The Actor Who’s Also a Petpreneur
Actor Cho Hansun is taking a bold leap—right into the future of Hallyu meets pet culture. His pet-centric lifestyle company, BigFriends, has officially merged with BIGWHALE Entertainment, a management agency known for representing powerful on-screen talent.
The result? A renamed and rebranded entity under the moniker BigFriends. And it’s not just a name change—it signals a strategic fusion of entertainment and the rapidly expanding pet industry.
Who’s Backing BigFriends?
The original BIGWHALE Entertainment boasted a roster of heavy-hitters: Jung Man-sik, Kim Byung-chun, and rising talents like Hong Yeji (of Produce 48 fame), Park Sehyun, and Seo Jaewoo. Under CEO Lim Jungbae, the agency built a rock-solid presence in the entertainment world.
Now, with BigFriends in the mix, the brand is tapping into a new kind of star power—both human and canine.
Paws and Play: Bringing DOGTV to Korea
So what exactly does BigFriends do? For starters, it runs DOGTV in Korea—a dedicated channel for our furry friends (yes, it’s TV for dogs!). But it’s not all screen time.
BigFriends has been hosting pet-friendly events, and their next paw-ty is already on the calendar: the 2nd Yangju Pet Culture Festival, happening on October 19. The event, called “By Mongnyang Market,” aims to celebrate the joys of life shared with pets.
What’s the Big Idea?
According to those in the know, the merger isn’t just a publicity stunt. The goal is to leverage the power of entertainment to elevate pet culture—and vice versa. Think red-carpet events where dogs are VIPs. Or star influencers who co-host pet care tutorials.
As both industries grow rapidly, crossovers like this could be the new way to wag the tail of modern K-entertainment.
From Management to Mascots
Cho Hansun seems to understand the growing emotional bond people share with their pets—a relationship not too different from fandoms. Merging talent management with pet production might just create a symbiotic ecosystem of influence, income, and inspiration.
Will BigFriends become the next big thing in Korean lifestyle branding? Maybe the real question is—who let the stars out?
