PocketDol Studio (), 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.
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. It was later announced that PocketDol Studio would manage the winner of The Unit: Idol Rebooting Project group, UNB and UNI.T.
In February 2019, it was announced that parent company MBK Entertainment would signed the winner of the Under Nineteen group, 1the9 for one year. The group later were managed by PocketDol Studio which revealed prior to their debut in April 2019. In May 2019, the winner of the trot competition show Miss Trot producing by PocketDol Studio, Song Ga-in signed the company.
In April 2020, Produce X contestant Hangyul and Dohyon debuted as duo H&D.https://www.m-i.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=704252 In May 2020, DIA were transferred from MBK Entertainment to the company ahead of their comeback. In November 2020, PocketDol Studio debuted their first boy group, BAE173.
On February 27, 2022, a seven-final member were chosen through the survival show My Teenage Girl to debut in the winner group, Classy.https://m.entertain.naver.com/article/629/0000135033 The group debuted on May 5, 2022, through PocketDol newly established subsidiary M25.https://m.entertain.naver.com/article/477/0000357488 In May 2022, PocketDol signed partnership with Tobesoft for the Protection and Activation of NFT-based Choreography Copyright.https://m.entertain.naver.com/article/144/0000811698 In December 2022, PocketDol Studio debuted boy vocal group, Espero.
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.https://n.news.naver.com/article/421/0006636512?sid=101 In June 2023, a twelve final member were chosen through the survival show My Teenage Boys to debut on the winner group, Fantasy Boys. 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. In October 2023, PocketDol partnership with Balance Bay for a content planning, goods production, and pop-up specialist business.https://m.entertain.naver.com/article/018/0005594601
In July 2024, PocketDol was revealed as productions behind of Show! Music Core in Japan.https://m.entertain.naver.com/article/108/0003251954 In September 2024, Miss Trot 3 contestant Bok Ji-eun signed the company.https://m.entertain.naver.com/article/609/0000897425
Artists Groups Espero Fantasy Boys
Project group Double 0ne
Soloists Bok Ji-eun
Producer Kim Kwang-soo Cho Yi-hyun
Subsidiaries M25 Artists
Former artists UNI.T (2018) UNB (2018–2019) 1the9 (2019–2020) Hong Ja (2019–2021) BAE173 Dohyon (2020–2023) Hangyul (2020-2026) Doha (2020-2026) Yoojun (2020-2026) Muzin (2020-2026) Junseo (2020-2026) Youngseo (2020-2026) Bit (2020-2026) Song Ga-in (2019–2024) Fantasy Boys KSoul (2023-2025) Kang Minseo (2023-2026) Lee Hanbin (2023-2026) Hikaru (2023-2026) Hong Sungmin (2023-2026) Kim Gyurae (2023-2026) Kaedan (2023-2026) Class:y (2022-2025) DIA (2020-2022) https://m.entertain.naver.com/article/609/0000847205
Filmography My Teenage Girl (2021–2022) Fantasy Boys (2023)
References