KWAVESCOPE · AGENCY GUIDE 13
KOZ Entertainment
The label founded by ZICO, now home to BOYNEXTDOOR within the HYBE group.
Last reviewed October 25, 2026 · Back to K-POP Agencies
Company at a glance
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2019 by rapper, singer-songwriter and producer ZICO |
| Corporate relationship | Part of HYBE’s wider label group since 2020 |
| Principal current artists | ZICO and six-member boy group BOYNEXTDOOR |
| BOYNEXTDOOR debut | May 30, 2023 |
| Financial reporting | HYBE reports group-wide financial results; no KOZ-only revenue figure is quoted in this guide |
| Headquarters | 42 Hangang-daero, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, South Korea |
The origin of KOZ and why its name matters
KOZ Entertainment was founded in 2019 by the rapper and producer ZICO. Its starting point was different from the story of an established corporation launching a new branch: it was closely associated with a working artist whose recording career had already crossed group music, solo singles and production.
KOZ stands for King of the Zungle, a phrase ZICO had already used for his concert tour. The name kept his artistic identity at the center of the venture. Over time, the company evolved from an artist-founded label into a place where a new group could develop its own voice.
HYBE acquired the label in 2020, placing KOZ inside a much larger corporate network. Ownership does not make every HYBE artist a KOZ performer. KOZ maintains its own public artist pages, which currently center on ZICO and BOYNEXTDOOR.
KOZ artist roster and A–Z links
KOZ keeps a compact roster. Its official site and HYBE’s company directory list ZICO and BOYNEXTDOOR as the label’s featured artists. ZICO’s former group Block B and the singer-songwriter DVWN remain relevant to the label’s history, but they should not be confused with the two acts in its current official lineup.
| Artist | Current relationship | KWaveScope link |
|---|---|---|
| ZICO | Founder, recording artist, producer and songwriter | Official KOZ artist profile ↗ (KWaveScope solo profile in preparation) |
| BOYNEXTDOOR | Six-member group debuted May 30, 2023 | BOYNEXTDOOR ↗ |
| BLOCK B | Historically central to ZICO’s earlier career; not a separate current KOZ group by default | Historical ZICO group relationship |
| DVWN | Former KOZ-associated singer-songwriter; not listed among the two main artists on the present official homepage | Historical artist, verify contract changes |
ZICO: solo music, production and the founding of a label
ZICO first became known as a member and leader of Block B in 2011, before developing a major solo career. His catalog includes both melodic and rhythm-driven work, and his role as a producer helped position him as more than a performer of songs written entirely by others.
The 2020 single ‘Any Song’ was particularly important because it combined a catchy, accessible record with a dance challenge that travelled widely through social media. The song itself mattered, but so did the way listeners could participate beyond streaming it once.
In 2024, ‘SPOT!’ with JENNIE provided another example of ZICO building a track around a recognizable collaborative voice. Earlier recordings such as ‘Artist’ and ‘New Thing’ reveal different aspects of his approach to melody, rhythm and image.
The fact that ZICO founded KOZ does not mean every KOZ recording has the same production team or that the company exists only as a private project. The challenge of growing a label is to develop a structure that supports other performers while retaining a coherent creative point of view.
BOYNEXTDOOR: six members and everyday emotion
BOYNEXTDOOR debuted on May 30, 2023, as KOZ’s first boy group. The official company biography identifies six members: SUNGHO, RIWOO, JAEHYUN, TAESAN, LEEHAN and WOONHAK. Their name evokes boys living next door, which matches the group’s interest in feelings and situations that are familiar rather than distant or untouchable.
The early releases used storytelling about attraction, awkwardness, friendships and growing up. The songs often sound direct and conversational, while the performances contain playful character details. That gives the act a different creative position within HYBE from groups built around elaborate fantasy concepts.
This does not make the music simplistic. Writing a strong chorus about an ordinary emotion requires precision. The difference between a song that merely describes a feeling and one that lets listeners recognize their own experience is a matter of composition, delivery and point of view.
BOYNEXTDOOR’s development also illustrates how an independent label identity can work within a parent corporation. HYBE provides a broad business environment; KOZ is still the specific home of these six performers and their music.
Meet the BOYNEXTDOOR members
| Member | Birthday | KWaveScope profile |
|---|---|---|
| SUNGHO | September 4, 2003 | View profile ↗ |
| RIWOO | October 22, 2003 | View profile ↗ |
| JAEHYUN | December 4, 2003 | View profile ↗ |
| TAESAN | August 10, 2004 | View profile ↗ |
| LEEHAN | October 20, 2004 | View profile ↗ |
| WOONHAK | November 29, 2006 | View profile ↗ |
The relationship with HYBE
KOZ belongs to the HYBE label ecosystem, but it is not BIGHIT MUSIC, BELIFT LAB, PLEDIS Entertainment or SOURCE MUSIC. Each of those companies works with its own artists, release schedules and creative teams. A shared parent can support distribution and other services, but that does not merge all the artist contracts.
