EXO, a South Korea band, is making headlines worldwide as of late after one of its members filed a lawsuit against their managing company, SM Entertainment Co., to have his contract annulled. Because of the huge impact of the rather scandalous gesture from another SM Entertainment artist, some fans are now speculating that another member/s or perhaps someone from the other groups under the K-Pop powerhouse company might be making another unexpected exit soon.
EXO, a twelve member group known for international hit songs such as "Wolf," "Growl," and "Miracles in December," is composed of two subgroups: EXO-K and EXO-M. EXO-K comprised six Korean members while EXO-M is composed of six Chinese or Chinese-speaking Korean artists. The latter is intended to target the Chinese market, Wall Street Journal has learned.
Amid the great demand and the huge fanbase of EXO, somehow the group is not only making headlines lately for their album sales, top-notched dancing and undeniable charms. The group was suddenly pitted against an undying issue that has for years plagued their entertainment company. This started when EXO-M leader, Kris Wu, reportedly filed a lawsuit against SM Entertainment Co. early this month in a move to nullify his contract under the big entertainment company.
While a spokesman for the Korean firm representing Kris has declined to comment on the specific details of the case ever since it was publicized, an SM spokesperson revealed that the South Korea company is "taken aback" by the scandalous lawsuit and is now in the midst of verifying the veracity of the lawsuit.
The estranged EXO-M leader reportedly filed a lawsuit against SM on May 15. The following day, he wrote a message on his Weibo microblog account, which started with a Chinese saying that refers to a situation when a weak individual is being pitted against a much powerful one, local media reports said. "I'm fine. I wish everyone a blessing and for you to be well. I thank everyone that supports me and such opinions. (I) will always be here," the 23-year-old rapper wrote, Korean daily Hankook Ilbo reported.
Despite the compromising situation Kris' lawsuit has put the entire group in, SM Entertainment has confirmed on its official Web site that EXO's upcoming concert will still pull through, with only 11 members performing. "The upcoming concert at Seoul Olympic Gymnastics Stadium on May 23-25 will be given by 11 members," the official statement from the company read. "The current members are doing all they can to prepare for the upcoming performance. For all the fans who have been waiting anxiously, we promise you a spectacular show."
SM also said that it has attempted to contact Kris since the devastating news broke, but all of its efforts have remained futile as the rapper denied any response. Meanwhile, HelloKpop reported that the 23-year-old was unable to respond to the management because he is currently being treated for his heart condition in China.
"Since he filed his lawsuit we have been unable to get in touch with Kris and we have heard no word from his attorneys on whether he had intentions of attending the concert," a statement from SM read. "All of a sudden we only had 11 members for the concert, leaving us with a lot to change, so it has been very difficult for both the members and the staff. But we are doing our best to cope with the situation."
In Kris' absence, the 11 members of EXO will still hold their first solo concert this weekend in Korea. The said event marks the second anniversary of EXO-'s debut. In a video clip addressed to EXO fans, the remaining 11 members revealed that they will play gigs in China and Hong Kong next month, and they didn't mention anything about Kris Wu, Today Online reported.
This is not the first time SM Entertainment Co. got involved into a high profile legal dispute against its artists. According to the Wall Street Journal, the highest profile legal dispute involving the currently embattled entertainment company was with its biggest breakthrough boygroup, TVXQ. The said group that once hold a Guinness for having the largest fanbase all over the world started as a five member boyband. However, three members, namely: Hero Jaejoong, Xiah Junsu, and Mickey Yoochun, decided to split from SM, claiming that their 13-year contract was too long, schedules were plotted without consulting the members, and profits were unfairly distributed. As of today, TVXQ is still active with only two active members left, U-know Yunho and Max Changmin. On the other hand, the three members formed a trio under the management of C-Jes Entertainment.
Apart from TVXQ, another SM artist filed for a lawsuit against the K-Pop powerhouse. Hangeng, who is formerly a member of another successful boygroup from SM Entertainment called Super Junior-M - a subgroup of Super Junior - filed a lawsuit against the company in 2009. According to the former Super Junior-M member, the main reason why he filed the lawsuit was related to his income. "The most important thing to me was making money so my parents could live comfortably, and that was also the greatest motive," he once said in an interview in a Chinese music program. In addition, the lawsuit he filed cited that his 13-year contract under the company was unlawful, overly restrictive and unfair.
Now that SM Entertainment Co. is plagued by the same issue (it comes in threes?), fans couldn't help but wonder whether another artist is exiting the company soon. Some EXO fans are saying that they could not imagine if another member from either subgroups will file a similar lawsuit. Others claim that everything pertaining to the alleged exit of Kris is still a rumor unless officially confirmed by both parties involved. Meanwhile, general K-Pop fans say that they hope this will be the last lawsuit filed by an SM artist against the company that is deemed as one of the biggest in the K-Pop industry, housing very successful K-Pop groups such as Girls Generation, Shinee and F(x), among others.
Top labels occasionally face legal disputes over contractual terms or moves to break contracts with their artists, according to the Wall Street Journal.
