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Belift Lab

From Quire, the open reference·South Korean entertainment company·2 min read
Belift Lab, Inc.
Belift Lab, Inc.
Image: source and license
Native name주식회사 빌리프랩
TypeSubsidiary
IndustryEntertainment
FoundedSeptember 17, 2018
FounderBang Si-hyuk
Headquarters14F 42 Hangang-daero, Yongsan-gu, Seoul (Hangangno 3-ga, Yongsan Trade Center), South Korea ,
South Korea
Area servedWorldwide
Key peopleKim Tae-ho (CEO and president)[1]
ServicesMusic production
Artists management
Revenue₩154.71 billion (US$115.43 million) (2025[2])
Net income₩38.31 billion (US$28.58 million) (2025[2])
Total assets₩153.15 billion (US$114.27 million) (2025[2])
Total equity₩59.78 billion (US$44.6 million) (2025[2])
Number of employees88 (2025[3])
ParentHybe Corporation[4]
Websitebeliftlab.com

Belift Lab, Inc.[2] (Korean: 주식회사 빌리프랩) is a South Korean record label, founded as a joint venture between Hybe and CJ ENM on September 17, 2018.

In 2023, Hybe acquired full ownership, making Belift Lab a subsidiary while allowing it to operate independently within Hybe's multi-label system.[5]

The label currently manages boy group Enhypen, girl group Illit, and soloist Evan.

History#edit

2018–2020: Founding and early years#edit

Belift Lab was established on September 17, 2018, as a collaboration by then Big Hit Entertainment and CJ ENM to develop K-pop artists for a global audience.[5] In March 2019, the company launched international auditions for male trainees aimed at debuting a new idol group in 2020. Auditions were held in South Korea, the United States, Japan, and other regions.

In 2020, Belift Lab co-produced the survival reality show I-Land with Mnet and CJ ENM. Trainees competed for a place in the final lineup through missions and evaluations, with fan voting incorporated globally.[6]

Seven trainees, Jungwon, Heeseung, Jay, Jake, Sunghoon, Sunoo, and Ni-Ki were selected to form Enhypen in September 2020 and debuted in November.[7]

2021–present: Hybe acquisition and new projects#edit

In August 2023, Hybe purchased CJ ENM's 51.5% stake in Belift Lab for 150 billion won (~$113.8 million), finalizing the acquisition on September 1, 2023, making Belift Lab a wholly owned Hybe subsidiary.[8]

That year, Belift Lab partnered with JTBC to produce the survival audition program R U Next? to select members for its first girl group, Illit. Initially six members were chosen; one, Youngseo, later departed before the group's March 2024 debut.[9]

On March 10, 2026 Belift Lab announced that Heeseung would be leaving Enhypen to pursue a solo career while remaining with the label. On April 8, Belift announced that Heeseung would change his stage name from his birth name "Heeseung" to "Evan", a name he has used since childhood.[10]

Philanthropy#edit

On November 20, 2025, Belift Lab and Enhypen donated ₩100 million to support flood relief efforts in the Philippines following back-to-back typhoons.[11]

Artists#edit

Current artists#edit

Controversies#edit

Plagiarism dispute with Min Hee-jin#edit

In 2024, Min Hee-jin, then CEO of ADOR, claimed that Illit bore strong similarities to NewJeans. Belift Lab filed a ₩2 billion defamation lawsuit against her, citing reputational and financial harm.[13]

Stalking and privacy concerns#edit

In March 2025, Belift Lab reported illegal stalking incidents targeting Enhypen members and began taking legal action.[14]

Lawsuit against Team Bunnies#edit

In December 2025, Belift Lab sued Team Bunnies, a NewJeans fan group, for defamation of Illit and unauthorized sharing of internal materials, seeking ₩100 million in damages.[15]

Filmography#edit

Reality shows#edit

Notes#edit

  1. ^ Stassen, Murray (April 11, 2025). "Taeho Kim, HYBE COO and BELIFT LAB President, talks ENHYPEN, ILLIT, Coachella, and superfans". Music Business Worldwide. Retrieved September 2, 2026.
  2. ^ a b c d e "DART - Repository of Korea's Corporate Filings". English DART. Retrieved April 3, 2026.
  3. ^ "2026 Audit filing - DART - Repository of Korea's Corporate Filings". englishdart.fss.or.kr. Retrieved April 3, 2026.
  4. ^ since 2023
  5. ^ a b Frater, Patrick (August 10, 2023). "Enhypen-Backer Belift Lab Acquired by K-Pop Giant Hybe". Variety. Retrieved August 2, 2026.
  6. ^ "BTS' label launch talent show to find next K-pop superstar". The Independent. May 25, 2020. Retrieved January 3, 2026.
  7. ^ "ENHYPEN to debut on Nov. 30 - The Korea Times". www.koreatimes.co.kr. October 28, 2020. Retrieved April 18, 2026.
  8. ^ "HYBE fully acquires K-pop agency Belift Lab from CJ ENM". koreajoongangdaily.joins.com. August 10, 2023. Retrieved January 2, 2026.
  9. ^ Yoo, Hong (January 7, 2024). "Hybe's new girl group I'll-It to debut as 5-piece without Youngseo". The Korea Herald. Retrieved April 18, 2026.
  10. ^ Lynch, Jessica (March 10, 2026). "ENHYPEN's Heeseung to Leave Group to Pursue Solo Career". Billboard. Retrieved September 28, 2026.
  11. ^ Hicap, Jonathan (November 20, 2025). "K-pop idol group ENHYPEN, agency Belift Lab to donate P4 million to PH's flood relief efforts". Manila Bulletin. Retrieved January 3, 2026.
  12. ^ Yap, Jade Veronique (March 12, 2026). "BeLift Lab releases statement anew following Heeseung's departure from Enhypen". GMA News Online. Retrieved August 2, 2026.
  13. ^ Ziwei, Puah (May 23, 2024). "ILLIT's agency Belift Lab sues Min Hee-hin for defamation amid HYBE-ADOR feud". NME. Retrieved April 18, 2026.
  14. ^ CHOSUNBIZ (March 5, 2025). "Enhypen reports illegal stalking incidents as police investigations begin". Retrieved January 3, 2026.
  15. ^ Seung-ku, Lee (December 15, 2025). "Belift Lab sues NewJeans fan group, citing defamation of Illit". The Korea Herald. Retrieved January 3, 2026.
Categories 2018 establishments in South KoreaEnhypenEntertainment companies established in 2018HybeIllitK-pop record labelsMusic companies of South KoreaRecord labels established in 2018South Korean companies established in 2018South Korean record labelsTalent agencies of South Korea

This article is mirrored from “Belift Lab” on English Wikipedia, revision 1380373638, written by Wikipedia's contributors and licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Editing it here creates a Quire copy with its own history.

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