Open World Entertainment was a South Korean independent record label and talent management company. It was founded in 2000 by Jang Seok-woo and its current roster of recording artists include Kim Horam, The Boss and X-5 as well as actors Ko Joo-won and Shin Ji-soo. Its records are distributed by LOEN Entertainment and has a partnership with Sony Music Entertainment Japan.
Affiliation
In 2011, Open World Entertainment, holder of the trademark rights to boy band name of Shinhwa, granted the group permission to use the name as long as they perform together as a group. Hence allowing the group to established the 'Shinhwa Company', a joint venture agency for members to perform as a group. Open World also holds the rights to Shinhwa's overseas concerts with Shinhwa Company, and overseas licensing of the group's albums.[1]
Scandal
On 10 April 2012, Jang Seok-woo, the company's 51-year-old CEO, was arrested without warrant by undercover police detectives at his office. He was charged with habitual sexual harassment, assault and rape of his singers and trainees.[2]