Star Empire Entertainment
Star Empire Entertainment is a South Korean entertainment agency and music label known for developing groups and artists including Jewelry, V.O.S, ZE:A, Nine Muses and Imfact.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
Star Empire Entertainment is a South Korean entertainment agency and music label founded in 2000 by Shin Ju-hak. The company operated primarily as an artist-management, music-production and recording business, building its reputation through idol groups, vocal acts, solo performers and affiliated ventures. Its best-known acts included the girl group Jewelry, vocal group V.O.S, boy group ZE:A, girl group Nine Muses, boy group Imfact and the later girl group Ariaz, which debuted through the affiliated Rising Star Entertainment label. The company’s first important success came with Jewelry, which debuted in 2001 and became one of the agency’s central acts during the 2000s. V.O.S followed in 2004, giving Star Empire a second major identity as a developer of vocal-oriented performers. In 2007, the company also signed the established performer Poppin' Hyun Joon. Soloist Kim Sori, who had originally auditioned unsuccessfully for Jewelry, entered the company’s artist system and debuted in 2009. Star Empire expanded its idol roster at the beginning of the 2010s. ZE:A, a nine-member boy group, debuted in January 2010 as the company’s first new boy group since V.O.S. Nine Muses debuted later that year with a membership system described around admissions and graduation. The company also participated in KMP Holdings, a joint distribution venture formed in 2010 with several Korean entertainment companies, including SM Entertainment, YG Entertainment and JYP Entertainment. KMP was later acquired by KT Music, with its distribution network absorbed into KT Music in 2013. During the middle of the decade, the agency managed a changing portfolio of groups and individual performers. Jewelry officially ended in 2015 after fourteen years, while V.O.S left when its contracts expired later that year. Star Empire debuted Imfact in 2016 and re-signed former Jewelry member Seo In-young for a later period. ZE:A members increasingly pursued individual activities, although the company stated in 2017 that the group had not formally disbanded. Several members subsequently left the company as their contracts ended or as they moved toward individual careers. Star Empire’s later activity included the vocal project SoReal and the co-ed project NASTY NASTY, as well as the launch of Ariaz through Rising Star Entertainment in 2019. Nine Muses was formally disbanded in 2019 after the remaining members departed the agency, and Imfact members left Star Empire in 2022. Ariaz effectively ended its activities in 2022 after members terminated their affiliated contracts and confirmed their departures. The company’s official website was reported to have been shut down by 2024. Publicly available reference material does not establish whether the legal entity was formally dissolved, so its present corporate status remains uncertain.
History
Star Empire Entertainment was established in South Korea in 2000 by Shin Ju-hak. Its early business centered on discovering and managing recording artists, particularly pop groups and vocal performers. Jewelry debuted in 2001 and became the agency’s first major idol act. V.O.S debuted in 2004, adding a vocal-group dimension to the company’s roster. In 2007, Star Empire signed the performer Poppin' Hyun Joon, and Kim Sori debuted as a soloist in 2009 after entering the company’s training system. The agency entered a more expansive phase in 2010. ZE:A debuted in January as a nine-member boy group, marking Star Empire’s first boy-group launch since V.O.S. Nine Muses debuted in August as a nine-member girl group using an admissions-and-graduation concept. That same year, Star Empire joined SM Entertainment, YG Entertainment, JYP Entertainment and other companies in creating KMP Holdings, a joint venture intended to distribute participating companies’ music. KMP was acquired by KT Music in 2012, and its distribution network was absorbed by KT Music in 2013. Personnel changes became increasingly significant during the 2010s. Several Nine Muses members left the group or agency after contracts expired, while other members continued under the group’s name. Star Empire debuted the four-member male vocal group SoReal in 2014. Jewelry ended its activities in January 2015, fourteen years after debut, and V.O.S left the agency at the end of that year. Former Jewelry member Seo In-young returned to Star Empire in 2016 for another period of activity. The company introduced Imfact in January 2016. ZE:A members increasingly focused on individual work, generating reports that the group might be disbanding. In 2017, Star Empire and the members rejected the interpretation that ZE:A had formally disbanded, explaining that the members would concentrate on solo activities and could reunite in the future. Nevertheless, the listed members subsequently departed the company during the period covered by the reference material. Star Empire’s later roster included SoReal, NASTY NASTY and Imfact, while the affiliated Rising Star Entertainment served as the home for Ariaz. Three SoReal members released a song as Tri:al in 2018 through another company, confirming their move away from Star Empire. Nine Muses was formally disbanded in February 2019 after members left Star Empire; the final listed member departed later that year. Rising Star Entertainment announced Ariaz in September 2019, with the group debuting in October. In January 2022, Star Empire announced that Imfact’s members had chosen to leave. In April of the same year, several Ariaz members terminated their Rising Star contracts and another member publicly confirmed her departure, effectively ending the group. Reference material states that Star Empire’s official website had been shut down by 2024. It does not provide sufficient evidence to determine whether the company itself was legally dissolved, making its current status uncertain.
- 2024
Official website reported shut down
[1]The company’s official website was reported to have been closed, although the legal status of the company was not established.
- 2022
Imfact and Ariaz activities end
[1]Imfact members left Star Empire, and Ariaz effectively disbanded after member departures from Rising Star Entertainment.
- 2019
Nine Muses disbands and Ariaz debuts
[1]Nine Muses was formally disbanded, while affiliated Rising Star Entertainment introduced Ariaz.
- 2016
Imfact debuts
[1]Star Empire launched the boy group Imfact.
