KWAVESCOPE · AGENCY PROFILE
BELIFT LAB
ENHYPEN, ILLIT and EVAN: three different journeys under one HYBE music label.
Updated October 21, 2026 · Back to all K-POP agencies
BELIFT LAB at a glance
- Founded: September 2018 as a venture originally involving Big Hit Entertainment and CJ ENM.
- Corporate parent: a HYBE music label; distinct from BIGHIT MUSIC and SOURCE MUSIC.
- Current artists: ENHYPEN (six-member group), ILLIT (five-member group), EVAN (individual singer).
- Important 2026 change: HEESEUNG left ENHYPEN in March and continued with BELIFT as solo artist EVAN.
- 2025 BELIFT company revenue: about KRW 154.7 billion; operating profit about KRW 49.9 billion.
- Headquarters: 42 Hangang-daero, Yongsan-gu, Seoul.
- Visitor access: a corporate workplace; fan exhibitions and concerts use separately announced venues.
Company overview
One label can tell several distinct musical stories. ENHYPEN’s early releases built a mysterious world of thresholds and transformation, while ILLIT’s debut made light, melodic dance-pop immediately recognizable. EVAN, who first became known to fans as ENHYPEN’s HEESEUNG, began a different solo chapter in 2026. These acts share BELIFT LAB, but their music and group relationships are not the same.
BELIFT was founded in 2018 during a period when major entertainment businesses were experimenting with new ways to find and develop performers. The I-LAND project introduced audiences to a group-formation process before ENHYPEN’s debut in November 2020. ILLIT followed a different selection route and debuted in March 2024. EVAN’s solo career in 2026 added another kind of project to the company catalogue.
The most important editorial update is the current roster. Some older pages, event descriptions and videos still present ENHYPEN as seven members, because that was the group at its debut. BELIFT’s official 2026 profile instead names six: JUNGWON, JAY, JAKE, SUNGHOON, SUNOO and NI-KI. HEESEUNG is not erased from the history; he is documented separately under his current solo stage name.
Company structure and artist relationships
BELIFT is a label under HYBE, but it is not identical with HYBE itself or with BIGHIT MUSIC. Corporate ownership and music management need to be kept apart. A HYBE-wide financial statement cannot be attributed entirely to BELIFT; similarly, LE SSERAFIM’s association with SOURCE MUSIC does not make that group a BELIFT act.
The label’s own website provides separate entrances for ENHYPEN, ILLIT and EVAN. That layout is more useful for current fans than an old company summary built around only two groups. A name remaining in early ENHYPEN tracks is a historic recording credit, not proof that the artist is still a member in 2026.
ILLIT’s route to debut also needs careful wording. The group emerged from a televised selection project, and the current five-member lineup differs from some pre-debut announcements. Fans should use the actual debut and current official artist profile when naming the group.
KWaveScope A–Z artist profiles
These are the existing KWaveScope A–Z profiles that can be verified on the site. The cards below link to the artist pages; other names in the company roster are included for orientation rather than linked to guessed or unfinished pages.
Current roster, projects and historic artists
The official 2026 BELIFT LAB navigation identifies ENHYPEN, ILLIT and EVAN as its three main artist entries. The roster below distinguishes a performing group from a solo artist, and preserves HEESEUNG’s work in ENHYPEN as part of the group’s past rather than treating the change as a disappearance from the label.
| Name | Current relationship | Why this classification matters |
|---|---|---|
| ENHYPEN | Current boy group; six members | JUNGWON, JAY, JAKE, SUNGHOON, SUNOO and NI-KI are the six named on the current profile. |
| ILLIT | Current girl group; five members | YUNAH, MINJU, MOKA, WONHEE and IROHA debuted together in March 2024. |
| EVAN | Current solo artist | The stage name used by former ENHYPEN member HEESEUNG, who stayed with BELIFT after leaving the group in March 2026. |
| HEESEUNG | Former ENHYPEN member; continuing label soloist | His earlier recordings remain part of ENHYPEN’s history; the 2026 solo artist identity is EVAN. |
| I-LAND | Historic audition and development project | The program that formed ENHYPEN in 2020; it is not a separate current recording group. |
| R U Next? | Historic selection project | Associated with the group-formation process that preceded ILLIT’s debut. |
ENHYPEN: six members and a continuing group identity
ENHYPEN debuted on November 30, 2020 following the survival project I-LAND. The group’s name alludes to the connecting role of a hyphen, a fitting image for music about boundaries, growing up and discovering a place in the world. Across the years the catalogue has moved among dark pop, dance, R&B, rock-influenced arrangements and more direct melodic songwriting.
