PocketDol Studio

PocketDol Studio is a South Korean entertainment company and record label established in 2017 by record producer Kim Kwang-soo through a joint venture involving MBK Entertainment and Interpark. The company operates across music production, artist management, idol-group development, television-related entertainment, and associated content businesses. Its roster and projects have been closely connected with Korean televised survival and audition programs, including The Unit: Idol Rebooting Project, Miss Trot, My Teenage Girl, and Fantasy Boys. The company first became publicly visible through its production involvement with The Unit, a KBS2 survival program designed to create new groups from existing or former idol performers. PocketDol subsequently managed the program's winning groups, UNB and UNI.T. It later became involved in the management of 1the9, the group formed through Under Nineteen, broadening its role from program production into the administration of television-created acts. PocketDol also developed a significant presence in trot music. In 2019, Song Ga-in, winner of Miss Trot, signed with the company, giving the label a prominent soloist and connecting it to the rapid growth of televised trot competitions in South Korea. Miss Trot and related programming became an important source of artist discovery and public exposure for the company. In 2024, Miss Trot 3 contestant Bok Ji-eun joined PocketDol, reinforcing its interest in the genre. The label expanded into conventional idol management during the 2020s. Hangyul and Dohyon debuted as the duo H&D in April 2020, while DIA's activities were transferred from MBK Entertainment to PocketDol ahead of a comeback. In November 2020, PocketDol launched BAE173, its first boy group described in the reference material as having debuted directly under the company. The company later established M25, a subsidiary used for Class:y, the seven-member group formed through My Teenage Girl. PocketDol also managed or supported the development of Fantasy Boys, created through the 2023 program My Teenage Boys, and debuted the vocal group Espero in December 2022. Beyond standard recordings and management, PocketDol has explored digital rights and content-related businesses. In 2022 it entered a partnership with Tobesoft concerning the protection and activation of NFT-based choreography copyrights. In 2023 it announced artificial-intelligence business cooperation with KS&Pick and later partnered with Balance Bay on content planning, merchandise production, and pop-up operations. In 2024, the company was identified as a production entity behind the Japanese edition of Show! Music Core. PocketDol's business model therefore combines record-label functions with artist representation, televised talent development, music production, merchandise, live or promotional content, and technology-oriented intellectual-property initiatives. Its best-known associated acts include BAE173, Espero, Fantasy Boys, Class:y, Song Ga-in, and Bok Ji-eun, although artist affiliations have changed over time.

PocketDol Studio was established in 2017 by record producer Kim Kwang-soo through a joint venture between MBK Entertainment and Interpark. Its first public identity was connected with the production of The Unit: Idol Rebooting Project, a KBS2 survival program that brought together performers seeking renewed careers. After the program, PocketDol managed the winning groups UNB and UNI.T, establishing a pattern that would remain central to the company's activities: combining television-based talent discovery with subsequent music releases and artist administration. The company continued this direction through Under Nineteen. In 2019, the winning group 1the9 was assigned to PocketDol for management. During the same period, PocketDol expanded into trot after Song Ga-in, winner of the televised competition Miss Trot, signed with the company. This gave the label access to a broad domestic audience outside the conventional idol market and made televised competition formats an important part of its artist-development strategy. PocketDol moved further into idol production in 2020. Hangyul and Dohyon debuted as the duo H&D in April, and DIA's management was transferred from MBK Entertainment to PocketDol before a comeback. In November of that year, the company debuted BAE173, its first boy group. These activities demonstrated a wider operating scope than the management of temporary television project groups, encompassing group formation, recordings, promotions, and continuing artist representation. In 2021 and 2022, PocketDol participated in the ecosystem surrounding My Teenage Girl. Seven finalists were selected in February 2022 for the winning group Class:y, which debuted in May through M25, a newly established PocketDol subsidiary. PocketDol also debuted the vocal group Espero in December 2022. Around the same time, it began exploring technology-related intellectual-property applications through a partnership with Tobesoft focused on protecting and activating NFT-based choreography copyrights. The company's survival-show activities continued with My Teenage Boys, whose twelve finalists formed Fantasy Boys in 2023. PocketDol also announced a memorandum with KS&Pick to broaden cooperation in artificial-intelligence business. That year brought a significant artist-management dispute when Nam Do-hyun left BAE173 after a legal conflict with the agency and the suspension of his contract. PocketDol additionally partnered with Balance Bay on content planning, goods production, and pop-up operations, indicating an effort to expand monetization beyond recordings and conventional artist schedules. In 2024, PocketDol was identified as a production entity behind Show! Music Core in Japan. It also signed Bok Ji-eun, a contestant from Miss Trot 3. The company's documented activities consequently span record-label operations, idol and trot management, television production and talent development, merchandise and experiential promotion, and exploratory digital-content initiatives. Artist affiliations have changed over time, and the available reference material does not establish a complete current roster or a definitive corporate ownership structure beyond the company's founding joint venture.

• 2024

  Bok Ji-eun joins the company

  [1]PocketDol Studioen.wikipedia.org

  Miss Trot 3 contestant Bok Ji-eun signed with PocketDol Studio.

• 2023

  Fantasy Boys formed

  [1]PocketDol Studioen.wikipedia.org

  Twelve finalists from My Teenage Boys were selected to form Fantasy Boys.

• 2022

  Class:y and Espero launches

  [1]PocketDol Studioen.wikipedia.org

  Class:y debuted through subsidiary M25 in May, followed by vocal group Espero in December.

• 2022

  Choreography-rights technology partnership

  [1]PocketDol Studioen.wikipedia.org

  PocketDol and Tobesoft announced cooperation on NFT-based choreography copyright protection and activation.

