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IST Entertainment () is a South Korean entertainment company under Beyond Music.


History


Plan A Entertainment

In 2011, A Cube Entertainment was established as an independent label of Cube Entertainment. A Cube signed its first solo artist Huh Gak and launched girl group
Apink Apink (; ) is a South Korean girl group formed by IST Entertainment, (formerly Play M Entertainment, A Cube Entertainment, and Plan A Entertainment) and managed by Choi Creative Lab as of April 2024. The group debuted on April 19, 2011, with the ...
, which was made up from former Cube Entertainment trainees. In November 2015, LOEN Entertainment (later
Kakao M Kakao M Corp. (; formerly Seoul Records, YBM Seoul Records and LOEN Entertainment) was a South Korean entertainment company established by Min Yeong-bin in 1978. It was one of the largest co-publisher companies in South Korea. The company opera ...
and then
Kakao Entertainment Kakao Entertainment Corp. () is a South Korean entertainment, mass media, and publishing company founded in 2021. A subsidiary of the Internet company Kakao, it was established subsequent to the merger of the latter's two subsidiaries KakaoPa ...
) acquired 70% of the entire label and subsequently absorbed it as an independent subsidiary. The label announced in March 2016 that it has been renamed Plan A Entertainment since it was no longer affiliated with Cube Entertainment. It launched its first boy group
Victon Victon (; stylized as VICTON, an acronym for Voice to New World) is a South Korean boy group formed in 2016 by IST Entertainment (formerly A Cube Entertainment, Plan A Entertainment, and Play M Entertainment). The group is composed of six member ...
in November that year. In early 2018, Plan A Entertainment acquired Kakao M's actor agency E&T Story Entertainment, owning 60% of the agency's shares. In the following months, Choi Jin-ho (founder and co-CEO) resigned and 30% of the remaining shares were sold for 3.51 billion won. As a result, it became a wholly owned subsidiary of Kakao M.


Fave Entertainment

Fave Entertainment was originally founded in 2012 as LOEN Tree, to manage LOEN Entertainment's recording artists. It was spun-off as a separate subsidiary label in 2016 and renamed Fave Entertainment. Artists who were transferred to Fave Entertainment included
Fiestar Fiestar () is a South Korean girl group, composed of Cao Lu, Jei, Linzy, Hyemi and Yezi. They began their career prior to debut by releasing a duet with label mate IU (singer), IU titled "Sea of Moonlight" in July 2012 for LOEN Entertainment's c ...
,
History History is the systematic study of the past, focusing primarily on the Human history, human past. As an academic discipline, it analyses and interprets evidence to construct narratives about what happened and explain why it happened. Some t ...
, IU and Sunny Hill. Its trainees have notably featured in '' MIXNINE,
Under Nineteen Under Nineteen () was a survival show on Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation for trainees under the age of 19 years old. There were a total of 57 contestants competing to debut as a member of 1THE9. The trainees were put into groups that specialize ...
,'' and ''Produce 101''. In October 2018, the label announced its upcoming girl group, temporarily known as "Fave Girls".


Cre.ker Entertainment

Cre.ker Entertainment is a record label founded by Kakao Entertainment (formerly LOEN Entertainment) in 2014, the label is home to artist groups Melody Day and
The Boyz Boyz or The Boyz may refer to: Music Bands *The Boyz (German band), a German boy band of the 1990s * The Boyz (American band), an American rock band , established in 1975 *The Boyz (South Korean band) The Boyz () is a South Korean boy band f ...
.


2019–2025: Merged agency named to IST Entertainment

On February 13, 2019, Kakao Entertainment released a statement that Plan A Entertainment and Fave Entertainment would be merging on April 1. Plan A Entertainment, being the surviving entity in the merger, was renamed Play M Entertainment and absorbed Fave Entertainment's assets and remaining artists, including trainees. In May 2020, it was announced that "Fave Girls", who became "Play M Girls" following the merger, would be debuting in June as
Weeekly Weeekly () is a South Korean girl group formed by IST Entertainment (formerly Play M Entertainment). The group was IST Entertainment's second girl group in ten years, after Apink. The group consists of six members: Soojin, Monday, Soeun, Jaehee ...
. It is the company's first girl group since Apink. On September 17, 2021, Kakao Entertainment announced that Play M Entertainment and Cre.ker Entertainment would be merging in the future. On November 12, 2021, it was announced that the company's new corporate name would be IST Entertainment, which took in effect on November 1. On February 7, 2022, IST Entertainment announced the debut of a new boy group in the second half of the year through a reality competition show, '' The Origin – A, B, Or What?''. The show premiered on March 19, 2022. On the finale episode aired on May 7, 2022, it was announced that the final 7 will debut as ATBO, and will debut in July 27. On April 11, 2022, IST Entertainment and
Universal Music Japan , often referred to as just Universal Music Japan or UMJ, is a Japanese subsidiary of the Universal Music Group founded in 1990. It is the largest subsidiary for a foreign company in Japan regarding music distribution. The company is responsible ...
announced the foundation of their joint venture label, "Universal Music IST".


