[비즈한국] It has been confirmed that DSP Media, the entertainment agency that produced artists such as Fin.K.L and SECHSKIES, relocated its headquarters from the RBW Tower in Jayang-dong, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, to Jeju City last February. However, it appears that actual business operations are still being conducted at the RBW Tower. DSP Media’s job postings specify the work location as the RBW Tower, and the company’s website also lists this location as its official address. The RBW Tower is a building owned by RBW, the parent company of DSP Media.
The building in Jeju City that houses DSP Media’s headquarters is a two-story structure where the first floor is used as a pension, and the DSP Media headquarters occupies the second floor. The building is located in Gujwa-eup, far from the city center of Jeju. It is more than 30 km away from Jeju International Airport and is not a high-traffic area. It is understood that there are virtually no staff members working at the Jeju headquarters; it functions only as a headquarters on paper, while actual operational duties continue to take place at the RBW Tower.
Discrepancies between a paper headquarters and an operational headquarters can lead to management inconveniences. Official documents, such as tax notices or legal summons, are sent to the company's registered headquarters. Furthermore, the jurisdiction for courts and tax offices is determined based on the headquarters' location. If DSP Media becomes involved in a lawsuit, it would have to handle related matters in Jeju City rather than Seoul.
DSP Media is currently pushing for the construction of a training center in Jeju. The company stated that the reason for moving its headquarters to Jeju was with the training center in mind, including tasks such as scouting sites and communicating with local officials. They argued that this would allow for smoother communication with local government agencies.
While the move is said to be for the construction of the training center, some analysts suggest that the relocation of the headquarters itself could indicate that DSP Media may pursue additional business ventures in Jeju. Jeju Island is a frequent destination for entertainment companies filming music videos, and the company could also benefit from synergies with the tourism industry. Jeju is a major tourist destination visited by many Chinese tourists.
There is a possibility that DSP Media may eventually move its headquarters back to Gwangjin-gu. On August 21, the parent company, RBW, announced the completion of its new headquarters in Gwangjin-gu. RBW stated, "With the completion of this new building, we are integrating and relocating work spaces that were previously scattered across several areas, including Jayang-ro 129 (RBW Tower) in Gwangjin-gu, Jangan-dong in Dongdaemun-gu, and Yangjae-dong in Seocho-gu," adding, "Major subsidiaries such as DSP Media and Strange Lab are also scheduled to move into this new building." However, DSP Media stated that while they may move their Seoul office, no plans for relocating the headquarters back have been decided at this time.
In the past, DSP Media garnered attention in the entertainment industry for producing artists like Fin.K.L, SECHSKIES, and KARA. However, it is generally assessed that its influence has waned since the passing of CEO Lee Ho-yeon in 2018. DSP Media was acquired by RBW (Rainbow Bridge World) in 2022 and recorded 5.3 billion won in revenue and 1.4 billion won in operating profit last year. Its parent company, RBW, is the entertainment agency that produced artists such as MAMAMOO.