C9 Entertainment

C9 Entertainment is a South Korean entertainment company active in artist management, recorded music, music production, and event management. It was established by Kim Dae-soon after the development of an earlier one-person agency associated with singer Younha. The company’s origins trace to Wealive, an agency created for Younha, and a later partnership with the hip-hop label Alive. In July 2015, Wealive and Alive merged with the indie label Realive, after which the combined operation was formally launched as C9 Entertainment. The company expanded its management and business activities during the second half of the 2010s. In 2016, it merged with GG Entertainment, an agency associated with performers including Eugene, Lee See-eun, and Jung Ui Chul. C9 also entered a partnership with BenQ Korea concerning the Zowie gaming brand and signed solo singer Juniel. In March 2017, it relocated its office from Gangnam to a new building in Seoul’s Mapo district. The company subsequently broadened its roster from established solo performers and producers into idol-group development. C9 debuted the girl group Good Day in August 2017. Although the group later disbanded, several former members were redeployed in the development of a new project. In late 2019, C9 introduced the planned group C9 Girlz, which was later named Cignature and managed through the company’s J9 Entertainment label. Cignature debuted in February 2020 with the single “Nun Nu Nan Na.” C9 also launched the boy group CIX in July 2019 and introduced the eight-member project that became Epex in 2021. Epex debuted in June 2021 with the EP “Bipolar Pt.1: Prelude of Anxiety.” C9’s roster has included Younha, Lee Seok-hoon, Juniel, Cheetah, Jung Joon-young, various independent and hip-hop acts, actors, and idol groups. Its artist portfolio has changed over time as contracts ended, groups were reorganized, and some operations were placed under affiliated or separate labels. The company has also been associated with Poetic Narrator and Epex, while the status of individual acts can vary by contract period and source-date. In November 2018, the chief executive of CI Entertainment acquired all of C9 Entertainment’s shares, although the two companies continued to operate separately and shared an office location. In 2025, C9 announced a forthcoming multinational boy group project, initially presented under the pre-debut name C9 Rookies and later identified as Naze, with a planned 2026 debut. C9 therefore combines conventional Korean agency functions—training, artist representation, recordings, and promotion—with label operations and project-based entertainment activities.

C9 Entertainment originated in 2012 as Wealive, a one-person agency established around singer Younha. The operation later partnered with the hip-hop label Alive. In July 2015, Wealive and Alive merged with the independent label Realive, creating the business that was formally introduced as C9 Entertainment. This origin gave C9 a foundation in both mainstream solo-artist management and independent music activity. The company broadened its corporate and commercial scope in 2016. It merged with GG Entertainment, whose associated performers included Eugene, Lee See-eun, and Jung Ui Chul. C9 also partnered with BenQ Korea in connection with Zowie, a gaming-oriented brand, and signed solo singer Juniel. In March 2017, the company moved from Gangnam to a new office in Mapo. That year it entered the idol-group market with Good Day, its first girl group, whose members had partly been introduced at a 2016 C9 trainee showcase. C9 later increased its emphasis on group development. In November 2018, the chief executive of CI Entertainment acquired 100 percent of C9 Entertainment, but the two companies remained operationally separate and CI Entertainment moved into the same building. In January 2019, C9 signed SG Wannabe member Lee Seok-hoon. On July 23 of that year, it debuted CIX, its first major boy-group launch described in the company history. C9 also began developing a successor girl-group project after Good Day. The project was introduced in late 2019 as C9 Girlz and included several former Good Day members alongside trainees. In January 2020, it was renamed Cignature and assigned to the newly established J9 Entertainment label. Cignature debuted on February 4, 2020, with “Nun Nu Nan Na.” In 2021, C9 introduced an eight-member trainee project first known as C9 Rookies. The project became Epex, which debuted on June 8 with the EP “Bipolar Pt.1: Prelude of Anxiety.” Alongside its idol groups, the company has represented or released work by soloists, rappers, producers, bands, and actors. Its recorded-artist history includes Younha, Lee Seok-hoon, Juniel, Cheetah, Jung Joon-young, GroovyRoom, Olltii, Drug Restaurant, Pia, and Good Day, among others. Several of these relationships later ended, and Cignature and Bae Jin-young are listed among former artists for the relevant periods. The company’s later development continued through new-group planning. In June 2025, C9 introduced a seven-member multinational boy-group project under the provisional name C9 Rookies and indicated a planned 2026 debut. The group was subsequently identified as Naze. C9’s overall model remains that of a Korean entertainment agency combining artist representation, label services, music production, event management, and the creation and promotion of new performers.

