TR Entertainment, best known as the agency behind the girl group TRI.BE (트라이비), has officially declared bankruptcy due to financial difficulties. On 13th March 2025 (Thursday), the Seoul Bankruptcy Court’s Rehabilitation Division 16 issued a summary bankruptcy ruling for the company which was formerly led by the late composer Shinsadong Tiger (신사동호랭이).
The bankruptcy was granted when the debtor’s assets totalled less than KRW500 million (RM1,524,780) at the time of the ruling. The primary reason for the bankruptcy was financial hardship following Shinsadong Tiger’s passing in February 2024. After his death, TR Entertainment reportedly faced a sharp decline in revenue and the loss of key business partnerships, ultimately leading to its downfall.
Founded in June 2020, TR Entertainment was home to many notable artists, including girl group TRI.BE, EXID (이엑스아이디) member Elly (엘리), and singer Yoo Sung Eun (유성은). The future affiliations of these artists remain uncertain in light of the company’s bankruptcy, with TRI.BE receiving the most concern out of all. The girl group hasn’t made a group comeback in over a year but recently celebrated their 4th anniversary.
For those unfamiliar, Shinsadong Tiger was a renowned hitmaker in the K-pop industry, producing major hits like 4Minute’s (포미닛) “Hot Issue”, Apink’s (에이핑크) “NoNoNo”, T-ara’s (티아라) “Roly-Poly”, and EXID’s “Up & Down”. Despite his musical successes, he faced financial struggles and accumulated debts of approximately KRW1.7 billion (approximately RM5,184,252). In 2017, he filed for corporate rehabilitation, and the following year, the court approved a restructuring plan that required him to repay 70% of his debts over a 10-year period.
Many netizens expressed their sadness over the news, voicing concerns about TRI.BE’s future. Fans of the group took to social media to share their disappointment and uncertainty about what lies ahead for the members, hoping they would find a new agency or continue their careers in the industry. The group have yet to address the current issue, but we sincerely hope for the best for TRI.BE’s future.
Source: Allkpop
Nakhla Sabrina contributed to this article