An older ENHYPEN biography may describe seven people, and those songs and performances should not be rewritten as if they never happened. In March 2026, BELIFT announced that HEESEUNG would leave the group to pursue a separate solo path under the same company. ENHYPEN’s official website now introduces six current members. Writing both pieces of information is more accurate than choosing a single roster for all years.
| Current member | Korean name | Status on the official 2026 page |
|---|---|---|
| JUNGWON | 정원 | Current group member; group leader. |
| JAY | 제이 | Current group member. |
| JAKE | 제이크 | Current group member. |
| SUNGHOON | 성훈 | Current group member. |
| SUNOO | 선우 | Current group member. |
| NI-KI | 니키 | Current group member. |
The group’s repertoire offers a strong path for new listeners: start with ‘Given-Taken’ and ‘Drunk-Dazed’, then hear ‘FEVER’, ‘Bite Me’ and later album tracks. The differences among those songs show why ENHYPEN cannot be summarized only as a survival-show debut. Its fans follow a continuous creative story despite lineup and project changes.
ILLIT: five voices and an instantly recognizable debut
ILLIT debuted on March 25, 2024, as a five-member girl group with YUNAH, MINJU, MOKA, WONHEE and IROHA. Its debut single ‘Magnetic’ made the group’s playful, direct style familiar to international listeners. The song’s appeal lay in its light-footed rhythm and a melody that was easy to recognize without requiring a dramatic performance concept.
Calling ILLIT a copy of a different group misses the practical evolution of its discography. Its records have developed their own visual world, vocal arrangements and stage routines. A group identity is built across music and live performance, not solely through a comparison that is repeated online.
| Member | Birthday | Group context |
|---|---|---|
| YUNAH | January 15, 2004 | Member of the five-person debut lineup. |
| MINJU | May 11, 2004 | Singer and performer. |
| MOKA | October 8, 2004 | Japanese member of the group. |
| WONHEE | June 26, 2007 | Member of the current lineup. |
| IROHA | February 4, 2008 | Japanese member of the current lineup. |
Fans can use official release notes and music videos to follow how ILLIT has expanded beyond the debut. The label’s current profile remains the reliable place for its five-member lineup, especially when an older pre-debut announcement mentions a different number of trainees.
EVAN: a solo identity distinct from ENHYPEN
EVAN is the stage name of the musician previously known as ENHYPEN’s HEESEUNG. After leaving the group in March 2026, he remained under BELIFT LAB and introduced the EVAN name in April. The label released a solo digital single in June, and a first mini album, Death of Me, followed in September 2026.
The split is an important distinction in an agency profile. EVAN’s current solo work is neither an ENHYPEN comeback nor an artist moving to a competing agency. The same company can manage a band and a separate career that began inside it, while fans can acknowledge the earlier work without assigning outdated group membership.
| Milestone | Date | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Departure from ENHYPEN | March 2026 | ENHYPEN continued as a six-member group. |
| EVAN artist identity announced | April 2026 | A new name and official solo presentation. |
| Ride or Die | June 2026 | An early EVAN solo digital release. |
| Death of Me | September 2026 | Solo mini-album chapter. |
Company history and milestones
BELIFT’s relatively short history is unusually eventful: two successful groups introduced through different selection processes and a high-profile transition to a solo career. The timeline keeps developments that happened years apart in their correct order.
| Year or period | Milestone | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | BELIFT was established as a joint venture connected to Big Hit and CJ ENM. | A music label combining talent development and entertainment-business expertise was created. |
| 2020 | I-LAND aired and ENHYPEN debuted in November. | A selection program led to the label’s first major group. |
| 2023 | BELIFT became fully integrated under the HYBE corporate structure. | The previous joint ownership arrangement changed. |
| 2023–2024 | ILLIT’s selection period culminated in its March 2024 five-member debut. | A new girl-group sound joined the catalogue. |
| 2024–2025 | ENHYPEN and ILLIT released multiple albums and expanded global audiences. | The company developed parallel touring and fan engagement operations. |
| March 2026 | HEESEUNG left ENHYPEN, which continued with six members. | Group and individual career paths separated. |
| April–September 2026 | HEESEUNG adopted the name EVAN and began releasing solo music. | BELIFT added a solo artist entry alongside its two groups. |
A listening guide through the catalog
The three artist names should lead to three listening routes. A fan can enjoy them all without treating every song as part of one continuous storyline.
| Artist or era | Where to begin | What to listen for |
|---|---|---|
| ENHYPEN, debut era | Given-Taken | A theatrical opening statement about identity and belonging. |
| ENHYPEN, broader catalogue | Drunk-Dazed; FEVER; Bite Me | Three different textures of the group’s pop sound. |
| ILLIT, debut | Magnetic | An immediately memorable rhythm and hook. |
| ILLIT, later releases | Cherish (My Love); Almond Chocolate | A change in tone across recordings after the debut. |
| EVAN, solo era | Ride or Die; Death of Me | A different direction from his years in ENHYPEN. |
Latest developments in 2026
ENHYPEN now appears as a six-member group
The official company artist profile identifies JUNGWON, JAY, JAKE, SUNGHOON, SUNOO and NI-KI as the group in October 2026. This does not invalidate earlier seven-member recordings. It means present-tense member lists, schedules and biographies need to be updated.
