Polaris Entertainment

Polaris

Trade name	Polaris Entertainment
Native name	폴라리스 엔터테인먼트
Company type	Private
Industry	Music Entertainment
Genre	K-pop Pop Dance R&B Ballad Rap Hip hop
Founded	August 21, 2006[1]
Founder	Lee Jong-Myung
Defunct	c. 2022
Headquarters	Samseong-dong, Seongbuk District, Seoul , South Korea
Parent	Ilgwang Group(2006-2018)[2] Levite United (2018-Present)[3][4]
Subsidiaries	Polaris Mnet (50%)[a] Blockberry Creative NEWTYPE ENT[3]
Website	www.polarisent.co.kr^[dead link‍]

Polaris (Korean: (주)일광폴라리스; Polaris Entertainment), previously known as Ilgwang Polaris, was a South Korean record label founded in 2006.[1] It was formerly a subsidiary of Ilgwang Group, a large South Korean conglomerate whose main business is arms trade,[2][5][6] and is now a subsidiary of Levite United,[3] founded by CEO and Ilgwang Group founder Lee Kyu-tae's son Lee Jong-myung.

History

In late 2018, it was confirmed that the company had signed former Wonder Girls member, Sunye following her 5 year hiatus.[7]

In 2019, the company revealed plans to debut a new six member boy group known as Tripleme, revealing each member officially as well as promoting the group on their YouTube channel.[8] However, the group ceased activity after November 2020, without officially debuting.

In spring of 2022, Polaris's website officially shut down, following the departure of all musical artists within the company.[9][10] It is currently unknown if the company is still active.

Former Artists

• Kim Wan-sun[11]
• Choi Moo-sung
• Jae Hee
• Jeong Ho-bin
• Ji Dae-han
• Jung Joon
• Lee Eun-woo
• Lee Kyun
• Kim Joon-bae
• Kim Se-ah
• Kim Tae-han
• Oh Yoon-ah
• Park Jung-chul
• Shin Min-cheol
• Sunwoo Jae-duk
• Yang Dong-geun
• Kim Tae-woo (2006–2011)
• Clara Lee (2006–2014)
• Chae Dong-ha (2007–2011)[b]
• Kim Bum-soo (2008–2018)[12][13]
• Dia (2010–2012)
• Hwang Ji-hyun (???–2012)
• Ivy (2012–2019)[14]
• Ladies' Code (2013–2020)[15][16][c]
• Han Hee-jun (2013–2022)[17]
• Rumble Fish (2014–2016)
• Iron (2015)
• Ryu Hwa-young (2020–2021)
• Sunye (2018–2022)[18][19][20]
• Lee Woo Jong
• Choi Si Hun
• Choi Jae Won
• Kim Kang Jin
• Yoo Hyun Seok
• Jung Ho Bin
• Lee Ji An
• Nam So Ok

Former actors

• Kim Bo Jung
• Oh Yoon Ah
• Lena Jae Eun Chung
• Jung Yun Jae

Notes

1. Joint venture with CJ E&M, in charge of Mnet Academy
2. Committed suicide on May 27, 2011.
3. Member EunB died when the group's vehicle was in a traffic collision on September 3, 2014, while RiSe died of her injuries on September 7. The remaining group members left the label on February 17, 2020.

References

1. "(주)폴라리스엔터테인먼트 2021년 기업정보 | 사원수 10명, 근무환경, 복리후생 등 기업정보 제공". 사람인 (in Korean). Retrieved 30 August 2021.
2. Kim, Se-jeong (15 March 2015). "Arms dealer has diverse business interests". The Korea Times. Retrieved 30 September 2021.
3. "[김원겸의 엔터 파워맨] 이종명 대표 "이달의 소녀, 한국을 대표하는 팀 만들자 생각했다"". Sports Donga (in Korean). 24 August 2018. Retrieved 30 August 2021.
4. "이종명 대표 "이달의 소녀, 초기 투자 비용 100억원 이상"(인터뷰②)[스타메이커]". entertain.naver.com (in Korean). 26 February 2019. Retrieved 30 August 2021.
5. "기업정보" (in Korean). Kis Report. Archived from the original on 2020-05-16. Retrieved 2017-05-21.
6. "소속사별 연예인 정보" (in Korean). Naver.
7. "Sunye, star of now-disbanded K-pop group Wonder Girls, is making a comeback". South China Morning Post. August 9, 2018.
8. "뮤지컬 배우 유현석, 트리플미 마지막 멤버 확정". News Culture. December 20, 2019.
9. "Polaris Entertainment Website active in April 2022". Wayback Machine. Archived from the original on 2022-04-06.
10. "Polaris Entertainment website no longer active in July 2022". Wayback Machine. Archived from the original on 2022-07-03.
11. "故은비 빈소에 아이돌그룹 등 동료 조문 행렬" (in Korean). Seoul Shinmun. Archived from the original on 2021-05-14. Retrieved 2017-05-21.
12. "김범수, 라디오 방송서 '치한놀이' 발언해 자질 논란" (in Korean). The Chosun Ilbo. Archived from the original on 2017-08-19. Retrieved 2017-05-21.
13. "Veteran singer Kim Bum Soo leaves Polaris Entertainment after 10 years". Allkpop. Archived from the original on 2018-08-30. Retrieved 2018-08-29.
14. "정동진펜션 바다여행지로 안성맞춤". Daily Economy. 9 June 2011. Archived from the original on 2017-08-19. Retrieved 2017-05-21.
15. "'권리세-이소정 그룹' 레이디스 코드, 베일 벗었다" (in Korean). Oh My Star News. 22 February 2013. Archived from the original on 2017-08-19. Retrieved 2017-05-21.
16. "레이디스 코드, 폴라리스와 7년 계약 만료 "멤버들 홀로서기 응원" [공식]" [Ladies' Code's 7-year contract with Polaris Entertainment has expired]. Naver (in Korean). February 17, 2020. Archived from the original on November 11, 2020. Retrieved February 17, 2020.
17. "미국 '아메리칸 아이돌' 출신 한희준, 앨범 발표" (in Korean). Yonhap News Agency. 26 July 2013. Archived from the original on 2017-08-19. Retrieved 2017-05-21.
18. "Polaris Entertainment officially signs with former Wonder Girls member Sunye". Allkpop. Archived from the original on 2019-12-08. Retrieved 2019-12-08.^[unreliable source?]
19. "레이디스 코드 소정, 4년 만에 첫 솔로 출격[단독] 원더걸스 출신 선예, 연예계 복귀...새 소속사 찾았다" (in Korean). Naver. Archived from the original on 2021-05-14. Retrieved 2018-08-07.
20. Kang Da-yoon (February 17, 2022). "선예, 블록베리크리에이티브와 전속계약 "음악으로 위로와 힘 드릴 것" [공식]" [Sunye, exclusive contract with Blockberry Creative "I will give you comfort and strength through music" [Official]] (in Korean). My Daily. Retrieved February 17, 2022 – via Naver.

External links

• Official website
• Parent company's profile