WM Entertainment

WM Entertainment was a South Korean music and artist-management company founded in 2008 by Lee Won-min, a former singer whose birth name was Kim Jung-soo. The company began as a small agency operating from a one-story building in Bangbae-dong, in Seoul’s Seocho District, before expanding its facilities and artist roster. Its business centered on discovering, developing, promoting, and commercially managing recording artists and idol groups, with activities spanning music releases, performances, domestic promotions, overseas partnerships, and merchandise distribution. The agency’s first reported artist signing was Taegoon, who joined about a year after the company was established. Additional early recruits included H-Eugene and Ahn Jin-kyung, formerly associated with Baby Vox Re.V. WM’s major growth phase began with the debut of the boy group B1A4 on April 23, 2011. B1A4 became one of the company’s principal acts and helped establish WM as a recognizable mid-sized Korean idol agency. The group later developed activities in Japan through arrangements involving Warner Music Taiwan, Pony Canyon, and Universal J, among other partners. WM expanded its portfolio with the launch of Oh My Girl, its first girl group, on April 21, 2015. The group became one of the agency’s most prominent acts and significantly broadened WM’s public profile. The company subsequently debuted the soloist I in January 2017 and its second boy group, ONF, in August 2017. ONF also pursued Japanese activities through Victor Entertainment-related arrangements. These launches demonstrated WM’s strategy of building a multi-act roster rather than relying on a single flagship performer. The company’s physical expansion accompanied its artistic growth. In August 2014, Lee Won-min purchased a six-story building in Mangwon-dong, Mapo District, known as the Daemyung Tower Building, which became WM’s headquarters. The acquisition provided a larger base for training, management, production, and administrative work than the agency’s original premises. On April 7, 2021, RBW acquired a 70 percent stake in WM Entertainment, making WM a subsidiary of the larger Korean entertainment group. The transaction connected WM to a corporate group whose other entertainment interests included artists and groups such as Mamamoo, Oneus, and Onewe. WM continued to be identified as a distinct label and artist-management operation after the investment. The company’s later roster changes included departures and contract transitions involving several established artists. The reference record identifies B1A4, Oh My Girl, ONF, Lee Chae-yeon, and Uspeer among acts whose relationships with WM ended or changed during 2025–2026. It also identifies Lu and Xlov as artists associated with the later StrangeLab operation. The same record states that WM was to launch Uspeer in the first half of 2025, and that 257 Entertainment was acquired in March 2026 before integration and a name change to StrangeLab Inc. Because the available reference material describes WM as a former name and includes events beyond the company’s earlier operating period, its present legal and operating status requires verification.

WM Entertainment was established in 2008 by Lee Won-min, formerly known as Kim Jung-soo during his career as a singer. The agency initially operated from a one-story building in Bangbae-dong, Seocho District, Seoul. Its early business was based on conventional Korean entertainment-agency functions: signing performers, training and managing artists, producing and promoting recordings, and arranging performance and distribution activities. The first artist reported to join the company was Taegoon, a former member of the group Battle Shinhwa, approximately one year after WM’s formation. H-Eugene and Ahn Jin-kyung, who had been associated with Baby Vox Re.V, followed in 2010. WM then moved into idol-group development. Its first boy group, B1A4, debuted on April 23, 2011. B1A4 became a central act in the company’s early growth and later supported the agency’s expansion into Japan and other Asian markets through label and distribution relationships. In August 2014, Lee Won-min purchased the six-story Daemyung Tower Building in Mangwon-dong, Mapo District, for use as WM’s headquarters. The move reflected the agency’s expansion from a small start-up operation into a company managing multiple artists and production activities. WM introduced its first girl group, Oh My Girl, on April 21, 2015. The group became one of the company’s best-known properties and established an important second pillar alongside B1A4. WM added further variety to its roster by debuting the soloist I on January 12, 2017, and its second boy group, ONF, on August 2, 2017. The agency therefore developed a portfolio covering boy groups, girl groups, and solo performers rather than concentrating exclusively on one format. The company maintained international relationships connected with the Japanese and Taiwanese markets. B1A4’s overseas activities involved partners including Warner Music Taiwan, Pony Canyon, and Universal J at different periods. ONF worked with Victor Entertainment for Japanese activities, while Oh My Girl was associated with Ariola Japan. Distribution and merchandise arrangements also involved companies including Sony Music Entertainment Korea, CJ ENM or Stone Music Entertainment, Genie Music, Copan Global, Universal Music Japan, JVC Kenwood Victor Entertainment, and Sony Music Solutions at various times. A major corporate turning point came on April 7, 2021, when RBW acquired 70 percent of WM Entertainment. WM consequently became a subsidiary within RBW’s wider entertainment group, which also included acts associated with Mamamoo, Oneus, and Onewe. The investment changed WM’s ownership structure while preserving its identity as an artist-management label in the available account. The later history is marked by roster turnover and organizational change. The reference record lists the end or transition of relationships with several members and groups, including B1A4, Oh My Girl, ONF, Lee Chae-yeon, and Uspeer during 2025–2026. It also reports a planned Uspeer debut in the first half of 2025. In March 2026, 257 Entertainment was reportedly acquired and later integrated with WM, followed by a change of name to StrangeLab Inc. The supplied material therefore treats WM Entertainment as a former name of StrangeLab, although the exact legal chronology and current status should be checked against contemporary corporate and official records.