EVAN’s solo career develops through 2026
After the March departure announcement and April unveiling of the EVAN name, new music followed in June and September. His solo record should be listed under EVAN, with his former ENHYPEN identity explained as career background rather than in the current six-member table.
ILLIT grows beyond Magnetic
ILLIT continues to build an identifiable catalogue after its 2024 debut. Group news should be grounded in the actual dated official release and avoid repeating speculation about internal plans or online comparisons as if they were confirmed developments.
How big is BELIFT LAB?
KRW 154.7 billion
KRW 49.9 billion
NICE-based 2025 business figures for BELIFT LAB give approximately KRW 154.71 billion in revenue and KRW 49.89 billion in operating profit. The comparable 2024 figures were around KRW 151.46 billion in revenue and KRW 41.64 billion in operating profit.
These are figures for the BELIFT LAB company, not consolidated HYBE revenue or the earnings of ENHYPEN or ILLIT individually. A label’s accounts cover multiple operations, and revenue should not be read as direct take-home income for artists. Different consolidations can lead to different totals, so this profile states its reporting scope.
The financial year ended December 31, 2025. The numbers are rounded in Korean won. They should be compared only with figures calculated on a similar company basis.
Headquarters address and Google Maps
English: 42 Hangang-daero, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, South Korea
Korean for map apps and taxis: 서울특별시 용산구 한강대로 42
Finding the Yongsan office
BELIFT’s official website identifies 42 Hangang-daero in Yongsan as its business address. The area is accessible through the Yongsan transport network, including Sinyongsan Station on Line 4 and Yongsan Station. Save the Korean address and check the most current route in a map app.
The building is part of HYBE’s wider office setting and is not a general sightseeing attraction with open rehearsal rooms. An office address does not mean ENHYPEN, ILLIT or EVAN will be present when someone visits.
Public events and respectful fan travel
Pop-up stores, tour venues, fan meetings and exhibitions should be checked as separate events. They may take place away from the corporate office and have their own ticket and access rules. An event announcement from HYBE is not a standing invitation to explore its workplace.
Take photographs only from lawful public areas, keep access clear and respect the privacy of employees and artists. A public concert, licensed exhibition or official merchandise event is generally a more meaningful fan destination than an office door.
Auditions and trainee applications
BELIFT has an official AUDITION section on its website. Age eligibility, special recruitment periods, nationalities and accepted talents can vary; a post from an old trainee project is not a reliable application guide for October 2026.
Before submitting, read the currently active online audition notice and prepare a video or media file that meets its technical rules. Avoid manipulated audio or edited images that misrepresent the applicant’s actual ability. Young applicants should ask a parent or guardian to review the privacy policy and the information they are sharing.
The company website is the appropriate starting point for verified audition routes. Ignore unofficial intermediaries claiming guaranteed selection or demanding a fee to communicate with the label.
Frequently asked questions
Who are the current BELIFT artists?
ENHYPEN, ILLIT and soloist EVAN are the main official site entries in October 2026.
Is ENHYPEN still a seven-member group?
No. Since March 2026 the official current lineup has six members: JUNGWON, JAY, JAKE, SUNGHOON, SUNOO and NI-KI.
Did HEESEUNG leave BELIFT LAB?
No. He left ENHYPEN as a group, but remained with the label and debuted as a solo artist under the name EVAN.
What happened to the seven-member recordings?
The early releases remain part of ENHYPEN’s history. Past credits should be preserved while current biographies state the six-member lineup.
How many members are in ILLIT?
Five: YUNAH, MINJU, MOKA, WONHEE and IROHA, who debuted together on March 25, 2024.
Where is BELIFT LAB’s headquarters?
42 Hangang-daero, Yongsan-gu, Seoul. It is a private workplace and not an open fan-tour site.
Are BELIFT financial results the same as HYBE results?
No. The 2025 numbers in this article refer to BELIFT LAB alone, not the entire HYBE group.
Where should an audition be submitted?
Use the official BELIFT LAB website’s current AUDITION instructions, not an old community screenshot.
Official destinations and related reading
The BELIFT LAB official artist and audition website ↗ distinguishes its three current artist categories. KWaveScope also maintains separate profiles for ENHYPEN ↗ and ILLIT ↗. The official artist pages distinguish the current group and solo lineups.
Looking ahead
BELIFT’s story has moved rapidly from a group created through I-LAND to a portfolio of two established acts and one solo performer. That makes accuracy about membership particularly important. ENHYPEN is now six; ILLIT is five; EVAN’s work belongs to his own solo career.
Those facts do not diminish any part of the catalogue. They give listeners a better way to follow how artists change over time and to understand what their shared label actually does. A careful profile keeps those boundaries visible without losing the music behind them.
Editorial review: October 21, 2026. Artist contracts, releases, schedules and audition eligibility are subject to change. Financial figures describe the reporting entity named above, not individual artists.