The following companies are leading the K-pop music market right now, and it is just right to give credit to THESE eight idols who carried the agencies as their very first artists.
8 K-pop Artists Who Debuted First in These Leading K-pop Companies
Big Hit - 8Eight
Prior to its establishment as HYBE, the initially Big Hit Entertainment debuted its first-ever artist 8Eight in 2007. The group is a vocal co-ed trio comprised of Baek Chan, Lee Hyun, and Joo Hee.
Unfortunately, they disbanded in 2014 but during their active promotion, the trio won "Best Co-ed group" for their song, "Without a Heart."
SM - Hyun Jin Young
Initially working as Lee Soo Man's backup dancer, he became a mentee of SM's founder and finally made his solo debut in 1990.
While the start of his career was a bit rocky, he eventually rose with decent success after introducing hip-hop-inspired and urbanized music.
JYP - Pearl
In 1997, JYP's first-ever artist and female soloist Pearl debuted with her album, "Sunflower." It introduced songs with a combination of pop, R&B, and hip-hop. She left the company in 2010.
YG - Keep Six
In 1996, YG Producer Yang Hyun Suk launched the hip-hop trio Keep Six, comprised of Park Dong Ho, Shim Young Ho, and Lee Sae Young.
But it became a failure and they eventually disbanded in the same year. It almost made the company go bankrupt if not for its succeeding group, Jinusean.
Pledis - Son Dambi
Dubbed as the female version of music icon Rain, Son Dami was introduced in 2007 as the very first artist of Pledis.
Ahead of her debut, she was already earning much attention, but her career boomed when she dropped her #1 hit track, "On a Saturday Night," which became a classic to date.
She also became a fashion icon for bringing back the "retro" 'fit from the 80s, and earned the title, "Retro Fashionista."
She left Pledis in 2015.
Source Music - Kan Mi Youn (Baby V.O.X)
When Source Music was created by former SM Entertainment talent manager So Sung Jin, he signed with Kan Mi Youn as its very first artist, who initially rose as Baby V.O.X member.
Her return as a soloist in 2010 was welcomed by music fans, entering the Gaon Chart at #11.
Cube - 4Minute
When Cube Entertainment was established in 2006, it didn't immediately launch its artist not until 2009, when Cube created its first-ever girl group, 4Minute.
The group amassed large attention from K-pop fans as it comprised former Wonder Girls HyunA. In the same year of their debut, the team received multiple rookie awards, thanks to its hit debut song, "Hot Issue."
Starship - K. Will
Starship's very first artist was singer K. Will, who was also Big Hit Entertainment's former artist.
Throughout his career, he released numerous popular songs and was also dubbed "Prince of OST."
READ MORE: The First Girl Groups of 5 Top K-Pop Entertainment Companies
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Written by Eunice Dawson.
