RBW is under fire as employee reviews reveal brutal working conditions. The agency, home to MAMAMOO, Purple Kiss, ONEWE, and ONEUS, scored a dismal 1.5 out of 5 overall. Average annual salary sits around ₩34.7 million KRW ($25,200 USD).
Promotion opportunities get some credit, but company benefits and work-life balance rank as the worst. Only 16% approve of CEOs Kim Jin Woo and Kim Do Hun, with a mere 3% seeing growth potential.
Pledis Entertainment also struggles with staff satisfaction. The agency behind SEVENTEEN and fromis_9 scored 1.6 out of 5. Average salary is ₩58.6 million KRW ($42,500 USD).
Promotion opportunities are the best aspect, while work-life balance is the worst. Just 21% of employees approve of CEO Kim Yeon Su. Only 6% would recommend working there.
Woollim Entertainment, representing DRIPPIN and Kwon Eunbi, earned a 1.7 out of 5 rating. Annual average pay is ₩34.6 million KRW ($25,100 USD).
Staff say welfare and salary are the positives. But work-life balance and upper management fall flat. Only 17% approve of CEO Lee Jung Yeop and 7% see growth potential.
Cube Entertainment‘s employees gave the company 1.8 out of 5. They manage groups like I-DLE, PENTAGON, LIGHTSUM, and NOWZ. Average pay is ₩41 million KRW ($29,800 USD).
Promotion opportunities rated highest, work-life balance lowest. Staff approval for CEOs Jung Cheol, Kang Seung Geun, and Ahn Woo Hyung is just 16%. Growth potential is 8%.
Fantagio rates 2.0 out of 5 from workers who help run hits like ASTRO and BTOB’s Lee Changsub. Salaries average ₩36.4 million KRW ($26,400 USD).
Company culture and promotion top positives. Upper management approval is poor. Only 15% back CEO Shin Young Jin. Growth potential at 3%.
FNC Entertainment received a 2.1 out of 5 rating. The company agents FTISLAND, CNBLUE, SF9, and others. Average salary is ₩46.1 million KRW ($33,500 USD).
Promotion gets praise. Upper management gets hate. Just 19% approve CEOs Han Seung Ho and Kim Yoo Seok. Only 4% see the company growing.
Yuehua Entertainment, home to Tempest and Choi Yena, also rates 2.1 out of 5 with salaries around ₩35.5 million KRW ($25,800 USD).
Promotion is top-rated. Upper management comes under fire. CEO approval from staff is 19%, but 30% believe in growth.
YG Entertainment stands at 2.4 out of 5 employee satisfaction. With stars like BLACKPINK, TREASURE, and WINNER, salaries average ₩46.9 million KRW ($34,100 USD).
Promotion scores highest. Upper management ranks lowest. CEO Yang Min Seok has 24% approval. Growth potential is 14%.
SM Entertainment got a 2.5 out of 5 score. The giant behind BoA, EXO, Girls’ Generation, and aespa pays around ₩54.2 million KRW ($39,300 USD).
Promotion is best aspect. Work-life balance worst. CEOs Jang Cheol Hyuk and Tak Young Jun get 38% approval. 16% see growth.
Starship Entertainment, with MONSTA X, IVE, and others, rates 2.6 out of 5. Salary averages ₩46.3 million KRW ($33,600 USD).
Benefits and salary are praised. Work-life balance drags it down. More than half (53%) approve CEOs Lee Hoon Hee and Lee Jin Sung. Growth potential is 26%.
JYP Entertainment got a 2.6 out of 5 rating with TWICE, ITZY, Stray Kids, and more. Salary is highest here at ₩60.8 million KRW ($44,100 USD).
Promotion opportunities rated highest. Work-life balance worst. CEO Jung Wook has 58% staff approval. Growth hope sits at 16%.
HYBE tops this list with a 3.0 out of 5 employee rating. Home to BTS and TXT, average salary is ₩52.1 million KRW ($37,800 USD).
Welfare and salary are the best perks. Work-life balance again is the worst. CEO Lee Jae Sang approval is 53%. Growth potential highest here at 36%.
Employees at most top K-Pop agencies report bleak work-life balance and poor upper management approval. Only HYBE and JYP show somewhat hopeful growth figures. The battle for better conditions continues behind K-pop’s shining stage lights.
