YG Entertainment To Discontinue Actor Management Division, Strengthening Focus On Music Operations
The renowned entertainment agency, which has housed the likes of actors such as Kim Hee Ae, Cha Seung Won, Jang Hyun Sung, Yoo In Na, and Lee Sung Kyung, mentioned they will not be renewing any of their actors’ contracts.
Courtesy of YG Entertainment
Courtesy of YG Entertainment
In a significant restructuring move, YG Entertainment has just announced that it will discontinue its actor management division — refocusing its efforts solely on its core business: music. The announcement marks a strategic pivot for the company, which has been gradually shifting toward strengthening its music operations in recent years.
“We sincerely thank all the actors who have worked with us and the fans who have supported them over the years,” the company said in an official statement. “We will continue to offer full support to our artists until the end of their contracts.” This restructuring signifies the end of YG’s decade-long venture into actor management, which has seen the agency represent some high-profile names, including Kim Hee Ae, Cha Seung Won, Jang Hyun Sung, Yoo In Na, and Lee Sung Kyung, among others.
The company clarified that while the actor roster will continue to be promoted under YG Entertainment until the expiration of their contracts, no new contracts or renewals will be signed moving forward, with the decision coming from the company’s efforts to solidify its position as a global force in the music industry, in order to demonstrate a renewed focus on expanding its artist lineup, production capabilities, and worldwide reach.
Last year, YG began taking decisive steps to streamline its operations, absorbing its subsidiary YGX into the YG family and internalizing its expertise to enhance the company’s music production and artist development systems. The label expanded its internal production staff from about 10 to 50, signaling a concerted effort to build out a more robust and self-sufficient infrastructure for both current and future talent.
This investment has already paid off in spades, as YG’s newest group, BABYMONSTER, quickly gained traction after their April 2024 debut. The seven-member girl group released their debut mini-album, followed by their first full-length album in November. They made an impressive mark in their first year, selling nearly 1.6 million units, holding a global fan meeting, and launching a world tour in their inaugural year. With momentum building, BABYMONSTER is set to kick off 2025 with a major concert in Seoul before heading out on their global tour.
2025 is shaping up to be a pivotal year for YG’s musical endeavors. In addition to BABYMONSTER’s rise, the company has ambitious plans for its other top-tier acts. TREASURE, the K-pop powerhouse, is gearing up for a busy year with a mini-album release followed by their TREASURE 2025 FIRST US TOUR [SPECIAL MOMENT], which will include stops in major U.S. cities like New York, Washington D.C., Oakland, and Los Angeles. Later in the year, the group will embark on a full world tour.
Moreover, YG has once again confirmed that BLACKPINK will return to the spotlight in 2025, with preparations already in place for their highly anticipated comeback and concurrent world tour. As the group’s global influence continues to grow, the company has established a dedicated internal team to support the group’s next phase of activity, ensuring that their presence remains dominant in the global music scene. YG is also investing heavily in maximizing the potential of its legacy acts. The agency is planning to expand the activities of its former girl group, 2NE1, as they celebrate their 15th anniversary with a successful ongoing tour.
YG Entertainment’s decision to reorient its business strategy is part of a broader push to strengthen its leadership in the competitive global music market. The company has promised to continue the discovery and development of new intellectual properties (IPs) while increasing the sustainability of its existing ones. “We’ve been diligently reorganizing our business structure to focus on our core competencies,” YG Entertainment stated. “2025 will be a year where those efforts truly bear fruit. We are committed to solidifying our leadership in the music industry and continuing our growth story.”