Management Soop

Lore & Background

Management SOOP was founded on April 19, 2011, by Kim Jang-kyun, who previously worked for SidusHQ and Network of Asia (N.O.A) Entertainment (now Fantagio). Shortly after its founding, actors Gong Yoo, Lim Soo-jeong, Gong Hyo-jin, and Jung Il-woo left NOA Entertainment at the end of April and moved to the new company, having worked at NOA since October 2008, a period of two years and six months.

On June 27, 2018, Kakao M (now Kakao Entertainment) announced that it was in talks to acquire entertainment agencies and had created partnerships with three actor management agencies: BH Entertainment, J.Wide Company, and Management SOOP, as well as the advertisement model casting agency Ready Entertainment, as part of a strategy to globalize its content. Management SOOP subsequently became a subsidiary of Kakao Entertainment.

The agency's current roster includes actors such as Gong Yoo, Jang Sung-hoon, Kim Jae-wook, Lee Chun-hee, Nam Joo-hyuk, and Jung Ga-ram, as well as actresses Gong Hyo-jin, Seo Hyun-jin, Jeon Do-yeon, Nam Ji-hyun, Kim Ji-su, Bae Suzy, Kim Min-ju, Jeon Hye-jin, Lee Chung-ah, Shin Eun-soo, Yoo Chan-a, and Shin Si-ah. Former artists include Choi Woo-shik, Jeon So-nee, Jung Il-woo, Kim Min-hee, Kim Tae-geum, Lee Jae-joon, Ryoo Seung-bum, Soo Ae, Yoo Min-kyu, Park Yeon-woo, and Jung Yu-mi.

Reader's Guide

Management SOOP has established itself as a significant agency in the South Korean entertainment industry, representing a roster of highly regarded actors and actresses. Its founding by Kim Jang-kyun, a veteran of SidusHQ and NOA Entertainment, brought immediate credibility, attracting established talents like Gong Yoo and Gong Hyo-jin. The agency's acquisition by Kakao Entertainment in 2018 as part of a broader content globalization strategy underscores its importance within the larger Kakao ecosystem. Management SOOP's legacy lies in its consistent representation of top-tier actors across film and television, contributing to the Korean Wave's global reach. The agency's ability to retain long-standing artists while also nurturing newer talent reflects its stable management approach. Its former artists list includes notable names, indicating a dynamic roster that has evolved over time. As a subsidiary of Kakao Entertainment, Management SOOP continues to play a role in the production and distribution of Korean content internationally.

Did You Know?

• On June 27, 2018, Kakao M (now Kakao Entertainment) announced partnerships with Management SOOP and two other actor agencies to globalize its content.
• Former artists of Management SOOP include Choi Woo-shik, Jung Il-woo, and Jung Yu-mi.