Over the past few weeks, South Korean talent agency UAA (United Artist Agency) has undergone drastic changes. In a short span, several key artists have left, and the industry is asking: what is going on?

UAA was founded on 18 June 2012 by film production company United Pictures and law firm The Firm.

United Pictures is a notable player on the Korean film scene, established in October 2007 as a joint venture of three major production studios: BK Pictures, Opus Pictures, and Zip Cinema.

The Firm is represented by attorney Jeong Cheol Seung. As the head of a law firm, Jeong Cheol Seung provided UAA and its artists with crucial services: contract negotiations, dispute resolution, and protection of intellectual property and image rights. Recently, however, he has been embroiled in a series of scandals. Jeong Cheol Seung was indicted on charges of sexual harassment of a junior female lawyer and was also convicted of disclosing information that identified the victim in the sexual assault case involving former Seoul mayor Park Won Soon. In June 2026, prosecutors sought a six‑year prison sentence for him in these cases. This negative publicity has inevitably cast a shadow over the reputation of UAA, which he co‑founded.

The first and, for many years, the flagship star of UAA was Song Hye Kyo («Autumn in My Heart», «Descendants of the Sun»). She signed with the agency in November 2012.

Despite a modest roster by industry standards, UAA has always prided itself on a stellar lineup that included Yoo Ah In, Kim Dae Myung, Kim Da Mi, and Jang Ki Yong. Producer Park Hyun Jung, who had worked with Song Hye Kyo for over 20 years, was also closely associated with the agency.

In late June and early July 2026, the agency faced an exodus of key figures.

Song Hye Kyo, who had been the face of UAA for 14 years, decided not to renew her contract. News of the split emerged on 26 June 2026. Both the actress and the agency confirmed that their exclusive contract had come to an end, and they parted amicably, wishing each other well. According to media reports, Song Hye Kyo plans to set up her own one‑person agency to manage her career independently.

She was followed by Ryoo Joon Yeol («Reply 1988», «The 8 Show»). He had joined UAA only about a year earlier, in June 2025, but on 1 July 2026 it was officially announced that he was moving to Galaxy Corporation – the company that manages G‑Dragon, Song Kang Ho, Kim Jong Kook, and Taemin. His one‑year contract with UAA expired, and Ryoo Joon Yeol decided not to extend it. His new deal with Galaxy Corporation was signed amid rumours that the company intends to actively leverage his talent for global projects and AI‑related content.

Almost simultaneously, reports surfaced that Yoo Ah In was also leaving UAA. He had been with the agency for 12 years, since 2014. News of his departure appeared on 30 June 2026. According to media, Yoo Ah In was in talks with Galaxy Corporation and was offered a signing bonus of several billion won (the figure often cited is 5 billion won). However, there has been no official confirmation from the agency. It is reported that his contract with UAA had expired some time ago, and recently they had been working on a handshake basis without a formal agreement.

This parting comes amid Yoo Ah In’s ongoing legal troubles: in September 2024, he was convicted of drug use (propofol, marijuana) and sentenced to one year in prison. In February 2025, after an appeal, the sentence was suspended, replaced by two years of probation and a fine, and Yoo Ah In was released from custody.

Read more about the Yoo Ah In case

Although Yoo Ah In is still officially considered a person serving a sentence, films featuring him – «Hi-Five» and «The Match» – have been released, and he was even nominated for Best Actor at the Korean Directors’ Guild Awards. His possible move to Galaxy Corporation has fuelled speculation about an imminent full‑scale return to work.

Nevertheless, there has been no official confirmation of his transfer to Galaxy Corporation.

Galaxy Corporation: Technology Serving Entertainment

Galaxy Corporation deserves a closer look. It was founded in August 2019 in Seoul. Its founder, CEO and major shareholder is Choi Yong Ho. He started his business in K‑pop with friends, publishing Hallyu magazines, before founding Galaxy Corporation.

The company positions itself as a global “entertainment technology” (enter‑tech) company. In 2024, the agency signed G‑Dragon, after which its valuation reportedly jumped from about 500 billion won to 1 trillion won, propelling it into the “unicorn club” and making Choi Yong Ho the youngest CEO of a unicorn company in Korea (he was 35). In the first half of 2026, Galaxy reported revenue of 123 billion won and net profit of 13 billion won.

Galaxy Corporation’s distinctive feature is its aggressive integration of artificial intelligence, robotics, and virtual technologies into the traditional entertainment industry. The company does not develop AI engines or humanoid robots itself, but collaborates with technology partners, including China’s Unitree Robotics. 

Among its flagship projects:

- AI glasses “White Whole” – the first K‑pop AI glasses, scheduled for release by the end of 2026. The device provides real‑time translation, allows fans to hear the artist’s breathing and stage sounds from their perspective, and transmits the performer’s gaze direction to screens.

- A robotic concert park in Seoul covering about 16,500 square metres, where visitors can watch concerts performed by robots. The park opened on 5 May 2026 and is expected to host more than 1,000 shows a year.

- A virtual idol group set to debut in the second half of 2026 through a global online casting show. In the long term, the company plans to unite such “tech artists” into a single multiverse.

- An AI music studio and dance space integrating AI and robotics, expected to launch within 2026.

Galaxy has also signed an agreement with KAIST and opened an AI Enter‑Tech research centre on its campus. The company has participated in the production of more than 400 global entertainment programmes, including Physical: 100, Mr. Trot, and 2 Days & 1 Night.

Galaxy Corporation is not just an agency but a technology platform aiming to redefine the very nature of the K‑pop industry.

Who Remains at UAA?

Despite the loss of top stars, the agency still has key artists on its roster. As of late June 2026, UAA retains:

Kim Dae Myung («Hospital Playlist», «The Husband»).

Ahn Eun Jin («My Dearest», «Dynamite Kiss»).

Kim Da Mi («The Witch», «Itaewon Class»).

Jang Ki Yong («Dynamite Kiss», «Now, We Are Breaking Up» (Now We Are Breaking Up).

Woo Da Vi («Jeongnyeon: The Star Is Born», «Dynamite Kiss»).

The departure of Song Hye Kyo, Ryoo Joon Yeol, and Yoo Ah In is a serious loss for UAA, which loses several of its mainstays at once. Particularly telling is the move of Ryoo Joon Yeol and the possible move of Yoo Ah In to Galaxy Corporation. This may point to a new trend in the industry: the appeal of tech‑oriented companies that offer artists not only traditional management but also opportunities for global projects and AI development.

Sources 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8