• 2026

  257 Entertainment is acquired

  [1]StrangeLaben.wikipedia.org

  The supplied reference states that WM acquired 257 Entertainment and later integrated under the StrangeLab Inc. name.

• 2025

  Uspeer project is announced

  [1]StrangeLaben.wikipedia.org

  WM is reported to be preparing the girl group Uspeer for launch in the first half of the year.

• 2021

  RBW becomes controlling shareholder

  [1]StrangeLaben.wikipedia.org

  RBW acquires 70 percent of WM Entertainment and makes it a subsidiary.

• 2017

  I and ONF debut

  [1]StrangeLaben.wikipedia.org

  Soloist I debuts in January, followed by WM’s second boy group, ONF, in August.

• 2015

  Oh My Girl debuts

  [1]StrangeLaben.wikipedia.org

  WM launches its first girl group, Oh My Girl, on April 21.

• 2014

  Headquarters move to Daemyung Tower Building

  [1]StrangeLaben.wikipedia.org

  Lee Won-min acquires a six-story building in Mangwon-dong for use as WM’s headquarters.

• 2011

  B1A4 debuts

  [1]StrangeLaben.wikipedia.org

  WM launches its first boy group, B1A4, on April 23.

• 2010

  Additional early artists join

  [1]StrangeLaben.wikipedia.org

  H-Eugene and Ahn Jin-kyung join WM Entertainment.

• 2009

  Taegoon joins the agency

  [1]StrangeLaben.wikipedia.org

  Taegoon is identified as the company’s first reported artist signing after its foundation.

• 2008

  WM Entertainment is founded

  [1]StrangeLaben.wikipedia.org

  Former singer Lee Won-min establishes WM Entertainment in Seoul.

A South Korean artist-management and music label focused on developing idol groups and solo performers, with domestic Korean activities and selected partnerships for Japanese and Taiwanese markets.

• Boy group · 2011

  B1A4

  B1A4 was WM Entertainment’s first idol group and debuted on April 23, 2011. The group became a principal act for the agency, releasing music and undertaking promotional and overseas activities. Its international work included Japanese and Taiwanese commercial relationships through several label and distribution partners. The reference record lists the group’s WM period as beginning in 2011 and ending in 2025.

• Girl group · 2015

  Oh My Girl

  Oh My Girl debuted on April 21, 2015, as WM Entertainment’s first girl group. The act became one of the label’s most prominent artist properties and expanded WM’s visibility beyond its earlier B1A4-centered profile. Its activities included Korean releases and Japanese-market partnerships, including an association with Ariola Japan. The supplied record identifies the group as a former WM act after 2026.

• Boy group · 2017

  ONF

  ONF was WM Entertainment’s second boy group and debuted on August 2, 2017. The group extended the company’s idol roster after B1A4 and maintained Japanese-market activities through Victor Entertainment-related partnerships. The available reference material records the group’s WM affiliation as ending in 2026.

• Soloist · 2017

  I

  I debuted as WM Entertainment’s soloist on January 12, 2017. She was identified in the reference material as the sister of B1A4 member Baro. Her listed association with WM ended in 2018.

• Girl group · 2025

  Uspeer

  Uspeer was a planned girl-group project reported in March 2025. It was described as WM Entertainment’s second girl-group launch in ten years after Oh My Girl, with a target debut in the first half of 2025. The supplied reference later lists Uspeer as a former WM act.

• 2026

  Acquisition of 257 EntertainmentM&A

  Background

  257 Entertainment was identified as the entertainment company associated with XLOV.

  Action taken

  The supplied reference states that WM acquired 257 Entertainment in March 2026 and subsequently integrated with it.

  Aftermath

  The combined operation was reported to change its name to StrangeLab Inc., making the exact continuing status of the WM name uncertain.

  Source

• 2025

  Uspeer launch plannedProduct launch

  Background

  The project followed a long interval since the debut of WM’s first girl group, Oh My Girl.

  Action taken

  WM announced plans to introduce Uspeer during the first half of 2025.

  Aftermath

  The available reference later records Uspeer as a former WM act, but does not provide enough detail to establish the full release and management chronology.

  Source

• 2021

  RBW acquires 70 percent of WM EntertainmentM&A

  Background

  WM had developed a multi-act roster centered on idol groups and solo performers, while RBW was expanding its position in the Korean entertainment sector.

  Action taken

  RBW purchased a controlling 70 percent shareholding in WM Entertainment, making WM a subsidiary.

  Aftermath

  WM continued to be described as a distinct entertainment label within the RBW group.

  Source

1. 1StrangeLaben.wikipedia.org