Thursday, February 19, 2009

[09.02.18] Ex-SM staffers enjoying success now

Younha, Andy & Jumper, Son Dambi & After School, Kim Dongwan of Shinhwa. And then SM Entertainment. Although it doesn’t seem to have any direct relationship with the singers and their management agencies, but there is an unusual link between them.

It’s none other than the fact that the management agencies of Younha, Andy & Jumper, Son Dambi & After School and Kim Dongwan, are all headed by ex-employees of SM Entertainment, one of Korea’s largest management agencies.

It’s a rare sight to see all these former SM managers representing up-and-coming singers or singers who are currently enjoying great popularity all at the same time. Because of these, industry insiders have termed SM as the “Producers Training Academy”.

Han Sung Soo of Pledis Entertainment, who manages Son Dambi and After School, was working in SM in the early 2000s, as BoA’s manager.

Lee Jae Hong of T.O.P Media, who manages Andy and new male duo Jumper, is also an ex-SM employee. He was the manager for various SM artistes such as Shinhwa and S.E.S from the late 1990s to the early 2000s.

Topclass Entertainment’s Choi Byung Min was the manager of S.E.S and Shinhwa until the early 2000s. Topclass Entertainment manages Shinhwa member Eric.

H2 Entertainment, who manages Kim Dongwan, who’s now serving out his military duty, is headed by Hong Hyun Joong, also an ex-SM employee; as is Park Man Jin who heads Lion Media, management agency of “Oricon Comet” Younha and Ajoo.

An industry expert said, “Coming from the same company, starting their own companies after the experience of being managers, that’s what is exceptional about these ex-SM managers. Being in the same industry at the same time actually allows them to share available resources, and there are also many situations where they all offer mutual help to each other in their businesses.”


Source: Starnews
Chi trans: 草木番茄@andy4ever
Eng trans: midnightgirl13@absolutshinhwa.wordpress.com

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