• 2025

  Naze project introduced

  [1]C9 Entertainmenten.wikipedia.org

  C9 introduced a planned multinational boy group, initially using the provisional name C9 Rookies and later identifying it as Naze.

• 2021

  Epex debuted

  [1]C9 Entertainmenten.wikipedia.org

  The group previously known as C9 Rookies debuted as Epex with its first EP.

• 2020

  Cignature debuted under J9 Entertainment

  [1]C9 Entertainmenten.wikipedia.org

  The former C9 Girlz project debuted as Cignature with “Nun Nu Nan Na.”

• 2019

  CIX debuted

  [1]C9 Entertainmenten.wikipedia.org

  C9 debuted CIX on July 23.

• 2017

  Good Day debuted

  [1]C9 Entertainmenten.wikipedia.org

  C9 launched its first girl group, Good Day.

• 2016

  GG Entertainment merger and new partnerships

  [1]C9 Entertainmenten.wikipedia.org

  C9 merged with GG Entertainment, partnered with BenQ Korea on Zowie, and signed Juniel.

• 2015

  C9 Entertainment launched

  [1]C9 Entertainmenten.wikipedia.org

  Wealive and Alive merged with Realive, leading to the formal launch of C9 Entertainment.

• 2012

  Wealive established

  [1]C9 Entertainmenten.wikipedia.org

  Kim Dae-soon founded the predecessor agency Wealive as a one-person agency associated with Younha.

A Korean multi-function entertainment agency and label that combines management of solo artists and groups with music production, recording, event activities, and trainee-to-idol development.

• Talent management · 2012

  Artist management

  C9 represents and develops singers, groups, producers, and actors. Its roster has included established solo artists such as Younha and Lee Seok-hoon, as well as idol groups and independent music performers. Management activities include career planning, releases, public promotion, and coordination of artist schedules.

• Record label · 2015

  Recorded music

  The company releases music by its managed artists and groups, spanning solo pop, idol-group releases, hip-hop, and independent-oriented work. Examples include CIX and Epex group releases, Cignature's releases during its C9/J9 period, and music associated with Younha and other roster artists.

• Production services · 2015

  Music production

  C9 operates as a music production company in addition to managing performers. Its production role supports the creation, packaging, and promotion of recordings for artists working through the company and its associated labels.

• Artist development · 2017

  Idol-group development

  C9 develops groups through trainee showcases, pre-debut projects, group branding, and formal debuts. Good Day, CIX, Cignature, and Epex illustrate successive phases of this model, while the Naze project represents a later multinational-group initiative.

• Event management · 2015

  Events and entertainment activities

  Event management is one of C9's stated business areas, supporting appearances and entertainment activities connected with its artists and music operations.

• 2021

  Launched EpexProduct launch

  Background

  C9 had been introducing an eight-member boy-group trainee project under the name C9 Rookies.

  Action taken

  The project was renamed Epex and debuted with the EP “Bipolar Pt.1: Prelude of Anxiety.”

  Aftermath

  Epex became a continuing boy-group act in C9's artist portfolio.

  Source

• 2020

  Created the J9 Entertainment label structureStrategy

  Background

  C9 was developing a new girl group after Good Day and sought a distinct label identity for the project.

  Action taken

  The C9 Girlz project was renamed Cignature and assigned to C9's new music label, J9 Entertainment.

  Aftermath

  Cignature debuted in February 2020 under the new label structure.

  Source

• 2018

  Change in ownership under CI Entertainment's chief executiveM&A

  Background

  C9 underwent a change in ownership while maintaining a separate operating identity from CI Entertainment.

  Action taken

  CI Entertainment's chief executive acquired all of C9 Entertainment's shares.

  Aftermath

  C9 and CI Entertainment continued to operate separately, although CI Entertainment moved into the same building.

  Source

• 2016

  Merged with GG EntertainmentM&A

  Background

  C9 sought to expand its management operations and performer roster.

  Action taken

  C9 merged with GG Entertainment while also developing a commercial partnership with BenQ Korea's Zowie brand.

  Aftermath

  The company added management capabilities and broadened its activities beyond recording releases.

  Source

• 2015

  Combined Wealive, Alive, and Realive operationsM&A

  Background

  The predecessor agency and its label partners were consolidated to create a broader entertainment business.

  Action taken

  C9 formally launched after the merger of Wealive, Alive, and Realive.

  Aftermath

  The combined company operated as a label and agency with a wider music roster and production scope.

  Source

1. 1C9 Entertainmenten.wikipedia.org