1-6-2023 (SEOUL) Law Firm LIN, representing popular K-pop group EXO members Baekhyun, Xiumin, and Chen, made an official announcement that a notice of exclusive contract termination has been sent to SM Entertainment on behalf of the three artists.
According to LIN, the EXO members have jointly submitted seven requests for detailed documentation regarding their earnings and payments from March to May. Suspecting irregularities in their earnings, Baekhyun, Xiumin, and Chen exercised their rights as artists to seek transparent and clear records of the company’s financial calculations. However, SM Entertainment allegedly refused to disclose the requested information to the artists.
In addition, LIN revealed that SM Entertainment had coerced its artists into signing lengthy exclusive contracts spanning 12 to 13 years. Recently, the agency reportedly demanded early contract renewals, extending the contracts to a staggering duration of at least 17 to 18 years. Baekhyun, Xiumin, and Chen, viewing this as an abuse of power and an infringement upon their rights, claim that SM Entertainment continues to impose unfair and oppressive “slave contracts” on its artists, violating existing laws governing exclusive contracts within the entertainment industry.
The three EXO members have made the decision to take legal action against SM Entertainment in order to challenge these “slave contracts” and become advocates for other artists who may also be bound by similar unfair contractual terms under the agency.
