PocketDol Studio
South Korean entertainment company
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PocketDol Studio (Korean: 포켓돌스튜디오), is a South Korean entertainment company established in 2017 by record producer Kim Kwang-soo. The company is best known as the home to the trot singer Bok Ji-eun, boy group BAE173 and vocal group Espero.
 | |
Native name | 포켓돌스튜디오 |
|---|---|
| Company type | Private |
| Industry | Entertainment |
| Genre | |
| Founded | July 12, 2017 |
| Founder | Kim Kwang-soo |
Number of locations | Nonhyeon-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, South Korea |
Key people | Son Yong-geun (CEO)[1] |
| Owner | Lee Jae-hwan (37.47%) Park Gyu-heon (29.29%) Realworks Co., Ltd. (14.63%) Others (18.62%)[2] |
| Parent | MBK Entertainment (Defunct) Interpark |
| Subsidiaries | Phunky Studio (2020) M25 (2021) |
| Website | pocketdol |
History
2017–present: Founding, transition management from MBK and expansion
It was established in 2017 by Kim Kwang-soo with joint venture of his company MBK Entertainment and Interpark. They firstly appearance in public as a production company was then known as The Unit: Idol Rebooting Project Culture Industry Company for survival show The Unit: Idol Rebooting Project aired by KBS2.[3][4] It was later announced that PocketDol Studio would manage the winner of The Unit: Idol Rebooting Project group, UNB and UNI.T.[citation needed]
In February 2019, it was announced that parent company MBK Entertainment would signed the winner of the Under Nineteen group, 1the9 for one year.[5] The group later were managed by PocketDol Studio which revealed prior to their debut in April 2019.[6] In May 2019, the winner of the trot competition show Miss Trot producing by PocketDol Studio, Song Ga-in signed the company.[7]
In April 2020, Produce X contestant Hangyul and Dohyon debuted as duo H&D.[8] In May 2020, DIA were transferred from MBK Entertainment to the company ahead of their comeback.[9] In November 2020, PocketDol Studio debuted their first boy group, BAE173.[10][11]
On February 27, 2022, a seven-final member were chosen through the survival show My Teenage Girl to debut in the winner group, Classy.[12] The group debuted on May 5, 2022, through PocketDol newly established subsidiary M25.[13] In May 2022, PocketDol signed partnership with Tobesoft for the Protection and Activation of NFT-based Choreography Copyright.[14] In December 2022, PocketDol Studio debuted boy vocal group, Espero.[15][16]
In February 2023, it was announced that PocketDol and KS&Pick had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with purpose to expand the AI business cooperation.[17] In June 2023, a twelve final member were chosen through the survival show My Teenage Boys to debut on the winner group, Fantasy Boys.[18] On June 22, 2023, it was announced that Bae173's member Nam Do-hyun left the group after the legal battle against the agency, following the suspension of the contract.[19] In October 2023, PocketDol partnership with Balance Bay for a content planning, goods production, and pop-up specialist business.[20]
In July 2024, PocketDol was revealed as productions behind of Show! Music Core in Japan.[21] In September 2024, Miss Trot 3 contestant Bok Ji-eun signed the company.[22]
Artists
Groups
- BAE173
- Espero
- Fantasy Boys
Project group
- Double 0ne
Soloists
- Bok Ji-eun
Producer
- Kim Kwang-soo
- Cho Yi-hyun
Subsidiaries
M25
Artists
Former artists
Filmography
- My Teenage Girl (2021–2022)
- Fantasy Boys (2023)