EXO members slam SM Entertainment for 'slave' contracts

Home > Entertainment > K-pop

print dictionary print

EXO members slam SM Entertainment for 'slave' contracts

Chen, Baekhyun and Xiumin of boy band EXO [SM ENTERTAINMENT]

Chen, Baekhyun and Xiumin of boy band EXO [SM ENTERTAINMENT]

Members of boy band EXO refuted claims made by SM Entertainment, saying that the agency forced them into "slave" contracts and did not provide them with all the information as the company claimed.
 
The three members' attorney argued that SM Entertainment's contract terms are unfair to the point of exploiting the artists as "slaves," as opposed to the agency's explanation that the contracts were signed voluntarily by the individual artists.
 
According to an additional statement released on Friday, SM artists are forced to agree to contracts that automatically renew without a proper expiry date if they fail to release a certain number of albums.
 
A standard contract as recommended by the government is usually based on seven years, and an artist has the right to terminate the contract if it surpasses that threshold. SM Entertainment, on the other hand, strong-armed singers into 12- to 13-year contracts, Lee added.
 
Baekhyun, Xiumin and Chen notified SM Entertainment on Thursday that they are terminating their contracts with the agency due to mistreatment and unfair contract terms, while the agency argued that it's a part of "an outside party's scheme" to shake the company that has just finished an ugly battle over its management earlier this year.
 
The company argued that it had provided all necessary information regarding artists' payment and that the three members were being beguiled by "an absurd" outside force "without the artists' true interests at heart." 
 
“We artists are adults who are capable of thinking ourselves and responsible for the decisions that we make,” the three members of EXO said on Friday through their lawyer, rebutting the agency’s claim that the members have been tampered with by outside parties.
 
The three members had also claimed that they had never signed or tried to sign any exclusive contracts with a third party, refuting SM's allegation that the members contacted rapper and producer MC Mong and Big Planet Made.  
 
Big Planet Made too, denied the allegation on Thursday. 
 
The members also rebutted SM Entertainment’s claim that it has been providing all relevant information upon the artist’s requests, saying that the company only allowed artists to review the data, but did not allow them to take it elsewhere to consult with outsiders.
 
"Payment data is supposed to be read through slowly for 30 days, but only allowing artists to glance at it is the agency's effort to build its justification and say, 'We showed what we had to,'" the attorney said. 
 
"Knowing SM Entertainment's intentions, we could not compromise by just 'reviewing' the data and not be 'provided' it like we asked."  
 
But even with all the legal battles, the three members said they were willing to continue its group activities.
 
“Separate from settling legal issues with SM, we wholeheartedly thank the fans who have sent love and support to EXO over such a long time,” the statement reads.
 
“However this legal battle concludes, we will faithfully, and diligently continue our group activities under the band EXO.”   
 
EXO is a nine-member boy band that debuted in 2012 under SM Entertainment and is one of the most popular third-generation K-pop boy bands, well-known for songs such as "Growl" (2013), "Overdose" (2014), "Call Me Baby" (2015) and "Monster" (2016).
 
The band recently released the Japanese single “Bird” and held a meet and greet in April, marking the first time in four years for members to come together after their mandatory military services. Member Kai began his service earlier this month.

BY CHO YONG-JUN [cho.yongjun1@joongang.co.kr]
Log in to Twitter or Facebook account to connect
with the Korea JoongAng Daily
help-image Social comment?
s
lock icon

To write comments, please log in to one of the accounts.

Standards Board Policy (0/250자)