Imagine Asia (; formerly known Wellmade Yedang), is a South Korean entertainment company established in 1976. The company operates as a talent agency, television production company, event management, concert production company, and music publishing house.

History

The company was founded in 1976 as Banpo Industries, an industrial tent manufacturer that was previously headquartered at

Seongnam Seongnam () is the fourth largest city in South Korea's Gyeonggi Province after Suwon and the 10th largest city in the country. Its population is approximately one million. Seongnam is a satellite city of Seoul. It is largely a residential c ...

Gyeonggi Province Gyeonggi-do (, ) is the most populous province in South Korea. Its name, ''Gyeonggi'', means "京 (the capital) and 畿 (the surrounding area)". Thus, ''Gyeonggi-do'' can be translated as "Seoul and the surrounding areas of Seoul". Seoul, the ...

. In 2000, the company name was changed to Banpo Tech. Banpo Tech merged in 2006 with Star M Entertainment, becoming Star M. Among the first artists on its roster were actors Shin Min-a,

Jang Dong-gun Jang Dong-gun (born March 7, 1972) is a South Korean actor. He is best known for his leading roles in the films '' Friend'' (2001) and '' Taegukgi: The Brotherhood of War'' (2004). Jang is one of the highest-paid actors and celebrity endorsers i ...

and Hyun Bin. The company was listed on

KOSDAQ KOSDAQ (acronym of Korean Securities Dealers Automated Quotations, Korean: 코스닥) is a trading board of Korea Exchange (KRX) in South Korea established in 1996. Initially set up by Korea Financial Investment Association as an independent st ...

in 2007. In 2008, the company name was again changed, to Wellmade Star M. Its headquarters were moved to

Gangnam District Gangnam District ( ; , ) is one of the 25 local government districts which make up the city of Seoul, South Korea. Gangnam translates to "South of the (Han) River". Gangnam District is the third largest district in Seoul, with an area of . A ...

Seoul Seoul (; ; ), officially known as the Seoul Special City, is the Capital city, capital and largest metropolis of South Korea.Before 1972, Seoul was the ''de jure'' capital of the North Korea, Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea ...

. In 2013, Wellmade Star M acquired

Dream T Entertainment Dream T Entertainment Co.,Ltd. () is a former South Korean entertainment company established in 2009 by Lee Jong-seok. In 2013, Imagine Asia became a majority shareholder of Dream T after acquired 100% of the entire company. In July 2015, Drea ...

majority shareholders. In 2014, it merged with Yedang Company to form Wellmade Yedang. In 2015, the company acquired 39% shares of

YMC Entertainment YMC Entertainment () was a South Korean entertainment company established in 2010 by Cho Yoo-myung, the eldest son of trot singer Tae Jin-ah. The company has been home to artists such as Shin Bo-ra, Kassy and Soulights, as well as actresses in ...

, its subsidiaries

also acquired 41% shares of YMC Entertainment and became a majority shareholders after having 80% shares of YMC. The company also acquired BLUE STAR Entertainment in the same year. In March 2016, Yedang Entertainment officially renamed to Banana Culture and following Wellmade also renamed to Imagine Asia in June.http://www.hankookilbo.com/m/v.aspx?id=41ccd991e61f6d4e3ae984f745dff682& However, Wellmade Yedang had continued as an independent company.

Artists

Actors/actresses

* Cha Hwa-yeon (2018–present) * Choi Jung-won (2017–present) *Go Yoo-ahn *Hwang Young-hee *Im Soo-hyun * Jang Seo-hee (2017–present) * Jeon In-hwa *Jung Na-on * Kang Min-ah *

Kim Da-hyun Kim Da-hyun (born Kim Se-hyun on January 1, 1980) is a South Korean actor and singer. Kim made his entertainment debut in 1999 as the lead vocalist of the rock band ''Yada'' (which disbanded in 2004). Since then, he has been actively engaged i ...

*Kim Ho-jin *Kim Jae-woon *Kim So-Ra *Lee Ho-suk *

Lee Il-hwa Lee Il-hwa (born February 24, 1971) is a South Korean actress. She made her acting debut in 1991, and has since appeared in numerous television dramas, notably the '' Reply series''. Filmography Film Television series Web series Theate ...

