High Up Entertainment

High Up Entertainment, also known simply as High Up, is a South Korean entertainment company established in 2017 through a partnership between the producer duo Black Eyed Pilseung and CJ E&M. The company was created around the production and artist-development expertise of Black Eyed Pilseung, whose members have written and produced music for several prominent Korean pop acts, including Twice, Miss A, Apink, and Sistar. Rather than operating initially as a large multi-division entertainment conglomerate, High Up developed a more focused identity centered on music production, trainee development, artist management, and the release of recorded music. The company began building its talent pipeline through activities including a national audition tour held in January 2018. Its first publicly released act was the duo 415, which debuted on February 12, 2019, with the digital single "Remember." Although 415 represented High Up's first formal artist launch, the label's most consequential project was the girl group later named STAYC. The members were initially introduced to the public as High Up Girls, and the group was developed over approximately three years before its official debut. Actress Park Si-eun joined the label in December 2019 and subsequently became one of STAYC's members. High Up formally announced STAYC's debut in October 2020. The group released its first single album, Star to a Young Culture, on November 12, 2020, led by the song "So Bad." STAYC's commercial and public visibility gave High Up a substantially larger profile than its relatively small scale might otherwise have suggested. The group's identity has been associated with polished pop production, strong vocal presentation, and a carefully managed youth-oriented image, while the company's branding has remained closely connected to Black Eyed Pilseung's producer-led creative direction. In June 2021, Kakao Entertainment acquired 40% of High Up's shares and became its largest shareholder. The transaction connected High Up to one of South Korea's most significant entertainment and media platforms while leaving the label with a distinct operating identity. The relationship potentially strengthened High Up's access to distribution, promotion, and broader entertainment infrastructure, although the available reference material does not establish that High Up became a wholly owned subsidiary or specify a formal parent-company structure. High Up's publicly identified roster has included STAYC, Park Si-eun, and the artist Unchild, alongside producer Rado. The company subsequently expanded its artist operations with the debut of its second girl group, Unchild, reported for April 2026. Because that date is in the future relative to some historical accounts, the group's release status and detailed activities should be verified against current official sources. Overall, High Up Entertainment is best understood as a producer-founded Korean music label whose reputation has been built primarily through artist development and the international growth of STAYC.

High Up Entertainment was founded on June 14, 2017, by Black Eyed Pilseung in collaboration with CJ E&M. Black Eyed Pilseung is a South Korean producer duo with credits associated with music by artists such as Twice, Miss A, Apink, and Sistar. Their production background gave High Up a creative and industry foundation centered on pop music rather than on the broad conglomerate structure used by some larger Korean entertainment companies. In January 2018, High Up organized a national talent-scouting audition tour. This activity reflected the label's effort to create its own artist pipeline and find performers for future projects. The company's first known debut followed on February 12, 2019, when the duo 415 released the digital single "Remember." The release established High Up as an operating record label, although the company's later public recognition would be driven mainly by a different act. In December 2019, Park Si-eun signed with High Up Entertainment. She later became a member of STAYC, the girl group that would become the label's principal act. STAYC had previously been introduced to the public as High Up Girls. High Up announced in October 2020 that the group would debut after approximately three years of preparation. STAYC released the single album Star to a Young Culture on November 12, 2020, with "So Bad" as its lead single. The debut marked the company's transition from a relatively new producer-centered label into an artist-management company with a visible idol group. STAYC's reception and subsequent activities brought attention to High Up despite the company's smaller scale compared with the largest Korean entertainment agencies. The group became the central public expression of High Up's label identity, while the company continued to be associated with Black Eyed Pilseung's production work and with the development of a focused artist roster. A major ownership change occurred in June 2021, when Kakao Entertainment acquired 40% of High Up's shares and became its largest shareholder. The investment linked High Up with Kakao Entertainment's broader entertainment ecosystem. The available source does not describe the transaction as a full acquisition, and it does not provide enough information to define a wholly owned parent relationship. High Up therefore continued to be described as a distinct entertainment company. The label's identified artists and creative personnel have included STAYC, Park Si-eun, Unchild, and producer Rado. Reference material reports that Unchild, described as High Up's second girl group, debuted in April 2026. Since this date is future-dated in relation to some historical source versions, the group's current status and discography should be checked against updated official or contemporaneous reporting. High Up's documented history nevertheless shows a consistent strategy: combine the production expertise of its founders with auditions, long-term trainee preparation, selective artist launches, and commercial partnerships that can support distribution and growth.

