YG Entertainment

YG Entertainment was founded on February 24, 1996 by Yang Hyun-suk, a former member of the pioneering group Seo Taiji and Boys. Originally named Hyun Planning, the company struggled initially with the flop of its first act, the hip-hop trio Keep Six, leaving Yang with 400 million won in debt. After rebranding as MF Planning and then Yang Goon Planning, the company finally settled on YG Entertainment and found its footing with the groups Jinusean and 1TYM, bringing hip-hop into the Korean mainstream.

The company operates as a record label, talent agency, music production house, and concert promoter. It is one of the Big 4 entertainment companies in South Korea, alongside HYBE, SM Entertainment, and JYP Entertainment. As of 2023, YG held about 15.6% of the domestic market share. Its roster has included some of the biggest names in K-pop, such as BIGBANG, BLACKPINK, WINNER, iKON, and TREASURE. YG's artistic identity is built on hip-hop and R&B influences, high production values, and a bold, swagger-heavy style.

Through its subsidiary YG Plus, the company diversified into music distribution, merchandise, advertising (serving clients like Coca-Cola and SK Telecom), a clothing line called NONA9ON, a cosmetics brand named Moonshot, and an online golf platform called XGolf. However, most of these non-core ventures were scaled back due to poor profitability. In January 2020, HYBE invested about $63 million in YG Plus, creating a strategic alliance that includes merchandise manufacturing for HYBE's Weverse platform.

YG has faced significant controversies, including founder Yang Hyun-suk's departure in June 2019 amid allegations of drug use, bribery, and involvement in a prostitution mediation scandal. The Burning Sun scandal involving former BIGBANG member Seungri also damaged the company's reputation. Despite these challenges, YG has rebounded financially, reporting revenue of ₩545.4 billion (about US$476.77 million) in 2025. [edit]