If you’re a new K-pop fan, you probably have heard of the phrase “Big 3 K-pop agencies” a lot.
It might be confusing for a brand new stan because there are so many Korean entertainment agencies nowadays.
So to help you, we wrote this article as your ultimate guide about the Big 3 of the K-pop industry.
To do that, we dug deep into the history and timeline of K-pop to help you appreciate the impact the Big 3 has done on Korea’s Pop culture.
Table of Contents
- Who are the Big 3 in K-pop?
- JYP Entertainment
- What groups are in JYP entertainment?
- SM Entertainment
- What groups are in SM Entertainment?
- Why is SM Entertainment so famous?
- YG Entertainment
- What groups are in YG Entertainment?
- What are the Big 3 K-pop companies known for?
- Why is BigHit/Hybe not a part of the Big 3?
- K-pop is entertainment at its finest
Who are the Big 3 in K-pop?
The Big 3 in K-pop are the most successful entertainment companies in history—JYP entertainment, YG entertainment, and SM entertainment. They have produced globally popular idol groups since the dawn of K-pop.
These entertainment companies helped spread Hallyu globally and pioneered the world’s biggest pop music sensation.
Some of the biggest names in the earliest generations of K-pop came from the Big 3 (e.g., H.O.T., BIG BANG, and Rain.)
K-pop may not be as big as it is now without them at the helm early on.
JYP Entertainment
- Founder: Park Jin-young
- Founded: April 25, 1997
- Headquarters: Gangdong, Seoul, South Korea
JYP Entertainment is one of the K-pop Big 3 entertainment agencies.
The company’s founder, Park Jin-young, is also a well-known artist in South Korea.
He currently focuses on producing records and writing songs for his solo career and is “hands-off” when running JYP entertainment.
As a part of the Big 3, the agency produced many world-renowned K-pop groups over the years.
Moreover, JYP entertainment is famous for being the “Home of Girl Groups.”
They gained this title after creating legendary girl groups across all generations of K-pop, namely Wonder Girls, miss A, TWICE, and ITZY.
However, the roster of their boy groups is also exceptional.
What groups are in JYP entertainment?
Here are simplified tables about JYP entertainment groups. These tables will only include K-pop groups and will exclude solo artists.
Active Girl Groups
| Group | Promotion |
|---|---|
| TWICE | Korea (Division 3) |
| ITZY | Korea (Division 2) |
| NiziU | Japan (JYPE Japan Inc.) |
| NMIXX | Korea (SQU4D) |
Active Boy Groups
| Group | Promotion |
|---|---|
| 2PM | Korea (Division 1) |
| Stray Kids | Korea (Division 1) |
| BOYSTORY | China (NCC) |
| JYP LOUD | Korea |
Bands
| Group | Promotion |
|---|---|
| Day6 | Korea (Studio J) |
| Xdinary Heroes | Korea (Studio J) |
Subunits
| Group | Promotion |
|---|---|
| Even of Day (Day6) | Korea (Studio J) |
| 3RACHA (Stray Kids) | Korea (Division 1) |
| TWICE Subunit (Nayeon, Momo, & Chaeyoung) | Korea |
| TWICE Subunit (Jeongyeon, Mina, & Tzuyu) | Korea |
| TWICE Subunit (Sana, Jihyo, & Dahyun) | Korea |
Former Groups
| Group | Promotion |
|---|---|
| g.o.d. | Korea |
| Wonder Girls | Korea |
| miss A | Korea |
| 2AM | Korea |
| GOT7 | Korea |
| 15& | Korea |
SM Entertainment
- Founder: Lee Soo-man
- Founded: February 14, 1989 (SM Studio), February 14, 1995 (SM entertainment)
- Headquarters: Gangnam, Seoul, Korea
People credit SM entertainment for leading the first wave of Hallyu.
Furthermore, the company is responsible for popularizing multiple K-pop groups globally.
Legendary Korean acts like H.O.T., S.E.S., and BoA found early overseas success under SM entertainment.
The company’s founder, Lee Soo-man, is a record producer regarded as the “president of the culture” for introducing “Hallyu” to the world.
In addition, SM Entertainment is also home to many world-renowned K-pop groups from the second generation.
These groups include Super Junior, SHINee, and Girls’ Generation.
However, the company’s recent groups are flourishing in the field of K-pop as well.
What groups are in SM Entertainment?
Here are simplified tables about SM entertainment groups. These tables will only include K-pop groups and will exclude solo artists.