• 2020

  H&D and BAE173 activities

  [1]PocketDol Studioen.wikipedia.org

  H&D debuted in April, DIA's management transferred to PocketDol before a comeback, and BAE173 debuted in November.

• 2019

  1the9 management and Song Ga-in signing

  [1]PocketDol Studioen.wikipedia.org

  PocketDol took on management of 1the9 and signed Miss Trot winner Song Ga-in.

• 2017

  PocketDol Studio is established

  [1]PocketDol Studioen.wikipedia.org

  Kim Kwang-soo established PocketDol Studio through a joint venture involving MBK Entertainment and Interpark.

• 2017

  The Unit management activities begin

  [1]PocketDol Studioen.wikipedia.org

  The company became publicly associated with The Unit: Idol Rebooting Project and later managed its winning groups, UNB and UNI.T.

South Korean K-pop and trot entertainment company combining artist management, music production, audition-show development, and content-related businesses.

• Entertainment services · 2017

  Artist management

  PocketDol's core business is the representation and development of singers and groups. Its documented roster has included temporary survival-show groups, permanent idol acts, trot singers, and vocal ensembles. Activities include artist contracting, music releases, promotion, appearances, and career management.

• Recorded music and artist development · 2020

  K-pop idol groups

  The company has developed and managed idol groups including BAE173 and Fantasy Boys, while its subsidiary M25 handled Class:y. These projects connect televised talent selection with group debut, recording, choreography, promotional content, and fan-facing activities.

• Recorded music and artist management · 2019

  Trot music

  PocketDol has maintained a substantial connection to Korean trot through televised competition programs and soloist management. Its documented trot-related artists include Song Ga-in and Bok Ji-eun, whose association with Miss Trot helped connect the label to a broad domestic television audience.

• Television and talent development · 2017

  Television survival-show projects

  PocketDol has participated in projects including The Unit: Idol Rebooting Project, My Teenage Girl, and Fantasy Boys. These programs serve as both entertainment productions and talent pipelines, generating groups that may subsequently be managed, promoted, or released through PocketDol and affiliated entities.

• Fan commerce and experiential entertainment · 2023

  Merchandise and pop-up content

  Through its 2023 partnership with Balance Bay, PocketDol expanded into content planning, goods production, and pop-up specialist operations. The available sources do not identify specific merchandise lines, but the activity indicates a commercial extension of artist and media properties into physical fan experiences.

• 2023My Teenage Boys / Fantasy Boys

  South Korea · International Korean-pop markets

  The company developed the group Fantasy Boys through the My Teenage Boys survival-show project.

  Outcome. Twelve finalists were selected for the final group in 2023.

  Source
• 2021My Teenage Girl

  South Korea

  PocketDol was involved with the survival program My Teenage Girl, which selected the members of a new girl group.

  Outcome. Class:y debuted through PocketDol subsidiary M25 in May 2022.

  Source
• 2019Miss Trot

  South Korea

  PocketDol produced or participated in the ecosystem surrounding the televised trot competition Miss Trot.

  Outcome. Winner Song Ga-in signed with the company, strengthening its position in televised trot talent management.

  Source
• 2017The Unit: Idol Rebooting Project

  South Korea

  PocketDol's early public activity was tied to the production and subsequent management of the winning groups from KBS2's idol-rebooting survival program.

  Outcome. UNB and UNI.T were managed by PocketDol following the program.

  Source

• 2023

  Artificial-intelligence cooperation with KS&PickStrategy

  Background

  PocketDol sought to broaden its business beyond conventional music and artist-management activities.

  Action taken

  PocketDol and KS&Pick signed a memorandum to cooperate on expanding AI-related business.

  Aftermath

  The reference material does not document specific products or financial outcomes from the memorandum.

  Source

• 2023

  Balance Bay content and merchandise partnershipStrategy

  Background

  Fan commerce and physical promotional experiences were becoming increasingly important extensions of entertainment properties.

  Action taken

  PocketDol partnered with Balance Bay on content planning, goods production, and pop-up specialist operations.

  Aftermath

  The partnership broadened the company's documented activities into merchandise and experiential content services.

  Source

• 2023

  Nam Do-hyun's departure from BAE173Other

  Background

  A contractual dispute developed between Nam Do-hyun and the agency, with the contract suspended during the dispute.

  Action taken

  Nam Do-hyun left BAE173 after the legal conflict.

  Aftermath

  The departure changed the group's lineup; the available reference does not provide a final legal disposition.

  Source

• 2022

  Creation of M25 and debut of Class:yProduct launch

  Background

  Class:y was formed through My Teenage Girl after seven finalists were selected.

  Action taken

  PocketDol established subsidiary M25 and used it for Classy's debut.

  Aftermath

  The structure gave the company a dedicated subsidiary for the new girl group's activities.

  Source

• 2022

  NFT-based choreography-rights partnershipStrategy

  Background

  PocketDol explored technology applications for protecting and activating creative rights associated with performance choreography.

  Action taken

  It partnered with Tobesoft on protection and activation of NFT-based choreography copyrights.

  Aftermath

  The partnership represented an expansion into digital intellectual-property initiatives; the available material does not specify commercial results.

  Source

• 2020

  Launch of BAE173Product launch

  Background

  PocketDol had previously managed temporary groups and individual performers connected with televised competitions.

  Action taken

  The company debuted BAE173 as its first boy group.

  Aftermath

  The launch expanded PocketDol's direct involvement in idol-group production and long-term artist management.

  Source

1. 1PocketDol Studioen.wikipedia.org