Op: In YG’s 2023 Q3 report, YGX business profile was already updated to “managing entertainers and producing albums, and planning events” from “providing choreography services and operating an academy”. screencaps
YGX Academy is a dance and vocal specialized academy established by YGX that offers exclusive auditions for trainees of YG and its subsidiaries like The Black Label and create opportunities for YG-affiliated choreography teams like Hi-Tech and Crazy.
Furthermore, it provides professional classes, hobby classes, global programs, private lessons, and diverse courses for all ages, catering to aspiring singers and entertainers, ensuring a professional educational environment for everyone.
The announcement did not specify reason for the academy’s closure. Deukie, one-half of YGX’s popular Kwon Twin posted on his IG Story.
"Everyone must have been surprised by the sudden news. I'm truly sorry for not informing you earlier, and I feel deeply apologetic. It's sad to say goodbye to a place I've been in for so long, but please know that this isn't the end. So, please don't worry too much. If you continue to give your attention and love as you do now, my new chapter can shine brightly. Please believe me; I'll be back soon. Always thankful, always grateful. I'll keep working hard in the future too.”
Origins of YGX
Beginning as “X Company” in 2017, YGX’s original purpose was not as a dance-only agency, but as the next-generation label of YG Entertainment, which would succeed music label HIGHGRND, formerly led by TABLO. After merging with HIGHGRND, YGX began operating earnestly in 2018 and later established the dance academy "X ACADEMY" in October 2018.
Afterwards, with Seungri as the company's CEO, YGX expanded into the DJ business with Seungri's DJ label, "NHR" to support the DJ business and prepare for overseas markets. Following this, artists began to be recruited earnestly, and producer CHOICE37 team moved from YG Entertainment, and auditions were even held.
YGX managed three businesses: "YGX Entertainment," "X ACADEMY," and "NHR".
In June 2020, due to parent YG’s large-scale restructuring, all YGX’s artists and producers were re-organized and YGX transformed into a choreographer label.
The dance academy is on the 2nd and 3rd floors of its head office. It has Y classes for hobbyists, G classes for professional dancers and audition preparation, and X classes for outstanding students from G classes.
Parent YG Entertainment holds 93.33% shares as of this day.
YGX CEO Lee Jae-wook explained the reasons to create debuting artists through X Academy in 2018.
During the audition process, they came across many potential talents that they couldn’t represent. “Through auditions, we met many friends whom we wanted to produce ourselves. When we discovered these good friends ourselves, they already had contracts elsewhere. It was because of this aspect that we decided to start the academy."
To end on a funny note~
During Taeyang’s 2023 comeback with The Black Label, Lee Jaewook was seen alongside Taeyang for his promotion. Lee was Bigbang’s performance director. In the episode 4 of Living the Double Life, Taeyang and Kush tried to help Lee Jaewook get a date in Busan.