The distinction is also important in financial reporting. HYBE’s group revenue includes several Korean and international labels and other businesses. Simply citing the parent company’s entire revenue as KOZ income would be wrong.
For an English-language entertainment guide, the useful questions are more concrete: who manages the artist, where is the official profile, and which company announced the release? Those details help readers avoid a common source of misinformation in K-pop reporting.
Milestones from ZICO to BOYNEXTDOOR
| Year | Event | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 2011 | ZICO debuted in Block B | Beginning of a public group music career |
| 2014 | ZICO developed his solo discography | A separate musical identity emerged |
| 2019 | KOZ Entertainment founded | Artist-founded management and production label |
| 2020 | HYBE acquired KOZ; "Any Song" gained wide attention | The label joined a large corporate network while ZICO’s solo work reached an international audience |
| 2023 | BOYNEXTDOOR debuted on May 30 | The company introduced its first newly developed boy group |
| 2024 | ZICO released "SPOT!" featuring JENNIE | A further example of his collaborative solo work |
| 2025–2026 | BOYNEXTDOOR continued a group album, performance and international schedule | The label developed a second core artistic identity |
Financial context without confusing parent and subsidiary
KOZ is a company within HYBE, so the scale of the parent group can be an important business background. It should not, however, be substituted for verified stand-alone KOZ accounts. A single number from a broad entertainment-company chart may also mix reporting bases or years.
KOZ has a much narrower artist roster than the HYBE group as a whole, but roster size is not a reliable substitute for financial data. This profile therefore leaves out a KOZ-only revenue estimate: an accurate comparison would require financial statements for the specific legal entity and reporting period.
The practical reading is that KOZ’s growth depends on a compact artist roster. Recorded music, live performances and intellectual property are all potential commercial channels, but each has different costs and distribution arrangements. None should be called an artist’s personal profit without a specific, reliable source.
What makes the KOZ identity distinctive?
The first distinctive element is its founder’s broad understanding of hip-hop, pop production and audience participation. ZICO has released music that works in headphones but also creates communal moments through simple hooks, choreography and social sharing.
The second is the creative space provided to BOYNEXTDOOR. Their musical approach often highlights small personal emotions, something that could have been lost if the company simply tried to create a younger copy of its founder.
The third is the relationship between independence of creative character and the resources of a larger parent organization. Those two conditions can coexist, but their balance is something to evaluate through actual releases rather than a marketing phrase.
Office location and Google Maps
KOZ’s official website lists its address at 42 Hangang-daero, Yongsan-gu, Seoul 04389, South Korea. This is within the HYBE corporate environment in Yongsan. That does not mean fans can enter offices or practice facilities.
Find the office area on Google Maps ↗
Use Yongsan’s rail and subway network as a starting point, but verify the last walking segment in a local map app. The office is a workplace. Events, exhibitions and fan meetings may be held elsewhere and may require tickets or advance registration.
Auditions and the visitor perspective
KOZ maintains an official audition section. Applications may cover vocals, rap, dance or producing, depending on the currently advertised program. The information should be taken from the active official application notice rather than an undated screenshot.
The audition process may require a self-introduction and performance files. Applicants should use real, clear recordings and verify the current eligibility rules. Parents or guardians should be involved when the applicant is a minor, especially where personal data or travel arrangements are concerned.
Official resources
KOZ Entertainment official website ↗ · BOYNEXTDOOR official profile ↗. Official auditions are accessible from the KOZ website navigation. Financial report URLs are deliberately not provided.
Frequently asked questions
Who founded KOZ Entertainment?
ZICO founded KOZ Entertainment in 2019, after building his career through Block B and solo recordings.
Is KOZ owned by HYBE?
KOZ joined HYBE’s business structure in 2020. It remains a distinct label with its own artist pages.
Which artists are currently featured on KOZ’s official website?
ZICO and BOYNEXTDOOR. Historical associations do not make another act a current exclusive KOZ artist.
When did BOYNEXTDOOR debut?
May 30, 2023, according to the official KOZ profile.
How many members are in BOYNEXTDOOR?
Six: SUNGHO, RIWOO, JAEHYUN, TAESAN, LEEHAN and WOONHAK.
Can I visit KOZ’s office?
The published Yongsan address is a business workplace, not an advertised public studio tour.
What to watch next
KOZ’s next chapter is less about adding a long list of artists than about sustaining two recognizable voices: ZICO’s solo artistry and BOYNEXTDOOR’s evolving group music. The label’s success should be assessed through that artistic development and accurately attributed work rather than parent-company headlines.
Editorial note: Current artist affiliations and birthdays were cross-checked against KOZ Entertainment and HYBE’s official artist information. Historical relationships are marked separately. Business addresses, audition rules and artist contracts can change; no unverified stand-alone revenue figure is presented.