• 2026

  Reported debut of Unchild

  [1]High Up Entertainmenten.wikipedia.org

  Reference material reports that High Up's second girl group, Unchild, debuted in April 2026; details should be verified against current sources.

• 2021

  Kakao Entertainment becomes largest shareholder

  [1]High Up Entertainmenten.wikipedia.org

  Kakao Entertainment acquired a 40% stake in High Up Entertainment.

• 2020

  STAYC debut announced and completed

  [1]High Up Entertainmenten.wikipedia.org

  High Up announced STAYC's debut in October, and the group released Star to a Young Culture on November 12 with "So Bad."

• 2019

  415 debut

  [1]High Up Entertainmenten.wikipedia.org

  The duo 415 became High Up's first debuting recording act with the digital single "Remember."

• 2019

  Park Si-eun joins the label

  [1]High Up Entertainmenten.wikipedia.org

  Park Si-eun signed with High Up and later joined STAYC.

• 2018

  National audition tour

  [1]High Up Entertainmenten.wikipedia.org

  High Up held a national talent-scouting audition tour to identify potential artists and trainees.

• 2017

  High Up Entertainment is founded

  [1]High Up Entertainmenten.wikipedia.org

  Black Eyed Pilseung founded the company on June 14, 2017, in partnership with CJ E&M.

A producer-led South Korean music label focused on developing pop artists, releasing recorded music, and managing a selective roster, with its market profile driven primarily by STAYC.

• Recording artist · 2019

  415

  415 was High Up Entertainment's first debuting recording act. The duo launched on February 12, 2019, with the digital single "Remember," establishing the company as an active music label before its later expansion through STAYC.

• Girl group · 2020

  STAYC

  STAYC is High Up Entertainment's best-known artist project and the main driver of the label's public profile. Previously introduced as High Up Girls, the group debuted on November 12, 2020, with the single album Star to a Young Culture and the lead track "So Bad."

• Girl group · 2026

  Unchild

  Unchild is identified in the reference material as High Up Entertainment's second girl group. Its debut is reported for April 2026, but the available material does not provide a detailed release history or current activity status.

• Label services · 2017

  Music production and artist development

  High Up's core business includes developing performers, managing recording artists, releasing digital and physical music, and coordinating production and promotional activities. The company is particularly associated with the producer-led creative work of Black Eyed Pilseung and Rado.

• 2021

  Kakao Entertainment investmentM&A

  Background

  High Up had gained visibility through STAYC but remained a comparatively small entertainment company.

  Action taken

  Kakao Entertainment acquired 40% of High Up's shares and became its largest shareholder.

  Aftermath

  The investment connected High Up with Kakao Entertainment's wider entertainment infrastructure. The available source does not establish that Kakao acquired full ownership or that High Up became a wholly owned subsidiary.

  Equity stake acquired. 40% (June 2021)

  Source

• 2020

  STAYC launch after extended preparationProduct launch

  Background

  High Up had developed the members for approximately three years and had previously presented the project publicly as High Up Girls.

  Action taken

  The company announced STAYC's official debut and released the single album Star to a Young Culture with "So Bad" as its lead song.

  Aftermath

  STAYC became High Up's most prominent act and substantially increased attention toward the relatively small label.

  Source

1. 1High Up Entertainmenten.wikipedia.org