2025–present: Full acquisition by Beyond Music

On February 5, 2025, Beyond Music announced that it fully acquired IST Entertainment from Kakao Entertainment and will be incorporating it as a subsidiary. On February 26, 2025, IST Entertainment announced that all Weeekly members have terminated their contract with the label. The future activities of the group remain undecided as of now.


Artists

Groups * ATBO Notable trainees * Huening Bahiyyih (
Kep1er Kep1er (; Korean language, Korean: 케플러; Revised Romanization of Korean, RR: ''Kepeulleo''; Japanese language, Japanese: ケプラー, Hepburn romanization, Hepburn: ''Kepurā'') is a South Korean girl group formed by CJ E&M, CJ ENM throug ...
)


Former artists


IST Entertainment

*
Apink Apink (; ) is a South Korean girl group formed by IST Entertainment, (formerly Play M Entertainment, A Cube Entertainment, and Plan A Entertainment) and managed by Choi Creative Lab as of April 2024. The group debuted on April 19, 2011, with the ...
** Park Cho-rong (2011–2023) **
Yoon Bo-mi Yoon Bo-mi (; born August 13, 1993), known mononymously as Bomi, is a South Korean singer and actress. She is best known as a member of the South Korean girl group Apink. Yoon made her acting debut with a cameo role in the 2012 television serie ...
(2011–2023) ** Kim Nam-joo (2011–2023) **
Oh Ha-young Oh Ha-young (; born July 19, 1996), also known by her mononym Hayoung, is a South Korean singer and actress. She is best known as a member of the South Korean girl group Apink. Life and career 1996–2011: Early life and debut with Apink Oh H ...
(2011–2023) **
Jung Eun-ji Jung Eun-ji (; born Jung Hye-rim on August 18, 1993), is a South Korean singer-songwriter and actress. She is best known as the vocalist of the South Korean girl group Apink. Renowned for her powerful vocals, she possesses perfect pitch and has ...
(2011-2025) *
Victon Victon (; stylized as VICTON, an acronym for Voice to New World) is a South Korean boy group formed in 2016 by IST Entertainment (formerly A Cube Entertainment, Plan A Entertainment, and Play M Entertainment). The group is composed of six member ...
(2016–2024) ** Heo Chan (2016–2022) **
Do Han-se Do Han-se (, born on September 25, 1997), known mononymously as Hanse, is a South Korean rapper, singer and songwriter. He debuted as a member of South Korean group Victon in 2016. Later on September 25, 2022; he debuted with his solo album ''Bl ...
(2016–2023) **
Choi Byung-chan Choi Byung-chan (, born November 12, 1997), also known as Byungchan, is a South Korean singer and actor. He debuted as a member of South Korean group Victon in 2016. In 2020, he made his acting debut in the drama '' Live On''. Career 2016– ...
(2016–2023) ** Jung Su-bin (2016–2023) **
Han Seung-woo Han Seung-woo (, born December 24, 1994), known mononymously as Seungwoo, is a South Korean singer, singer-songwriter, and actor. He debuted as a member of South Korean group Victon in 2016. In 2019, he finished third on ''Produce X 101'' and ...
(2016–2024) ** Kang Seung-sik (2016–2024) ** Lim Se-jun (2016–2024) * Bandage (2020–2023) ** Lim Hyeong-bin (2020–2022) ** Lee Chan-sol (2020–2023) ** Kang Kyoung-yoon (2020–2023) ** Shin Hyun-bin (2020–2023) *
The Boyz Boyz or The Boyz may refer to: Music Bands *The Boyz (German band), a German boy band of the 1990s * The Boyz (American band), an American rock band , established in 1975 *The Boyz (South Korean band) The Boyz () is a South Korean boy band f ...
(2017–2024) ** Sangyeon (2017–2024) ** Jacob (2017–2024) ** Younghoon (2017–2024) ** Hyunjae (2017–2024) ** Juyeon (2017–2024) ** Kevin (2017–2024) ** New (2017–2024) ** Q (2017–2024) ** Ju Haknyeon (2017–2024) ** Sunwoo (2017–2024) ** Eric (2017–2024) *
Weeekly Weeekly () is a South Korean girl group formed by IST Entertainment (formerly Play M Entertainment). The group was IST Entertainment's second girl group in ten years, after Apink. The group consists of six members: Soojin, Monday, Soeun, Jaehee ...
(2020–2025) ** Shin Ji-yoon (2020–2022) ** Lee Soo-jin (2020–2025) ** Monday (2020–2025) ** Park So-eun (2020–2025) ** Lee Jae-hee (2020–2025) ** Jihan (2020–2025) ** Zoa (2020–2025)


