Kim Se Jeong Leaves Jellyfish Entertainment After 10 Years, Signs With BH Entertainment

Kim Se Jeong (김세정) has signed an exclusive contract with BH Entertainment, ending a decade-long partnership with Jellyfish Entertainment, as confirmed by the agency on March 24, 2026. Jellyfish announced the split a day earlier on March 23, stating in an official release that the two parties had "agreed to conclude the journey we have shared over the past 10 years." The move places Se Jeong inside one of Korea's most prestigious acting agencies, joining a roster that includes Lee Byung-hun, Kim Go-eun, Park Hae-soo, and Jung Chaeyeon. According to BH Entertainment's official statement, Se Jeong "boasts outstanding musicality and a wide acting spectrum," signaling that her dual career as a singer and actress will be at the center of this partnership. The signing comes as she approaches the I.O.I reunion tour in late May 2026, her agency transition complete just in time.

Ten Years at Jellyfish: From Trainee to Star

Kim Se Jeong entered the spotlight as a Jellyfish Entertainment trainee on Mnet's Produce 101 in early 2016, where she finished in second place and debuted as a member of the project group I.O.I. That result alone would have been enough for most. Se Jeong used it as a launchpad. After I.O.I concluded its run in January 2017, she returned to Jellyfish and debuted with girl group Gugudan in June 2016, releasing solo singles alongside group activities through the group's disbandment in December 2020.

Her transition to acting opened a second chapter entirely. The Uncanny Counter on OCN and tvN became a franchise across two seasons from 2020 to 2023, building a loyal domestic and international fanbase on Netflix. Business Proposal on SBS in 2022 turned into one of the year's most-watched romantic comedies, peaking at 11.4 percent audience ratings in its final episode. Today's Webtoon, also on SBS, followed the same year. As reported by Korea JoongAng Daily, Se Jeong revealed the contract expiration directly to fans during her Japan fan concert, "2026 KIM SEJEONG FAN CONCERT Tenth Letter," before the formal announcement. That transparency set the tone for a graceful transition from one chapter to the next.

What BH Entertainment Means for Her Career

BH Entertainment is not just a management agency. It is, by most measures, Korea's most actor-centric powerhouse. The company built its reputation on Lee Byung-hun, a global name recognized beyond K-entertainment circles, and has since assembled a roster that reads like a who's who of serious Korean dramatic talent. Kim Go-eun, Park Bo-young, Han Ji-min, Han Hyo-joo, Park Hae-soo, Jung Chaeyeon. These are not idol-to-actor transitions handled quietly. These are careers built around major productions, prestige streaming deals, and long-term brand alignment. Signing Kim Se Jeong here is a statement. BH Entertainment confirmed in its official March 24 announcement that it will serve as "her reliable partner so that she can continue on the path that is most true to who Kim Se Jeong is." That language points toward a curated, selective approach to project selection, the hallmark of how BH handles its clients. For an artist who has already proven she can carry a drama, the infrastructure now matches the ambition.

I.O.I Reunion and What Comes Next

The timing of this move is not incidental. I.O.I, the Produce 101 project group that originally launched Se Jeong into public view in 2016, is reuniting for a tour titled "LOOP" in late May 2026, according to Korea JoongAng Daily. Nine members are set to participate. Se Jeong completes that reunion cycle with new management in place, which adds a practical layer to the whole story. Her solo music career has continued steadily since Gugudan's disbandment, with releases including Warning in 2021 and Top or Cliff in 2023. Whether BH leans harder into her acting career, her music, or the dual-track approach she has cultivated at Jellyfish remains to be seen. What the agency has already made clear is that it sees her as more than a transitioning idol. The phrasing in their statement, "diverse charms as she moves between music and acting," treats the dual identity as a selling point rather than something to be resolved.

Among K-fans on X, the reaction split cleanly between excitement and mild disbelief. The consensus sentiment, per fan accounts tracking the announcement: BH is an unexpected but genuinely impressive landing spot. "She's officially in the A-list agency tier now," read one post with several thousand engagements within hours of the confirmation. The REJURAN ambassador deal she announced earlier this month gave early indication that her brand positioning was already moving upmarket. BH Entertainment gives that trajectory institutional backing.

Jellyfish Entertainment's Statement

Jellyfish Entertainment kept its exit statement professional and warm. "After careful discussions, our company and Kim Se-jeong have agreed to conclude the journey we have shared over the past 10 years and to terminate our exclusive contract," the agency wrote in its official March 23 social media statement. The label added gratitude for the years shared and support for Se Jeong's future path. Jellyfish remains home to a number of other artists and continues its label operations. The departure of a flagship name like Se Jeong is significant, but the statement's measured tone reflects a mutual decision rather than any adversarial ending. Ten years is a full career arc in K-entertainment. She leaves as one of the most complete artists the company has produced.