Imagine Asia (Korean이매진아시아; formerly known Wellmade Yedang), is a South Korean entertainment company established in 1976.[2][3] The company operates as a talent agency, television production company, event management, concert production company, and music publishing house.

Imagine Asia Co., Ltd.
Native name
주식회사 이매진아시아
Company typePublic
KRX: 036260
Industry
Founded1976 (as Banpo Industries)
Headquarters3/F Newtown Building, 113 Apgujeong-ro, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, South Korea
Services
  • Artist Management
  • Television Production
  • Film Production
  • Music Production
OwnerChungho Comnet Co. (8.9%)[1]
DivisionsWellmade Film
Happy Campus
On Da Com
SubsidiariesDream T Entertainment (2013-2020)
Dreamcatcher Company (since 2016)
Cashmere Records (since 2014)
MLD Entertainment (since 2014)
YMC Entertainment (2015-2020)
Blue Star Entertainment
Websiteimagineasia.com

History

edit

The company was founded in 1976 as Banpo Industries, an industrial tent manufacturer that was previously headquartered at Seongnam in Gyeonggi Province. In 2000, the company name was changed to Banpo Tech.

Banpo Tech merged in 2006 with Star M Entertainment, becoming Star M. Among the first artists on its roster were actors Shin Min-a, Jang Dong-gun and Hyun Bin. The company was listed on KOSDAQ in 2007.

In 2008, the company name was again changed, to Wellmade Star M. Its headquarters were moved to Gangnam District, Seoul.

In 2013, Wellmade Star M acquired Dream T Entertainment majority shareholders.[4] In 2014, it merged with Yedang Company to form Wellmade Yedang.[5] In 2015, the company acquired 39% shares of YMC Entertainment, its subsidiaries Dream T Entertainment also acquired 41% shares of YMC Entertainment and became a majority shareholders after having 80% shares of YMC.[6] The company also acquired BLUE STAR Entertainment in the same year.

In March 2016, Yedang Entertainment officially renamed to Banana Culture and following Wellmade also renamed to Imagine Asia in June.[7] However, Wellmade Yedang had continued as an independent company.

Artists

edit

Actors/actresses

edit

Entertainers

edit
  • Jung Yi-rang
  • LJ

Subsidiaries

edit

Dream T Entertainment

edit

Dream T Entertainment was founded by Lee Jong-suk in 2009. Imagine Asia acquired it in December 2013.

YMC Entertainment

edit

YMC Entertainment was founded in 2010 by Cho Yoo-myung, the eldest son of singer Tae Jin-ah. Imagine Asia along with Dream T Entertainment acquired it in July 2015. The label is now closed down as of 2020. Its website is now inaccessible.

Blue Star Entertainment

edit

Blue Star Entertainment was founded by Byun Dong-jin and Park Chang-jae, former executives of Core Contents Media (now MBK Entertainment). Imagine Asia acquired it in 2015.

Groups

  • AA
  • C'est si bon

Actors

  • Nam Kyung-hee
  • Shin Ji-ae

Divisions

edit

Wellmade Film

edit

Wellmade Film (웰메이드 필름) is a film production company.

Films

Dramas

Happy Campus Projects

edit

Happy Campus Projects (재미난 프로젝트) is a drama production company under Imagine Asia, led by CEO Jung Ah-reum.

Drama

On Da Com

edit

On Da Com (also known as On多com) is a multimedia production company in Seoul, South Korea.

Reality television

  • Dad! Where Are We Going? (아빠! 어디가?) (2014–2015)
  • Section TV (섹션 TV) (1999–Current)
  • Good Morning (좋은아침) (1996–Current)
  • Southern Boy Northern Girl (남남 북녀) (2015–Current)
  • Peony Stick Club (모란봉 클럽) (2015–Current)
  • Infinite Girls (무한걸스) (2010–2013)
  • Real Story () (2006–2010)

Former artists

edit

Actors

edit

Recording artists

edit

Blue Star Entertainment

  • Kim Jin-hong (AA, 2013–2015)
  • Aoora (AA, 2011–2016)

Assets

edit
  • ETN (cable TV channel)
  • Park&Noorigae (restaurant)
  • OnDaCom (production company)

References

edit
  1. ^ "S. Korea's Chungho Comnet acquires Wellmade Yedang Co. – Pulse by Maeil Business News Korea". pulsenews.co.kr. Archived from the original on 2016-09-18. Retrieved 2016-06-30.
  2. ^ "웰메이드, 자회사 코넥스 상장..중소 엔터社 강자 '부각'". 22 June 2015. Archived from the original on 2015-07-03. Retrieved 2015-07-27.
  3. ^ "걸스데이 소속사 드림티, 에일리-휘성-제시 소속사 YMC 경영권 인수". July 2015. Archived from the original on 2015-11-19. Retrieved 2015-07-27.
  4. ^ "웰메이드스타엠, 드림티엔터테인먼트 11억원에 인수". cm.asiae.co.kr. 2 December 2013. Archived from the original on 2017-12-29. Retrieved 2017-12-29.
  5. ^ "웰메이드스타엠, '웰메이드 예당'으로 상호변경" (in Korean). Archived from the original on 2019-05-26. Retrieved 2017-06-17.
  6. ^ "걸스데이 소속사, '에일리 휘성 제시' 소속사 YMC 경영권 인수". Archived from the original on 2017-12-28. Retrieved 2017-12-29.
  7. ^ http://www.hankookilbo.com/m/v.aspx?id=41ccd991e61f6d4e3ae984f745dff682& [dead link]
edit