artist and trainee management

  The company managed recording artists, idol groups, actors, and aspiring trainees. Its documented roster included Jun Jin, The Boss, X-5, Lug, Ko Joo-won, and Shin Ji-soo. Management activities covered promotion, performance scheduling, releases, and artist development.

• Entertainment rights · 2011

  Shinhwa overseas concert and licensing arrangements

  Open World held trademark rights connected with the Shinhwa name and permitted the group to use it for collective activities. In cooperation with Shinhwa Company, it also held rights relating to overseas concerts and overseas licensing of Shinhwa albums.

• 2013

  Criminal conviction of Jang Seok-woo

  After appeal proceedings, Jang Seok-woo was sentenced to six years in prison for drugging and sexually assaulting eleven female trainees, some of whom were minors at the time of the assaults.

  Source

• 2012

  Sexual-abuse allegations involving the chief executive

  Jang Seok-woo was arrested and investigated over allegations of habitual sexual harassment, assault, and rape involving singers and trainees. Police reports described numerous alleged victims, including minors, and examined claims that the executive used his authority to coerce or direct abusive conduct. Open World initially disputed media coverage and threatened legal action over alleged exaggeration and defamation.

  Source

Read more

• 2011Open World Festival Tokyo

  Japan

  The company staged its first Open World Festival in Tokyo on 26 November 2011 as an international live-entertainment event connected with its artist activities.

  Outcome. The event is documented as the company’s first Open World Festival; later event results are not specified in the available reference.

  Source
• 2011Young Producers Association project album

  South Korea

  Open World was associated with a Young Producers Association project album featuring Jun Jin, Gan Miyeon, Tei, K.Will, Brown Eyed Girls, and After School.

  Outcome. The project is listed among the company’s documented music activities; no performance or sales outcome is provided.

  Source

• 2012

  Public response to allegations against the CEOOther

  Background

  Following Jang Seok-woo’s arrest, media reports described allegations involving the company’s singers and trainees.

  Action taken

  Open World issued a statement accusing media sources of exaggeration and false reporting and threatened legal action if reports were not retracted and apologies issued.

  Aftermath

  The investigation continued, artists’ activities were suspended or cancelled, and Jang was later convicted and imprisoned.

  Source

• 2011

  Permission for Shinhwa to use its group nameStrategy

  Background

  Open World Entertainment held trademark rights associated with the Shinhwa name while the group sought to conduct collective activities through a separate venture.

  Action taken

  The company granted Shinhwa permission to use the name for group performances and cooperated with Shinhwa Company on overseas concerts and album licensing.

  Aftermath

  The arrangement enabled the formation and operation of Shinhwa Company for the members’ group activities.

  Source

1. 1Open World Entertainmenten.wikipedia.org