WakeOne is entering a new era. The agency manages acts like ZEROBASEONE, izna, and the soon-to-debut ALPHA DRIVE ONE. On November 3, it officially appointed industry veteran Nam So Young as its new CEO. It plans to build a stronger system that better supports each artist’s identity and growth.
Nam So Young is a familiar name in the K-pop world. She is one of the first-generation female executives who helped shape how the industry runs today.
Starting as a manager, she went on to help establish SM Japan and later led global artist management at SM Entertainment before becoming its CEO. She is credited with helping take K-pop from a local success story to a global phenomenon.
WakeOne appointed Nam to expand global operations and fine-tune how it manages artists at home. In their official statement, the agency shared
“Under CEO Nam’s leadership, we will create a production environment that can maximize the originality and potential of each artist. We will take WAKEONE’s global competitiveness to the next level with sophisticated strategies tailored to the characteristics of each artist.”
In other words, Nam So Young is someone who understands both the creative and business sides of the industry. Under her leadership, the label will reorganize into a two-center system. This system will provide more focused and effective support for different artists.
Center 1 will handle WAKEONE’s well-established groups, including the successful boy group ZEROBASEONE and the rising girl group izna. This center will make sure these teams continue to expand globally and into the new markets without losing their popularity in Korea.
Center 2 will take charge of developing the company’s new boy group ALPHA DRIVE ONE (ALD1), set to debut next year. This newly formed group will have a dedicated team from the start. They will handle everything, including their debut rollout and long-term career strategy.
WAKEONE is also preparing a dedicated label for its solo artists, including Kim Feel, Ha Hyun Sang, Jo Yu Ri, and Kim Jae Hwan. These solo artists have their own distinct musical style. The new label will give them the creative space and personalized management they need to grow individually.
Nam So Young’s track record speaks for itself. She is known for her strategic mindset and understanding of the creative process behind K-pop success. Her experience in artist management, global strategy, and content production makes her a natural fit for this new direction.
It’s a big shift for WakeOne, but one that feels well-timed. The label prepares for contract renewal with ZEROBASEONE and gears up to launch ALPHA DRIVE ONE.
