Starship Entertainment
Starship Entertainment is a South Korean music and entertainment company known for developing K-pop groups, solo artists, and actors.
Last updated September 28, 2026
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Overview
Starship Entertainment is a South Korean entertainment company established in 2008 by Kim Shi-dae, Seo Hyun-joo, and Kim Young-suk. It operates primarily as a music label and artist-management company, with related activities in acting management, live entertainment production, artist development, digital fan services, and international partnerships. The company became part of the Kakao entertainment ecosystem after LOEN Entertainment acquired a majority shareholding in December 2013. LOEN was later renamed Kakao M and subsequently integrated into Kakao Entertainment. As of 2025, Kakao Entertainment remained Starship's largest shareholder. The company's earliest major signing was singer K.Will, whose 2008 release "Love 119" helped establish Starship's recording identity. Starship expanded quickly into idol-group development, debuting Sistar in 2010 and Boyfriend in 2011. Sistar became one of the label's most commercially visible acts and helped give Starship a strong position in the Korean popular-music market. The company later broadened its roster through the launch of the hip-hop-oriented Starship X label, the recruitment of artists including Mad Clown and Jeong Se-woon, and the development of Monsta X through the survival program No.Mercy. Starship also pursued international and cross-company expansion. In 2015 it entered a management partnership with China's Yuehua Entertainment and jointly formed Cosmic Girls, also known as WJSN, which was designed to address both Korean and Chinese audiences. The company acquired King Kong Entertainment in the same year and completed a merger in 2017. The acting business subsequently operated under the name King Kong by Starship. Starship also created a smaller-artist imprint originally called House of Music, later renamed Highline Entertainment, and acquired the live-performance producer Shownote in 2019. The company's later K-pop growth came through Monsta X, WJSN, Cravity, Ive, KiiiKiii, and Idid, alongside soloists such as K.Will and Brother Su. Cravity debuted in 2020, Ive in 2021, KiiiKiii in 2025, and Idid in 2025 following the survival program Debut's Plan. Starship has also maintained or developed international distribution and partnership arrangements, including a 2021 collaboration involving Intertwine and BMG for Monsta X and Wonho. Its artists are collectively associated with the name Starship Planet. Starship is commonly described as one of South Korea's major entertainment agencies and has received recognition for its contribution to the Korean Wave. Its business model combines music production, artist management, idol-group formation, acting representation, live-event production, and overseas expansion. In 2025, the company reorganized artist management into divisions covering established acts and newer groups, and announced further group expansion with a new boy group planned after Monsta X and Cravity. Starship also announced a global intellectual-property joint venture framework with Pop Mart. The company remains an active Kakao Entertainment affiliate, although specific current financial results and detailed corporate ownership information are not included here.
History
Starship Entertainment was founded in South Korea in 2008 by Kim Shi-dae, Seo Hyun-joo, and Kim Young-suk. The founders brought experience from different parts of the Korean entertainment industry: Kim Shi-dae had worked as a road manager for the group Cool and later at Big Hit Entertainment, while Seo Hyun-joo had worked at JYP Entertainment. The company's first artist was singer K.Will, who released the single "Love 119" in 2008. Starship entered the idol-group business with the debut of Sistar in 2010, followed by Boyfriend in 2011. Sistar became a defining early success for the company, while Boyfriend extended Starship's reach into the male idol market. In 2013, the company created Starship X, its first subsidiary label, initially centered on artists such as rapper Mad Clown. That year, LOEN Entertainment acquired a 70 percent stake in Starship. The transaction made Starship an independent subsidiary of LOEN, which later became Kakao M and ultimately Kakao Entertainment. The company continued to diversify its roster and partnerships. It signed Jeong Se-woon in 2014 after his appearance on K-pop Star 3. In 2015, Starship entered a mutual management arrangement with China's Yuehua Entertainment. The two companies jointly formed Cosmic Girls, or WJSN, which debuted in 2016 with an intended appeal across Korean and Chinese markets. Starship also acquired King Kong Entertainment in 2015. The two companies completed their merger in 2017, after which the actor-management business operated as King Kong by Starship. Starship's music operations expanded through Monsta X, formed from the Mnet survival program No.Mercy. The group debuted in 2015 and was initially promoted with a hip-hop-oriented identity. In 2017, Starship introduced House of Music, an imprint for smaller and independent artists. It was renamed Highline Entertainment in 2018 and later became associated with artists including Wonho, Yoo Seung-woo, and DJ Soda. Sistar disbanded in 2017, although Soyou and Dasom remained with the company for a period. Boyfriend disbanded in 2019. In December 2019, Starship acquired all of Shownote, a performance-production company established in 2005. The acquisition extended Starship's activities beyond recorded music and artist management into