(2016–present) *Lee Jung-jun *Na Hye-mi *

Park Sang-myun Park Sang-myun (; born January 27, 1968) is a South Korean actor. He is best known for his comic roles, notably in '' My Wife Is a Gangster'' (2001). Career Park Sang-myun graduated in 1987 with a Theater degree from Seoul Institute of the Art ...

*Park Sang-nam *Rho Sang-bo *

Shim Eun-jin Shim Eun-jin ( ko, 심은진; born February 6, 1981) is a South Korean singer and actress. She was a member of South Korean girl group Baby V.O.X. Career Shim Eun-jin launched her singing career in 1998 as a member of Baby V.O.X, one of the ...

*Son Sung-yoon *Suh Ji-hee * Yoo Dong-geun *Yoo Gun-woo *Yook Jin-su

Entertainers

*Jung Yi-rang

MCs

*LJ

Subsidiaries

Dream T Entertainment

was founded by Lee Jong-suk in 2009. Imagine Asia acquired it in December 2013.

YMC Entertainment

was founded in 2010 by Cho Yoo-myung, the eldest son of singer Tae Jin-ah. Imagine Asia along with Dream T Entertainment acquired it in July 2015. The label is now closed down as of 2020. Its website is now inaccessible.

Blue Star Entertainment

Blue Star Entertainment was founded by Byun Dong-jin and Park Chang-jae, former executives of

Core Contents Media MBK Entertainment (), was a South Korean entertainment company established by Kim Kwang-soo. The company was originally founded in 1999 as GM Planning. The company was absorbed by Mnet Media in 2006, following Kim Kwang-soo joint with CJ Group a ...

(now MBK Entertainment). Imagine Asia acquired it in 2015. Groups * AA *C'est si bon Actors *Nam Kyung-hee *Shin Ji-ae

Divisions

Wellmade Film

Wellmade Film () is a film production company. Films *''

The Warrior's Way ''The Warrior's Way'' is a 2010 New Zealand-South Korean fantasy action film written and directed by Sngmoo Lee and starring Jang Dong-gun, Kate Bosworth, Geoffrey Rush, Danny Huston and Tony Cox. It was produced by Barrie Osborne, who a ...

'' (2010) *'' The Yellow Sea'' (''황해'') (2010) * ''As One'' (''코리아'') (2012) *''

The Show Must Go On "The show must go on" is a phrase in show business, meaning that regardless of what happens, whatever show has been planned still has to be staged for the waiting patrons. There is no evidence to suggest that it is the abbreviation of a longer phra ...

'' (''우아한세게'') (2007) *'' The Huntresses'' (''조선 미녀 삼총사'') (2014) Dramas *'' Soul Mechanic'' (''영혼수선공'') (2020, in association with Monster Union) *'' Doctor Prisoner'' (''닥터 프리즈너'') (2019, in association with Jidam Inc.) *''

The Third Charm ''The Third Charm'' () is a 2018 South Korean television series directed by Pyo Min-soo and starring Seo Kang-joon and Esom. It explores the real side of relationships between couples. It aired from September 28 to November 17, 2018, on JTBC's ...

'' (''제3의 매력'') (2018, in association with

JYP Pictures JYP Entertainment Corporation () is a South Korean multinational entertainment and record label conglomerate founded in 1997 by J. Y. Park. It is one of the largest entertainment companies in South Korea, and operates as a record label, tale ...

) *'' Come and Hug Me'' (''이리와 안아줘'') (2018, in association with Company Ching) *''

Mad Dog Mad dog is a phrase commonly attributed to rabid dogs. Mad Dog may also refer to: Music * ''Mad Dog'' (album), an album by John Entwistle * "Mad Dog", a song by America from ''Holiday'' * "Mad Dog", a song by Deep Purple from '' The House of Bl ...

'' (''매드 독'') (2017, in association with

Celltrion Entertainment Celltrion Entertainment Co., Ltd. (formerly known as Dream E&M Co., Ltd.) is a South Korean production and artist management company under the Celltrion Group. It was founded on January 4, 2012. In April 2017, the company merged with artist ma ...

