Fifty Fifty's agency sues production company for 1 billion won over breach of contract

Fifty Fifty's agency Attrakt filed a 1-billion-won ($734,700) suit against the girl group's production company and its executives in a continuing legal battle over the "Cupid" singers.

The suit was filed to the Seoul Central District Court on Sept. 27 against The Givers, the production company behind Fifty Fifty's music, its CEO Ahn Sung-il and board member Baek Jin-sil for allegedly violating the production contract they had signed with Attrakt.

Oscar Chun, Attrakt's CEO, has been alleging The Givers' Ahn did not provide data relevant to Fifty Fifty's earnings successfully to diminish the agency's control over the group and encourage them to sign with another agency without his knowing.

"We have failed to proceed with our artists' activities because The Givers' Ahn Sung-il and Baek Jin-sil's violation of the contract, which included embezzlement and turning down offers to shoot advertisements or other sponsorships," Attrakt said in a press release.

"This suit is only a part of the loss we have suffered, and we plan to increase the amount as the suit proceeds in the future."

Attrakt is preparing to launch another girl group by the first half of next year through an audition program after Fifty Fifty has practically halted its activities since the quartet and its agency began a legal brawl in June.

Evergreen Group Holdings, a Singaporean equity firm, said it will invest 10 billion won in Attrakt, while a court in Korea on Sept. 25 suspended royalty payments to Ahn for songs he produced for Fifty Fifty.

Meanwhile, the quartet's fans are boycotting Attrakt for failing to protect the members' reputation during the legal conflicts and mistreating them.

BY YOON SO-YEON [yoon.soyeon@joongang.co.kr]