- 2015
Jewelry disbands
[1]Jewelry officially ended its activities after fourteen years.
- 2014
SoReal debuts
[1]The company introduced the four-member male vocal group SoReal.
- 2010
ZE:A and Nine Muses debut
[1]Star Empire launched ZE:A in January and Nine Muses in August.
- 2004
V.O.S debuts
[1]The vocal group V.O.S joined the company’s recording-artist portfolio.
- 2001
Jewelry debuts
[1]The girl group Jewelry became the agency’s first major idol act.
- 2000
Company founded
[1]Shin Ju-hak established Star Empire Entertainment in South Korea.
Products and positioning
A South Korean artist-management and music-label business focused on discovering, training and promoting idol groups, vocal performers and entertainment personalities.
Girl group · 2001
Jewelry
Jewelry was Star Empire’s first major idol group and debuted in 2001. The group was a central part of the company’s early growth and remained associated with the agency through multiple membership changes before officially disbanding in 2015.
Vocal group · 2004
V.O.S
V.O.S debuted in 2004 and represented Star Empire’s vocal-performance portfolio. The group remained with the agency until its members left after their contracts expired at the end of 2015.
Boy group · 2010
ZE:A
ZE:A was a nine-member boy group that debuted in January 2010. It became one of Star Empire’s most visible acts and later included associated units and subgroups such as ZE:A 4U, ZE:A Five and ZE:A J. The company stated in 2017 that the group had not formally disbanded, while members shifted toward individual activities.
Girl group · 2010
Nine Muses
Nine Muses debuted in August 2010 with a nine-member lineup and an admissions-and-graduation membership concept. The group underwent extensive lineup changes during its run and was formally disbanded in 2019 after its remaining members left the agency.
Vocal group · 2014
SoReal
SoReal was a four-member male vocal group launched by Star Empire in 2014. Three members later released music as Tri:al through Together E&M Entertainment, confirming their departure from Star Empire.
Boy group · 2016
Imfact
Imfact debuted in January 2016 as Star Empire’s later-generation boy group. The company announced in 2022 that the members had chosen to depart.
Girl group · 2019
Ariaz
Ariaz was a six-member girl group announced in 2019 and developed through Star Empire affiliate Rising Star Entertainment. Multiple members left or terminated their contracts in 2022, effectively ending the group’s activities.
Marketing campaigns
- 2016Star Empire 1st Concert Family Concert
Japan
Star Empire presented its first family concert in Tokyo at Zepp Tokyo on September 2, 2016, bringing artists from the agency’s roster together in a label-branded live event.
Outcome. The event extended the agency’s artist promotion into Japan and served as a collective showcase for its roster.
Brand decisions
2019
Ariaz launch through Rising Star EntertainmentProduct launchBackground
Star Empire used its affiliated Rising Star Entertainment operation to develop a new girl group.
Action taken
Rising Star Entertainment announced the six-member group Ariaz in September, followed by a debut in October.
Aftermath
The group’s activities effectively ended in 2022 after several members terminated their contracts or confirmed their departures.
2017
Clarification of ZE:A’s statusStrategyBackground
Reports that members were leaving the company led to speculation that ZE:A had disbanded.
Action taken
Star Empire stated that ZE:A had not disbanded and that the members would focus on solo activities, with a possible group return in the future.
Aftermath
The members continued pursuing individual careers, and the group’s subsequent collective activity remained limited.
2010
Participation in KMP HoldingsM&ABackground
Korean entertainment companies were seeking a shared music-distribution structure for their releases.
Action taken
Star Empire joined SM Entertainment, YG Entertainment, JYP Entertainment and other companies in forming KMP Holdings.
Aftermath
KMP Holdings was acquired by KT Music in 2012, and its distribution network was absorbed by KT Music in 2013.
Recent events
- 2022
Imfact members leave Star Empire[1]
Leadership change
The company announced that Imfact’s members had chosen to depart from Star Empire.
- 2022
Ariaz activities end after member departures[1]
Leadership change
Several Ariaz members terminated their contracts with Rising Star Entertainment, while another member confirmed her departure, effectively ending the group’s activities.
- 2019
Nine Muses officially disbands[1]
Other
Star Empire announced the formal disbandment of Nine Muses after members left the company and later contracts expired.
- 2019
Ariaz announced through Rising Star Entertainment[1]
Product launch
The affiliated Rising Star Entertainment announced the six-member girl group Ariaz, which debuted in October.
- 2018
SoReal members continue under Tri:al[1]
Product launch · Other
Three SoReal members released music as Tri:al through Together E&M Entertainment, indicating their departure from Star Empire.
- 2017
Star Empire clarifies ZE:A has not disbanded[1]
Leadership change · Other
After reports suggested that ZE:A was disbanding, the company and members stated that the group remained intact while members concentrated on individual activities.
- 2016
Imfact debuts[1]
Product launch
Star Empire introduced the boy group Imfact as part of its newer-generation artist roster.
- 2015
Jewelry officially disbands[1]
Other
Star Empire announced the end of Jewelry, fourteen years after the group’s debut.
- 2010
Star Empire launches ZE:A[1]
Product launch
The agency debuted the nine-member boy group ZE:A, its first boy group since V.O.S had debuted six years earlier.
- 2010
Star Empire participates in KMP Holdings joint venture[1]
M&A
Star Empire joined other Korean entertainment companies in establishing KMP Holdings as a music-distribution venture.
Sources1 sources
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