YMC Entertainment
South Korean entertainment company and record label that managed recording artists and idol groups.
Last updated August 24, 2026
AI crawler reads
No AI crawler has read this profile since Oct 28, 2026.
Overview
YMC Entertainment was a South Korean entertainment company and record label established in 2010 by Cho Yoo-myung, the eldest son of trot singer Tae Jin-ah. The company operated primarily in artist management, music production, recording releases, and entertainment activities. Its roster included singers, rappers, idol groups, and entertainers, and it also represented at least some actors. YMC's business developed through the management of established and emerging Korean music acts. Artists associated with the company included Mighty Mouth, Wheesung, Baechigi, Sugar Bowl, Lucky J, Jessi, Joohee, Baekchan, Ailee, Kassy, Soulights, and Shin Bo-ra. The company also became closely associated with major temporary idol projects, most notably I.O.I and Wanna One. I.O.I was formed through the first season of the television competition series Produce 101 and promoted from 2016 to 2017. Wanna One was formed through the second season and promoted from 2017 to 2018. YMC managed the activities of these project groups during their limited promotional periods. A significant corporate change occurred in 2015, when Dream T Entertainment acquired an 80 percent stake in YMC Entertainment and became its majority shareholder. The transaction linked YMC to a larger entertainment-company structure while allowing it to continue handling artist and project-group activities. The company also managed some artists in cooperation with other entertainment businesses; Kassy, for example, was co-managed with Nextar Entertainment. YMC's artist relationships changed over time, with acts departing or completing their contractual periods at different dates. Ailee remained associated with the company through 2019, while other artists such as Jessi, Wheesung, Baechigi, and Mighty Mouth left earlier. Public reference material identifies YMC primarily through its historical roster and management work rather than through a currently documented consumer product portfolio. The available material does not establish a current operating status, current ownership beyond the reported majority investment, or a present-day official website, so those details remain unconfirmed.
History
YMC Entertainment was founded in South Korea in 2010 by Cho Yoo-myung, who is identified as the eldest son of trot singer Tae Jin-ah. From its establishment, the company operated as an entertainment and artist-management business, combining music-related activities with the representation of performers. Its historical roster included singers, rappers, groups, and entertainers, as well as actresses. During the early and middle years of its operation, YMC represented a changing collection of Korean artists. Mighty Mouth and Wheesung were associated with the company from 2012, while Baechigi joined the roster during the same period. Sugar Bowl and Lucky J were later connected with the label, followed by artists including Jessi, Joohee, and Baekchan. The company also represented Ailee, one of the most prominent singers in its historical roster, through 2019. Other names associated with YMC included Kassy, Soulights, Shin Bo-ra, and actress Kim Ji-ah. Kassy was managed jointly with Nextar Entertainment rather than solely by YMC. The company's most visible structural development came in 2015, when Dream T Entertainment bought 80 percent of YMC Entertainment. The acquisition made Dream T the majority shareholder and placed YMC within a broader entertainment-company relationship. Available reference material does not provide additional confirmed details about the transaction's price, governance structure, or subsequent corporate integration. YMC also became involved in the management of television-created idol project groups. I.O.I, assembled through the first season of Produce 101, was managed by YMC during its activities from 2016 to 2017. Wanna One, formed through the second season, was managed by YMC during its 2017–2018 promotional period. These assignments gave the company an important role in coordinating the releases, appearances, and activities of temporary groups whose memberships were drawn from multiple agencies. The company’s roster continued to change as artists left or concluded their relationships with YMC. The reference record lists Mighty Mouth as associated with YMC from 2012 to 2015, Wheesung from 2012 to 2016, Baechigi from 2012 to 2017, Sugar Bowl from 2014 to 2015, Lucky J from 2014 to 2016, Jessi from 2014 to 2018, Joohee and Baekchan from 2015 to 2016, I.O.I from 2016 to 2017, and Wanna One from 2017 to 2018. Ailee is listed through 2019. The available sources do not clearly document whether YMC subsequently ceased operations, changed its corporate identity, or continued without the same roster, so its current status is recorded as unknown.
- 2017
YMC manages Wanna One
[1]YMC begins managing Wanna One, the temporary boy group formed through the second season of Produce 101.
- 2016
YMC manages I.O.I
[1]YMC begins managing I.O.I, the temporary girl group formed through Produce 101.
- 2015
Dream T Entertainment becomes majority shareholder
[1]Dream T Entertainment acquires 80 percent of YMC Entertainment, becoming its majority shareholder.
- 2010
YMC Entertainment is established
[1]Cho Yoo-myung establishes YMC Entertainment in South Korea as an entertainment and artist-management company.
Products and positioning
A South Korean artist-management and music-entertainment company whose historical profile was shaped by a broad singer and rapper roster and by its management of high-profile temporary idol groups formed through the Produce 101 television franchise.
Music · 2010
Recorded music releases
YMC's core business included releasing and supporting recorded music by artists on its roster. The available reference material does not provide a complete discography, but the company was associated with releases by singers, rappers, and groups managed under its label and artist-management operations.
Entertainment services · 2010
Artist management
The company represented and coordinated the careers of music artists and entertainers, including activities such as releases, public appearances, television work, and live performance. Its historical roster included Ailee, Jessi, Wheesung, Baechigi, Mighty Mouth, Kassy, Soulights, and Shin Bo-ra.
Idol-group management · 2016
I.O.I management
YMC managed I.O.I during the group's limited promotional run from 2016 to 2017. I.O.I was created through the first season of Produce 101 and operated as a temporary group with members affiliated with different agencies.
Idol-group management · 2017
Wanna One management
YMC managed Wanna One during its 2017–2018 promotional period. Like I.O.I, Wanna One was a temporary idol group assembled through Produce 101, requiring coordination across multiple member agencies.
Brand decisions
2015
Accept majority investment from Dream T EntertainmentM&ABackground
YMC Entertainment entered a transaction that transferred majority ownership to Dream T Entertainment.
Action taken
Dream T Entertainment acquired 80 percent of YMC Entertainment's shares.
Aftermath
Dream T became YMC's majority shareholder. The available reference material does not establish further financial or operational consequences.
Ownership acquired. 80% (2015)
Recent events
- 2017
Wanna One managed by YMC Entertainment during its project-group period[1]
Other
YMC Entertainment managed Wanna One during the group's promotional activities from 2017 to 2018.
- 2016
I.O.I managed by YMC Entertainment during its project-group period[1]
Other
YMC Entertainment managed I.O.I during the group's promotional activities from 2016 to 2017.
- 2015
Dream T Entertainment acquires majority stake in YMC Entertainment[1]
M&A
Dream T Entertainment acquired 80 percent of YMC Entertainment, becoming its majority shareholder.
Sources1 sources
Cite this profile: Cite the canonical profile. /brand-wiki/ymc-entertainment · Editorial policy · How profiles are compiled