Korean pop culture, ranked by the numbers · 한류 랭킹
YG엔터테인먼트 그룹 타임라인
YG Entertainment's own history page lists its groups year by year, from Keep Six in 1996 to BABYMONSTER in 2024. On October 14, 2026, YG said a five-member boy group and a four-member girl group are still to debut.
Data as of
| YG history year | Group | Type | Debut or first release | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | Keep Six | Debuted with YG | 1996 (no exact date found) | YG, Wikipedia |
| 1997 | Jinusean지누션 | Debuted with YG | 1997, with the single "Gasoline" | YG, Wikipedia |
| 1998 | 1TYM원타임 | Debuted with YG | 1998 | YG, Wikipedia |
| 2003 | Big Mama빅마마 | Debuted with YG | 2003 | YG, Wikipedia |
| 2005 | Stony Skunk스토니 스컹크 | Joined YG | First album in 2003; YG's history lists it under 2005 | YG, Wikipedia |
| 2006 | BIGBANG빅뱅 | Debuted with YG | Aug 19, 2006 | YG, Wikipedia |
| 2009 | 2NE1투애니원 | Debuted with YG | Introduced Mar 27, 2009; first live "Fire" performance May 17, 2009 | YG, Wikipedia |
| 2012 | Epik High에픽하이 | Joined YG | Formed in 2002; signed with YG in 2012 | YG, Wikipedia |
| 2014 | AKMU악뮤 | Debuted with YG | Apr 7, 2014 | YG, Wikipedia |
| 2014 | WINNER위너 | Debuted with YG | Aug 17, 2014 | YG, Wikipedia |
| 2015 | iKON아이콘 | Debuted with YG | Sep 15, 2015 | YG, Wikipedia |
| 2016 | Sechskies젝스키스 | Joined YG | Debuted Apr 15, 1997 with DSP Media; signed with YG May 10, 2016 | YG, Wikipedia |
| 2016 | BLACKPINK블랙핑크 | Debuted with YG | Aug 8, 2016 | YG, Wikipedia |
| 2020 | TREASURE트레저 | Debuted with YG | Aug 7, 2020 | YG, Wikipedia |
| 2024 | BABYMONSTER베이비몬스터 | Debuted with YG | Apr 1, 2024 (first release as six members: Nov 27, 2023) | YG, Wikipedia |
The year is the one under which YG's History page lists each group.1 Debut dates are from each group's Wikipedia article, and a bare year means no exact date was found.4 Only groups, duos and trios are listed; the History page also names soloists and a few acts we could not source (45RPM, Soulstar, Moogadang), which are left out. "Joined YG" marks acts that debuted or formed elsewhere. BABYMONSTER's official debut is dated April 1, 2024, the year YG's page uses; its first release was in November 2023.14
YG's own history page starts in 1996 with the company, then called Hyun Agency, and its first act, Keep Six. Jinusean follows in 1997 and 1TYM in 1998.1 Wikipedia says Yang Hyun-suk, a former member of Seo Taiji and Boys, founded the company in March 1996 as Hyun Planning, and calls Keep Six its first act.3 Jinusean debuted in 1997 with the single "Gasoline", and 1TYM's four members were Teddy Park, Oh Jinhwan, Song Baekyoung and Danny Im.4
YG's history lists BIGBANG under 2006. The group held its official debut on August 19, 2006, at the YG Family 10th Anniversary Concert in Seoul.14 2NE1 followed in 2009: it was introduced on the single "Lollipop" with BIGBANG on March 27, 2009 and gave its first live performance of "Fire" on Inkigayo on May 17.14
YG's 2016 entry includes two very different groups. Sechskies (젝스키스) debuted on April 15, 1997 with DSP Media and signed with YG on May 10, 2016, after reuniting for a TV special.14 BLACKPINK (블랙핑크) debuted on August 8, 2016 with the single album Square One, the first girl group to debut under YG in seven years, according to Wikipedia.14
YG's history lists BABYMONSTER under 2024. The group released "Batter Up" as a six-piece on November 27, 2023, and debuted as a full seven-member ensemble on April 1, 2024 with the EP Babymons7er.14 YG said on October 12, 2026 that its "CHOOM" video had passed 200 million YouTube views, and that BABYMONSTER's second world tour has 31 shows in 18 cities.5
On October 14, 2026, executive producer Yang Hyun-suk wrote on YG's official blog that the company is preparing a five-member boy group and a four-member girl group, tentatively known as "NEXT MONSTER". Both are to record their demo tracks by the end of 2026, and YG said it will set debut dates after their title tracks are chosen.2 They are not in the table because they have not debuted.