) *'' Here Comes Mr Oh'' (''오자룡이 간다'') (2011–2013) *'' Couples Too Rosy'' (장미빛 연인들) (2014–2015)

Happy Campus Projects

Happy Campus Projects (재미난 프로젝트) is a

drama Drama is the specific Mode (literature), mode of fiction Mimesis, represented in performance: a Play (theatre), play, opera, mime, ballet, etc., performed in a theatre, or on Radio drama, radio or television.Elam (1980, 98). Considered as a g ...

production company under Imagine Asia, led by CEO Jung Ah-reum. Drama *''

Entertainer An entertainer is someone who provides entertainment in various different forms. Types of entertainers * Acrobat * Actor * Archimime * Athlete * Barker * Beatboxer * Benshi * Bouffon * Circus performer * Clown * Club Hostess/Host * Com ...

'' (''딴따라'') (2016) *'' Wanted'' (''원티드'') (2016) *'' Schoolgirl Detectives'' (''선얌여고 탐정단'') (2014–2015)

On Da Com

On Da Com (also known as On多com) is a multimedia production company in Seoul, South Korea. Reality television *'' Dad! Where Are We Going?'' (''아빠! 어디가?'') (2014–2015) *''Section TV'' (''섹션 TV'') (1999–Current) *''Good Morning'' (''좋은아침'') (1996–Current) *''Southern Boy Northern Girl'' (''남남 북녀'') (2015–Current) *''Peony Stick Club'' (''모란봉 클럽'') (2015–Current) *'' Infinite Girls'' (''무한걸스'') (2010–2013) *''Real Story'' (''猫'') (2006–2010)

Former artists

Actors

Ha Ji-Won Jeon Hae-rim (; born 28 June 1978), better known by her stage name Ha Ji-won () is a South Korean actress. She is best known for the historical dramas '' Damo'' (2003), '' Hwang Jini'' (2006), and ''Empress Ki'' (2013), as well as the melodra ...

(2003–13) *

Lee Jong-suk Lee Jong-suk (, born 14 September 1989) is a South Korean actor and model. He debuted in 2005 as a runway model, becoming the youngest male model ever to participate in Seoul Fashion Week. Lee's breakthrough role was in ''School 2013'' (2012). ...

(2011–15) * Oh Yeon-seo (2006–17) * Seo Hyo-rim (2015–17) * Lee Joon-hyuk * Lee Sun-bin *Jo Sung-min * Jin Ji-hee (2016–19) *Shin Won-sik *Bae Hyo-won *

Go Yoon Go Yoon (born Kim Jong-min; September 12, 1988) is a South Korean actor. He is perhaps known for his roles in the television series ''Criminal Minds ''Criminal Minds'' is an American police procedural crime drama television series created an ...

*Im Ho-gul *Kim Ga-hwa *Kim Geum-bi * Kim Hyo-jin *Kim Youn-jun *Park Seul-maro * Park Min-su * Ryu Hwa-young (2013–2020) *Shim Min-chul *

Shim Mina Shim Mina (; born December 1, 1972), known simply as Mina (미나), is a South Korean singer and dancer. She rose to fame at the World Cup in 2002, eventually deciding to become a K-pop singer. On July 7, 2018, Mina married Ryu Philip, a mem ...

*Song Kyung-chul *Yoo A-ran * Yoon Seo

Recording artists

* C-Clown (2012–2015) *Seo Ji-an Blue Star Entertainment *Kim Jin-hong (AA, 2013–2015) *Aoora (AA, 2011–2016)

Assets

*ETN (cable TV channel) *Park&Noorigae (restaurant) *OnDaCom (production company)

References

External links

*
Official blog
at

Naver Naver (Hangul: 네이버) is a South Korean online platform operated by the Naver Corporation. It was launched in 1999 as the first web portal in South Korea to develop and use its own search engine. It was also the world's first operator to i ...

{{Authority control 1976 establishments in South Korea Companies based in Seoul Companies listed on KOSDAQ Television production companies of South Korea Film distributors of South Korea Film production companies of South Korea Broadcasting companies of South Korea Music publishing companies of South Korea Contemporary R&B record labels K-pop record labels Publishing companies established in 1976 Record labels established in 1976 South Korean brands South Korean record labels Synth-pop record labels Electronic dance music record labels Hip hop record labels Talent agencies of South Korea *