musicals, concerts, plays, showcases, exhibitions, children's performances, and fan meetings. In 2020, Starship debuted Cravity and received a Korea Creative Content Agency award recognizing its contribution to the Korean Wave. International expansion became more structured in the early 2020s. In 2021, Starship partnered with Eshy Gazit's Intertwine venture and BMG in an arrangement intended to provide global distribution and overseas expansion for Monsta X and Wonho. Later in 2021, Starship debuted Ive, a girl group that included former Iz*One members Jang Won-young and An Yu-jin. Ive became a central part of the company's next phase of growth. In 2022, Lee Hoon-hee was appointed chief executive. Lee brought experience from Korean media and entertainment organizations including KOEN Media, SM C&C, and KBS. Lee Jin-sung continued as chief executive of King Kong by Starship. That year, all Monsta X members except I.M renewed their contracts with Starship, while I.M continued to participate in the group's future plans. The company also expanded its digital fan-communication strategy through a planned Dear U Bubble service for its artists. Roster changes followed in 2023 and 2024. Starship announced the departure of WJSN members Xuanyi, Cheng Xiao, and Meiqi after contract expiration, while Luda and Dawon did not renew. In 2024, Jeong Se-woon also chose not to renew after a decade with the company. These changes occurred alongside continuing activity from Starship's established groups and the preparation of new acts. In 2025, Starship introduced KiiiKiii, its first new girl group since Ive, and debuted the group on March 24. The company announced a divisional management structure designed to support a multi-producing system and more specialized domestic and global promotion. It also announced a new boy group intended to follow Monsta X and Cravity. Idid, formed through Debut's Plan, debuted on September 15. Later in the year, Starship and Pop Mart signed a letter of intent relating to a global intellectual-property joint venture. Through these developments, Starship continued to operate as a Kakao Entertainment affiliate with businesses spanning music, artist management, acting, live entertainment, and international partnerships.
- 2025
KiiiKiii and Idid expand the roster
[1]KiiiKiii debuts in March and Idid debuts in September after Debut's Plan.
- 2021
Ive debuts
[1]Starship launches Ive on December 1.
- 2020
Cravity debuts
[1]Starship launches the boy group Cravity.
- 2019
Shownote joins Starship
[1]Starship acquires the live-performance production company Shownote.
- 2017
King Kong by Starship is established
[1]The merged actor-management operation adopts the King Kong by Starship label.
- 2016
Cosmic Girls debuts
[1]Starship and Yuehua debut Cosmic Girls, also known as WJSN.
- 2015
Starship partners with Yuehua Entertainment
[1]The companies establish a mutual management partnership and later collaborate on Cosmic Girls.
- 2015
King Kong Entertainment is acquired
[1]Starship acquires King Kong Entertainment, beginning the expansion of its actor-management activities.
- 2013
Starship X is launched
[1]Starship creates Starship X as a subsidiary label, with Mad Clown as its first signed artist.
- 2013
LOEN becomes majority shareholder
[1]LOEN Entertainment acquires 70 percent of Starship's shares.
Products and positioning
A major Korean entertainment agency combining K-pop artist development, music-label operations, actor management, live-event production, and international partnerships. Starship is particularly associated with polished idol-group launches and the Kakao Entertainment ecosystem.
Solo artist · 2008
K.Will
K.Will was Starship Entertainment's first artist and helped establish the company's recording business after joining at its 2008 launch. His release "Love 119" served as the label's first major single and he remains one of the company's long-running solo acts.
K-pop boy group · 2015
Monsta X
Monsta X was formed through Mnet's survival program No.Mercy and debuted in 2015. The group was initially presented with a hip-hop-oriented image and became one of Starship's principal international acts. In 2022, all members except I.M renewed with Starship, while I.M continued to participate in the group's plans.
K-pop girl group · 2016
WJSN (Cosmic Girls)
WJSN was jointly developed by Starship and Yuehua Entertainment and debuted in 2016. The project was designed to appeal to Korean and Chinese audiences. Several Chinese members and other members later left or did not renew their contracts, while the group remained associated with Starship.
K-pop boy group · 2020
Cravity
Cravity debuted in 2020 as Starship's newer-generation boy group. The group forms part of the company's continuing idol development strategy and is managed within Starship's divisional structure for domestic and international promotion.
K-pop girl group · 2021
Ive
Ive debuted in December 2021 and became a central act in Starship's post-Sistar girl-group strategy. The group includes former Iz*One members Jang Won-young and An Yu-jin and is managed in Starship's first division alongside K.Will and Monsta X.
Actor-management division · 2017
King Kong by Starship
King Kong by Starship is the acting-management operation created through Starship's merger with King Kong Entertainment. It represents actors and actresses and operates as a distinct label within the broader Starship structure.
Subsidiary music label · 2017
Highline Entertainment
Highline Entertainment began as House of Music in 2017 and was renamed in 2018. It was developed to recruit and manage smaller or independent artists and later expanded its roster to include artists such as Wonho, Yoo Seung-woo, and DJ Soda.
