C-JeS Studios

Lore & Background

The agency was established to meet the management needs of Jaejoong, Junsu, and Yoochun, former members of TVXQ, after the trio filed a lawsuit against their former record label, S.M. Entertainment. The singers met Baek Chang-jou in mid-2009, not long after they filed the lawsuit. C-JeS was established shortly after that. Baek has directly said in an interview that C-JeS was established solely because of JYJ. Baek invested heavily in building the newly created band, JYJ's image and credibility after the Korean entertainment industry closed its doors on the artists perceived as 'rebels' for going against their previous management.

Reader's Guide

C-JeS Studios began as a vehicle for JYJ, a group formed from former TVXQ members after a high-profile legal dispute. Its significance lies in providing a platform for artists who faced industry backlash, and in expanding into production of notable TV series and films. The company's rebranding in 2023 signaled a strategic shift toward growth. Its legacy includes managing actors like Lee Jung-jae and Hwang Jung-eum, and producing works such as 'Sungkyunkwan Scandal' and 'The Night Owl'. The departure of JYJ members and other artists over time reflects the natural evolution of a management firm in a competitive industry.

Did You Know?

• C-JeS was established solely because of JYJ, according to CEO Baek Chang-jou.
• On April 3, 2023, the company changed its name from C-JeS Entertainment to C-JeS Studios.
• Actor Lee Jung-jae signed with C-JeS in 2012 after working with Song Ji-hyo on the film 'New World'.

A Founding Born from Defiance

C-JeS Studios traces its origins to one of the most turbulent episodes in Korean entertainment history. In 2009, three former members of TVXQ—Jaejoong, Junsu, and Yoochun—filed a lawsuit against their former record label, S.M. Entertainment. The broader industry, which had effectively shut its doors on the trio for defying their previous management, left them without a professional home. It was in that moment that the singers met Baek Chang-jou in mid-2009, and the agency was established shortly thereafter. Baek has openly stated in interviews that C-JeS was created solely for the sake of the group that would become JYJ. Far from simply offering a contract, he invested heavily in rebuilding the trio's public image and industry credibility during a period when they were perceived as "rebels" for going against their former management. The company's very existence was a direct response to the needs of these three artists, making its founding story inseparable from the JYJ narrative.

A Roster in Constant Flux

Over more than a decade, C-JeS has watched its talent roster transform dramatically. The company's initial purpose was anchored entirely in JYJ, whose members—Yoochun (2010–2019), Junsu (2010–2021), and Kim Jae-joong (2010–2023)—eventually all departed. Other former artists include Gummy (2013–2024) and Solji (2020–2024). In the acting division, the agency attracted high-profile names: actor Lee Jung-jae signed in March 2013, reportedly after collaborating with Song Ji-hyo on the film New World. Actress-singer Hwang Jung-eum joined in August 2014, while Song Ji-hyo herself remained under contract for four years before parting ways in July 2015. More recently, actor Lee Jae-wook signed in April 2021. The current roster reflects a new era, featuring groups Noel and WHIB, soloist Crucial Star, entertainer Kim Shin-young, and director Hur Jin-ho among its production personnel.

From Stage to Screen: A Production Portfolio

Beyond artist management, C-JeS has built a substantial production portfolio spanning television, stage, and film. Its early TV credits include collaborations such as Sungkyunkwan Scandal (KBS 2TV, 2010) and Miss Ripley (MBC, 2011), growing into a steady stream of series across major networks—Three Days (SBS, 2014), Bubbly Lovely (SBS, 2016), Welcome to Waikiki (JTBC, 2018), Switch (SBS, 2018), and the sequel Welcome to Waikiki 2 (JTBC, 2019). More recent productions include Lost (JTBC, 2021), Hometown (tvN, 2021), Link: Eat, Love, Kill (tvN, 2022), Big Bet (Disney+, 2022), Captivating the King (tvN, 2024), and Night Photo Studio (ENA, 2024). On stage, the company produced musicals including Dracula (2014 and 2020), Death Note (2015 and 2017), and Dorian Gray (2016). In film, credits include The Night Owl (2022) and Citizen of a Kind (2024), demonstrating a wide-ranging creative footprint.

Rebranding and a New Chapter

On April 3, 2023, CEO Baek Chang-ju announced a significant rebranding: C-JeS Entertainment officially became CJeS STUDIOS. The name change coincided with the departure of the last founding-era artist, Kim Jae-joong, who had been with the company since 2010, and marked a deliberate pivot toward a broader creative identity. Baek publicly stated the company's aim to achieve significant growth following the rebranding, signaling an ambition to expand beyond its original artist-management roots. The updated roster—featuring new groups Noel and WHIB, soloist Crucial Star, entertainer Kim Shin-young, and director Hur Jin-ho—reflects this forward-looking vision. The production slate also points toward diversification, with upcoming projects like Mousetrap for Netflix (2026) suggesting a company positioning itself as a full-service content studio rather than solely a talent agency. The rebranding thus represents both a closing of the JYJ-era chapter and an opening toward a more expansive creative future.