Every K-pop group goes through a rough patch. It generally starts after the group has at least 4-5 comebacks.
Sometimes, they go through a creative block; other times, there is conflict among members leaving the group. In some instances, idols raise concerns over discrepancies in the contract or have a rift with the management over fewer comebacks. More often, these issues arise after the group has been in the industry for a few years.
However, due to the oversaturation of K-pop at the start of this decade, most idols constantly fear getting canned at any moment, right after their debut. The 4th generation is becoming more of an instant factory, with very few groups making a significant mark, usually from well-established labels.
K-pop groups from smaller companies are facing the real challenge of getting attention. Meanwhile, several rookie groups also deal with their record labels over the contract.
Recently, a popular K-pop soloist, Rain, faced the “black ocean” over his treatment of a rookie K-pop group, Ciipher, under his management. The point is that fans usually favor the idols over the management company when the conflict arises.
But today’s case subverts this favor–
FIFTY FIFTY rose to prominence almost immediately after their debut. Their song, Cupid, released in 2023, was a TikTok trend and entered several musical charts. The rookie group was also acknowledged by the Billboard global charts and garnered a massive following soon after.
At the peak of their popularity, fans cheered for the group and were proud of the girls for achieving recognition even after debuting from a small company like ATTRAKT. People love a good underdog story.
But their popularity went downhill in June when netizens found out that FIFTY FIFTY had filed a provisional injunction to suspend their exclusive contract with ATTRAKT. Initially, fans stood by the girls in their decision.
However, ATTRAKT’s CEO exposed a damning phone call, where The Givers CEO sold FIFTY FIFTY to another label behind his back. Netizens turned against the girl group, inferring they made false allegations against their CEO just to terminate their current contract. Read here for the entire account from the ATTRAKT CEO.
However, the tables turned again during an episode of “Unanswered Questions” on August 19, which revealed that ATTRAKT exploited FIFTY FIFTY by restricting their dietary intake, throwing away the food that the girls’ parents gave them, and giving them insufficient meal allowances. This angered several fans. They called out the CEO for blatant abuse.
And now, in the latest update, the court announced their verdict on FIFTY FIFTY’s application for an injunction. The court rejected their request to terminate the contract with ATTRAKT, citing that there was not enough evidence to prove that the trust was broken by the other party. Hence, as per court orders, FIFTY has not left the company yet.
Did Fifty Fifty Leave Attrakt?
FIFTY FIFTY presented their case before the 50th Civil Division of the Seoul Central District Court. The group alleged three significant allegations, including–
- Strenuous schedules for their health conditions.
- Not yet received their payment.
- Breach of contract.
The court examined the evidence from each side. The jury concluded that there has been no substantial evidence that proves that there has been a breach of contract. The court also rejected the three accusations from the rookie group, including failure to meet settlement obligations, neglecting health protection obligations, and lack of adequate support.
The court declared its final verdict as– “Given there’s no valid reason for this application, all claims are hereby rejected.”
Hence, FIFTY FIFTY will also incur all litigation expenses.
What Did CEO Jun Hong Joon Say?
ATTRAKT’s CEO, Jun Hong Joon, was relieved that the court acknowledged that he was not involved in any shady practices. He told Munhwa Ilbo in a telephonic interview–
“The past two months, every day has been really painful.” He added, “Seeing the rejection verdict, I feel like they’ve at least acknowledged the injustice I’ve been through.”
He also expressed his gratitude for the support he got from K-Netz–
“I am deeply grateful to the many fans who have supported me and the company.”
“If things go well for me, I feel like I should support those who have been unfairly treated, even if it’s just a little grain of sand. I think I should not ignore them in the future.”
However, CEO Jun stated that he would continue pressing legal charges against The Givers agency, whose CEO allegedly sold FIFTY FIFTY.
He wishes that the group continues with the agency, saying–
“Above all, I want the members to come back (to ATTRAKT),”
“I hope this serves as a good precedent that will sound the alarm for those who engage in defamation and attempts to take over the group, which hinders the development of Hallyu.”
As for the fate of the group with ATTRAKT, it seems that they are not stopping here. The legal representatives for FIFTY FIFTY expressed their views after hearing the court’s verdict–
“Upon receiving the written judgment, we will consult with the members and decide whether to lodge an appeal.”
What is your take on this case? Do you think FIFTY FIFTY should just leave the company? Do you believe that the group was mistreated by their agency?
Is ATTRAKT CEO genuine in his conduct, or is he exploiting the group? Let us know your opinions in the comments section below.