Live-performance production · 2005
Shownote
Shownote is a performance-production company acquired by Starship in 2019. Its activities include musicals, concerts, plays, showcases, children's performances, exhibitions, and fan meetings, giving Starship capabilities beyond recorded music.
K-pop girl group · 2025
KiiiKiii
KiiiKiii is Starship's girl group launched in 2025, four years after Ive. The group is managed through the company's third division as part of a structure intended to support specialized domestic and global promotion.
K-pop boy group · 2025
Idid
Idid is a boy group formed through Starship's survival program Debut's Plan. It debuted in September 2025 as part of the company's planned expansion after Monsta X and Cravity.
Controversies
Marketing campaigns
- 2022National Non-Violence Campaign
South Korea
Starship and its artists participated in a Blue Tree Foundation campaign supporting non-violence and raising awareness of school and cyberbullying.
Outcome. The participation publicized anti-bullying work and support for victims without a separately reported commercial outcome.
Brand decisions
2025
Implement a divisional artist-management systemStrategyBackground
Starship was managing multiple established groups and preparing new debuts across domestic and international markets.
Action taken
The company organized its multi-producing and management functions into three divisions covering K.Will, Monsta X, Ive, WJSN, Cravity, and KiiiKiii.
Aftermath
The structure was intended to provide more specialized management and promotion for different artists and markets.
2025
Sign a global intellectual-property joint-venture letter of intent with Pop MartM&ABackground
Starship was exploring opportunities to extend entertainment properties into international intellectual-property and character-related businesses.
Action taken
Starship and Pop Mart signed a letter of intent concerning a global intellectual-property joint venture.
Aftermath
The available reference material does not specify the final structure, financial terms, or completed status of the proposed venture.
2021
Expand through Intertwine and BMG partnershipStrategyBackground
Starship sought greater global distribution and international growth for its artists.
Action taken
Starship partnered with Eshy Gazit's Intertwine venture and BMG, with Monsta X and Wonho among the first artists involved.
Aftermath
The arrangement was intended to strengthen international distribution and overseas expansion.
2019
Acquire ShownoteM&ABackground
Starship was broadening its business beyond music recording and artist representation.
Action taken
The company acquired 100 percent of Shownote, a producer of live entertainment and performance events.
Aftermath
The acquisition added production capabilities covering concerts, musicals, plays, showcases, exhibitions, and fan events.
2015
Acquire King Kong EntertainmentM&ABackground
Starship sought to expand from music into actor and broader entertainment management.
Action taken
Starship acquired all shares of King Kong Entertainment through a strategic partnership alliance.
Aftermath
The companies registered their merger in 2017 and continued the acting business as King Kong by Starship.
2013
Accept majority investment from LOEN EntertainmentM&ABackground
Starship was expanding its artist roster and label operations and entered the ownership structure of LOEN Entertainment.
Action taken
LOEN acquired 70 percent of Starship's shares, while Starship continued to operate as an independent subsidiary.
Aftermath
The transaction placed Starship within the corporate lineage that later became Kakao Entertainment.
Recent events
- 2025
Starship launches KiiiKiii[1]
Product launch
Starship announced and debuted KiiiKiii, its first new girl group since Ive, which entered the market on March 24.
- 2025
Starship reorganizes artist management into divisions[1]
Other
The company announced a multi-producing and divisional management structure covering K.Will, Monsta X, Ive, WJSN, Cravity, and KiiiKiii for domestic and international promotion.
- 2025
Starship announces a new boy group[1]
Product launch
Starship announced plans for a new boy group following Monsta X and Cravity, with a target debut within the year.
- 2025
Idid debuts after Debut's Plan[1]
Product launch
Idid debuted on September 15 after being formed through the survival program Debut's Plan.
- 2025
Starship and Pop Mart sign an LOI[1]
M&A
Starship and Pop Mart signed a letter of intent concerning a global intellectual-property joint venture.
- 2024
Jeong Se-woon leaves Starship after contract expiration[1]
Leadership change
Starship announced that singer Jeong Se-woon would not renew his contract after approximately ten years with the label.
- 2023
Starship plans Dear U Bubble access for its artists[1]
Other
Starship announced plans to provide its artists with access to Dear U's Bubble fan-messaging service for a three-year period beginning in 2023.
- 2023
Several WJSN members leave or do not renew with Starship[1]
Leadership change
Starship announced that Xuanyi, Cheng Xiao, and Meiqi departed WJSN after their contracts expired, while Luda and Dawon did not renew their contracts.
- 2022
Lee Hoon-hee appointed chief executive[1]
Leadership change
Starship appointed Lee Hoon-hee as chief executive while Lee Jin-sung continued leading King Kong by Starship.
- 2022
Monsta X members renew contracts[1]
Leadership change · Other
All Monsta X members except I.M renewed their contracts with Starship; I.M remained involved in the group's future activities.
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