DSP Media

DSP Media (DSP 미디어) is a South Korean entertainment company established in 1991 by Lee Ho-yeon. Once a dominant force in K-pop alongside SM Entertainment during the late 1990s, the company launched legendary acts that defined first and second generation K-pop. DSP Media debuted Sechs Kies in 1997 and Fin.K.L in 1998, both becoming cultural phenomena. The label continued its success into the 2000s with SS501 (2005), Kara (2007), and Rainbow (2009). Kara achieved unprecedented success in Japan, becoming one of the first K-pop groups to break through in the Japanese market and paving the way for the first Korean Wave in Japan. In August 2015, DSP debuted girl group April, expanding the label's presence in the mid-tier girl group market. In July 2017, co-ed group KARD debuted, becoming one of K-pop's only internationally touring mixed-gender groups with a significant following in Latin America and Europe. In January 2022, RBW acquired 39.1% of DSP Media, making it an RBW subsidiary. This brought DSP's legacy acts and current roster under the RBW umbrella. Kara reunited in November 2022 for their 15th anniversary. In October 2023, girl group Young Posse debuted under co-production with Beats Entertainment, representing DSP's latest bet on Gen 4 girl group culture. Young Posse made an impression at Seoul Fashion Week in September 2024.