The trend of established K-pop artists venturing into producing new K-pop groups is on the rise, with artists in their late 20s to 30s, such as Kim Jae-joong, Zico, and Lee Hae-in, leading the way. This shift is partly due to the "seven-year curse" in K-pop, which often leads idols to explore new paths after their heyday. These artists aspire to become successful producers and leverage their experience and industry connections to nurture new K-pop bands, potentially generating significant profits. For instance, Kim Jae-joong, a former member of TVXQ, is launching a K-pop group through his entertainment agency iNKODE, drawing on his expertise and network in the music scene. Some artists, like Zico and Lee Hae-in, have already achieved success in producing hit groups. Zico's K-pop act BoyNextDoor, launched under the Hybe label, gained attention and commercial success, while Lee Hae-in played a role in launching the popular girl group Kiss of Life, which quickly garnered recognition and awards. However, industry insiders caution that success as an artist does not guarantee success as a producer, emphasizing the need for strong artist management, promotion, and business skills. Instances like Rain's group Ciipher and Tony Ahn's Smash serve as reminders that relying solely on past success as artists may not translate to success in the competitive K-pop industry. Overall, while artist-produced groups have the potential to diversify K-pop, it is crucial for these artists to develop robust business capabilities and adapt to the evolving industry landscape to thrive as producers.