Active Girl Groups
| Group | Promotion |
|---|---|
| Girls’ Generation | Korea |
| Red Velvet | Korea |
| aespa | Korea |
Active Boy Groups
| Group | Promotion |
|---|---|
| Super Junior | Korea |
| TVXQ! | Korea |
| SHINee | Korea |
| EXO | Korea |
| NCT | Korea |
Subunits
| Group | Promotion |
|---|---|
| SUPER JUNIOR-K.R.Y. | Korea |
| SUPER JUNIOR-D&E | Korea |
| SUPER JUNIOR-T | Korea |
| SUPER JUNIOR-M | Korea |
| SUPER JUNIOR-H | Korea |
| Girls’ Generation-TTS | Korea |
| Girls’ Generation-Oh!GG | Korea |
| EXO-CBX | Korea |
| EXO-SC | Korea |
| Red Velvet – Irene & Seulgi | Korea |
| NCT U | Korea |
| NCT 127 | Korea |
| NCT Dream | Korea |
| WayV | China (Label V) |
| GOT the Beat | Korea |
Project Groups
| Group | Promotion |
|---|---|
| SuperM | USA/Korea |
| Girls On Top | Korea |
Former Groups
| Group | Promotion |
|---|---|
| H.O.T | Korea |
| S.E.S. | Korea |
| SHINHWA | Korea |
| Fly To The Sky | Korea |
| M.I.L.K | Korea |
| Sugar | Korea |
| Black Beat | Korea |
| Shinvi | Korea |
| Isak ‘N’ Jiyeon | Korea |
| TraxX | Korea |
| CSJH The Grace | Korea |
| f(x) | Korea |
| Toheart (Woohyun & Key) | Korea |
Why is SM Entertainment so famous?
SM Entertainment is so famous because of two main things; it pioneered the growth of K-pop, and it has debuted many well-known groups.
In 2013, Forbes named SM Entertainment “The Company that created K-pop” for kicking off the K-pop phenomenon in the early ‘90s.
Moreover, the company boasts several K-pop groups with huge fanbases.
These reasons further cement their title as the top record label and music talent agency in South Korea.
“Korea’s S.M. Entertainment: The Company That Created K-Pop”
Forbes
YG Entertainment
- Founder: Yang Hyun-suk
- Founded: February 24, 1996
- Headquarters: Mapo-gu, Seoul, South Korea
Yang Hyun-suk founded YG entertainment, a former Seo Taiji and Boys member.
People know him as a prominent record producer, rapper, and dancer in the early days of K-pop.
YG Entertainment is famous for its hip-hop roots. For example, one of the company’s initial groups is the hip-hop quartet 1TYM.
Founder Yang credits them for helping YG bring its name in the mainstream media and the hip-hop genre into Korean music.
You may also find K-pop fans talking about the swag, and distinction YG idol rappers have compared to other artists.
However, they are also heavily criticized by K-pop enthusiasts for their “mistreatment” of some of their well-known idol groups.
What groups are in YG Entertainment?
Here are simplified tables about YG entertainment groups. These tables will only include K-pop groups and will exclude solo artists.
Active Girl Group
| Group | Promotion |
|---|---|
| BLACKPINK | Korea |
Active Boy Groups
| Group | Promotion |
|---|---|
| Sechs Kies | Korea |
| BIGBANG | Korea |
| WINNER | Korea |
| iKon | Korea |
| TREASURE | Korea |
Duos
| Group | Promotion |
|---|---|
| AKMU | Korea |
| GD & TOP | Korea |
| GD X Taeyang | Korea |
Former Groups
| Group | Promotion |
|---|---|
| 1TYM | Korea |
| Jinusean | Korea |
| Swi.T | Korea |
| Big Mama | Korea |
| 2NE1 | Korea |
| Epik High | Korea |
What are the Big 3 K-pop companies known for?
Like we’ve said earlier, the Big 3 of K-pop is known for producing the majority of the most prominent K-pop groups in existence today. They have pioneered the growth of the K-pop culture.
In addition, these companies led the charge early on to help make the industry a billion-dollar pop phenomenon.
Why is BigHit/Hybe not a part of the Big 3?
Hybe Corporation (formerly BigHit Entertainment) is not part of the Big 3 because of the simple fact that they were not one of the earliest entertainment agencies that first introduced K-pop globally.
Bang Si-hyuk established BigHit entertainment in 2005, but it wasn’t until 2007 that they signed the vocal trio 8Eight.
Therefore, the company technically started its venture into K-pop when the original Big 3 (JYP, YG, SM) had already debuted world-renowned artists, such as BIG BANG, Wonder Girls, and Super Junior.
The Big 3 in K-pop have established roots in the entire industry while BigHit was still struggling to make a name for themselves.
However, this does not discredit the fact that BigHit/Hybe has done incredible things in the past decade.
They grew more significant than the Big 3 could have ever imagined. But, we would be remiss if we fail to mention the substantial contribution of BTS to BigHit’s success.
A single group singlehandedly turning a company’s fortune upside down is no small feat.
Nevertheless, the Big 3 will never change. No matter how big Hybe will become, they cannot replace the value of being the Big 3.
K-pop is entertainment at its finest
What more can you ask?
Everything is in K-pop, from dashing visuals, talented vocalists, extraordinary dancers.
The root of it all? Entertainment companies that train and produce great talents and wonderful human beings, and on top of them are the Big 3.
Even if we admit to it or not, we owe a lot to them. K-pop, to an extent, should not have existed without their help.
K-pop stans should give credit towards where credit is due.
