| MBK Entertainment | |
| Native Name: | MBK 엔터테인먼트 |
| Traded As: | Unlisted company |
| Founder: | Kim Kwang-soo |
| Key People: | Kim Tae-kyung (CEO) |
| Fate: | Defunct in 2022. Most of the music catalogs were sold to Beyond Music, while the publishing rights were held by Dreamus. |
| Parent: | CJ E&M Music (2006–2009) MBK (2014–2016) |
| Subsid: | DAP Sound (2014) PocketDol Studio (2017) M25 (2022) |
| Foundation: | (Core Contents Media) (MBK Entertainment) |
| Former Name: | GM Planning (1999–2007) Core Contents Media (2007–2014) |
| Location City: | Seoul |
| Location Country: | South Korea |
| Location: | Yeoksam, Gangnam |
MBK Entertainment was a South Korean entertainment company established by Kim Kwang-soo. MBK Entertainment is known for managing multiple successful K-pop artists, such as T-ara, DIA, Davichi, SeeYa, F-ve Dolls, Shannon, Coed School, and SPEED.
The company was originally founded in 1999 as GM Planning. The company was absorbed by Mnet Media in 2006, following Kim Kwang-soo joint with CJ Group as their director. In 2007, the company re-launch as Core Contents Media under Mnet Media. In September 2009, Kim Kwang-soo was removed from the list as director of Mnet Media and then effectively his own company ended business with Mnet Media.
On October 1, 2014, Core Contents Media had been acquired by MBK Co., Ltd. (formerly CS ELSOLAR Co., Ltd.) and renamed as MBK Entertainment (abbreviation for "Music Beyond Korea").[1] [2]
In December 2016, MBK Entertainment parent company MBK suspended their entertainment business.[3]
In May 2018, Kim Kwang-soo and its subsidiary label The Unit: Idol Rebooting Project Culture Industry Company (then-known as PocketDol Studio) were revealed that secretly partnership with PD Han Kyeong-cheon to produce survival program . He also confirmed that he would be focused as producer for winning group UNB and UNI.T.[4] [5]
In October 2018, MBK and MBC launched a talent show titled Under Nineteen, a contest for male trainees under the age of 19 years old to compete for a spot to be in a new K-pop idol group 1the9. The final winners would sign a 12-month contract under MBK (then PocketDol Studio) after a 5-month contract with MBC.[6]
In April 2020, MBK representation contestant in Produce X 101, Hangyul and Dohyon debuted as duo H&D under PocketDol Studio. In May 2020, DIA were transferred to sub-label PocketDol Studio ahead of their June comeback.
As 2022, the company closed after moving the company to its subsidiary PocketDol Studio.
Former actors
Note
See main article: article and MBK Entertainment discography.