Former label

A Cube Entertainment / Plan A Entertainment / Play M Entertainment *
Apink Apink (; ) is a South Korean girl group formed by IST Entertainment, (formerly Play M Entertainment, A Cube Entertainment, and Plan A Entertainment) and managed by Choi Creative Lab as of April 2024. The group debuted on April 19, 2011, with the ...
** Hong Yoo-kyung (2011–2013) ** Son Na-eun (2011–2021) * Lim Ji-min (2019–2021) * Huh Gak (2011–2021) Cre.ker Entertainment * Melody Day (2014–2018) ** Yeo Eun (2014–2018) ** Yoo Min (2014–2018) ** Ye In (2014–2018) ** Cha Hee (2014–2018) *
The Boyz Boyz or The Boyz may refer to: Music Bands *The Boyz (German band), a German boy band of the 1990s * The Boyz (American band), an American rock band , established in 1975 *The Boyz (South Korean band) The Boyz () is a South Korean boy band f ...
** Hwall (2017–2019) E&T Story Entertainment * Park Han-deul * Kim Ye-eun * Go Na-hee * Ahn Soo-min * Shin Hyeon-Seung (2020–2021) * Jung Soo-hyun *
Kim So-hyun Kim So-hyun (; born 4 June 1999) is an Australian-born South Korean actress. She is known for her leading roles in the youth series ''Who Are You: School 2015'' (2015), historical dramas ''The Emperor: Owner of the Mask'' (2017), ''The Tale o ...
(2017–2021) LOEN Tree / Fave Entertainment * KRun *
Park Ji-yoon Park Ji-yoon (; born January 3, 1982) is a South Korean singer, actress, and model. As a teen model, she gained wide exposure after starring in a Haitai biscuit commercial in 1994, and held a minor role in the television drama ''Dinosaur Teach ...
(1997–1999) * Gain (2011–2013) * Mario (2011–2013) * Sunny Hill (2011–2017) *
Fiestar Fiestar () is a South Korean girl group, composed of Cao Lu, Jei, Linzy, Hyemi and Yezi. They began their career prior to debut by releasing a duet with label mate IU (singer), IU titled "Sea of Moonlight" in July 2012 for LOEN Entertainment's c ...
(2012–2018) ** Cheska (2012–2014) ** Jei (2012–2018) ** Linzy (2012–2018) ** Hyemi (2012–2018) ** Yezi (2012–2018) **
Cao Lu Cao Lu (; born August 30, 1987) is a Chinese singer, actress, and television personality. She was a member of the South Korean girl group Fiestar until her group's disbandment in 2018 and regrouped in August 22, 2024. Early life Cao Lu was bo ...
(2012–2018) * IU (2012–2018) *
History History is the systematic study of the past, focusing primarily on the Human history, human past. As an academic discipline, it analyses and interprets evidence to construct narratives about what happened and explain why it happened. Some t ...
(2013–2017) ** Song Kyung-il (2013–2019) ** Na Do-Kyun (2013–2019) ** Kim Shi-hyoung (2013–2019) ** Kim Jae-ho (2013–2019) ** Jang Yi-jeong (2013–2019) * Shin Zisu (2015–2016) * I.B.I (2016) * JBJ (2017–2018)


Discography


Projects


Notes


References


External links

*
IST Entertainment
on Naver Post {{Authority control IST Entertainment Record labels established in 2011 South Korean record labels Talent agencies of South Korea