BAP
All members of the South Korean top hip-hop group, B.A.P, filed a contract claim against their own agency, TS Entertainment, at the end of last November. They claim to have been improperly treated by receiving very little payment, a crazy schedule, and no transparency in the company’s finances. Various controversies and speculations accompanied the group’s lawsuits fronted by Bang Yongguk, Kim Himchan, Jung Daehyun, Yoo Youngjae, Moon Jongup, and Choi Junhong (Zelo). Especially during this time, TS Entertainment was known as a “cool” agency, which even though it was only established in 2008, but was able to orbit quite famous artists, such as Untouchable, SECRET, B.A.P, and will debut SONAMOO’s potential girl group.
What exactly is the chronology of the “war” between B.A.P and TS Entertainment? Next, we will provide you with a short rundown. B.A.P officially debuted on January 27th, 2012, with the single “Warrior.” Their name immediately skyrocketed shortly after debut. Until now, the six men have released 11 albums, starred in 3 reality shows, and toured Japan and the world. B.A.P has recorded 24 prestigious awards, including New Rising Star at the Golden Disk Awards and Best Male Rookie at the K-Pop Awards Gaon Chart. They also won the MTV EMA Best Korean Act at the end of last October, and were championed as the 2014 Best Worldwide Act on MTV EMA Glasgow.
In fact, they were scheduled to be holding a South American tour ‘B.A.P’ that same year. However, on October 27th, 2014, TS Entertainment surprisingly announced via their Facebook account that B.A.P will be on hiatus for a while. As a result, South American concerts were canceled. Babyz (the fan club name of B.A.P) was relieved because there had previously been news that B.A.P would be disbanded for reasons not stated. However, on November 27th, fans were shocked by the news that six members of B.A.P filed a lawsuit at the same time.
The essence of the B.A.P lawsuit is the distribution of unfair income and agency finance that has never been shown to them. B.A.P signed a contract in March 2011 with a duration of seven years. They claimed that they only got a salary in July 2014, amounting to 17,900,000 won (around 16,058 dollars) per member. If it is calculated for three years since their contract was signed, it means that every member of B.A.P gets a salary of around 450 dollars (around IDR 5.5 million) per month. Although the cost of living, such as food and shelter has been borne by the agency, the amount is considered to be very incomparable to the hard work they have done. B.A.P also claimed to have received poor treatment in health, such as paying for hospital fees with their own money and being forced to appear even though they would have attached a sick letter from a doctor.
TS Entertainment’s first statement on November 27th said that they were shocked and did not know anything about the lawsuit. They also refused to provide further statements regarding the “slave contract” claimed by B.A.P. On November 29th, the local Korean media, Dispatch, which is famous for clearing artists’ scandals, released 21 Q & A related to the lawsuit of B.A.P against TS Entertainment. From the Q & A, it was revealed that profit-sharing was 1:9 for album sales, 1 for B.A.P and 9 for TS. The same arrangement applied to merchandise sales, such as Matoki dolls and lightsticks. Whereas for concerts, photoshoots, variety shows, and other entertainment shows, it is divided equally by 5:5.
Seen, if the South American tour is to take place, TS Entertainment will pocket a profit of 600 million won. Because the tour was canceled, TS received only 285 million won. The problem for B.A.P is the transparency of the report of that amount of money. During this time, TS seemed to cover up their financial statements from B.A.P members and member parents. The salary paid in July 2014 was obtained after B.A.P “insisted” on asking for their rights since 2013. On the same day when Dispatch released the Q & A, former vocal teacher of Daehyun, HAK Ssem, wrote his support to B.A.P on his Twitter account @natarajahak. He confirmed all the facts Dispatch had written, and left a message that he and Babyz would always be behind B.A.P.
On December 5th, TS Entertainment released their official statement. The agency denied that they imposed a so-called “slave contract” on B.A.P. They mentioned that profit-sharing was 4:6, 4 for B.A.P and 6 for TS, not 1:9 as reported by Dispatch. TS even accused a third party of intentionally “provoking” B.A.P to file a lawsuit related to payment. TS also attaches a chart that contains a graph of exit costs and agency profits from 2011. The amount is exactly the same as that released by Dispatch, which is 600 million won (if the South American tour is to be held), and 285 million won (actual profit). That amount is profit for TS.
According to an insider, after Bang Yongguk and Zelo left the band, the remaining 4 members (Himchan, Youngjae, Daehyun, Jongup) also ended their contract with TS Entertainment. It has been said that TS Entertainment had decided not to re-sign the contract with them. Currently, Youngjae is preparing to sign a new contract with a new agency while Himchan, Daehyun, and Jongup still haven’t decided yet.
In B.A.P, Bang Yong-guk and Zelo debuted in January 2012, they debuted as a whole group of 6 members. Bang Yongguk’s contract ended in August last year, and Zelo’s in December. Even though TS Entertainment’s contracts with the guys have ended, because the name B.A.P is copyrighted under the name of TS Entertainment, even if they return from their military services and decide to return as a whole group, it will be impossible. In the end, they have to be on their own.
Block B
Block B who feels aggrieved by management due to their unpaid salary. Zico, Taeil, B-Bomb, Jaehyo, U-Kwon, Kyung and P.O finally filed a lawsuit against their agency CEO. The South Korean boy band felt disadvantaged in the matter of honorarium.
In addition, members of Block B also felt cheated because their agency apparently requested a sum of money to orbit them. They were asked 70 thousand USD or around Rp. 676 million to make U-Kwon and other members idols.
This boy band was formed in 2011. Shortly after debut, the boy band started experiencing problems, including communication with its management. They thought that their agency doesn’t want to listen to Zico and the other members’ voice. Before it dragged on, finally, the singer of the song “Do You Wanna B?” filed his lawsuit against their agency. They hope this problem will soon be over.
Block B eventually lost in court, so the members refused to cooperate again with Stardom and stood alone. This chaos was also marked by the death of the former CEO of Stardom who was found killed by suicide which gave rise to allegations of the lawsuit from Block B.
However, the fans can now be happy with the fate of Block B, which has been floating around. Block B demanded the cancellation of the exclusive contract with its agency Stardom Entertainment earlier this year. Now, Block B already has a new agency, Seven Seasons.
Song Ji-eun (Former Member of SECRET)
The feud between TS Entertainment and Song Ji-eun seemed endless. Song Ji-eun herself has confirmed that she left the girl group Secret and TS Entertainment through her personal Instagram. Reported by Soompi, TS Entertainment finally issued their official statement regarding this matter. It said it would demand the return of the My Secret Romance cast.
The TS Entertainment said Song Ji-eun did not inform them of her decision to leave the agency and the girl group that raised her name. TS Entertainment also said that no final decision had been made regarding Song Ji-eun’s request to terminate the employment contract. Furthermore, TS will also sue Song Ji-eun if she continues the activity or schedule that has not been agreed upon.
“We support all Secret’s activities, both group activities, and individual activities as long as they are in the work contract. However, one member canceled the employment contract. We asked her to respect the current employment contract. But suddenly we heard the announcement of the contract cancellation and she has said that she will leave the group through their social media accounts,” wrote TS Entertainment’s representative.
TS Entertainment was so shocked to find out that other Secret members also knew about this from social media. Song Ji-eun had also never discussed the matter with her teammates. They also said they would support all group activities as well as individual artists. However, if the artist violates the agreement and work contract, TS Entertainment will sue her with severe legal action. Furthermore, TS also said the judge’s decision regarding the contract that was no longer valid was not the end of everything. At the end of the statement, TS expressed their apologies to all the fans and artists they were sheltering, because of the current problems.
After leaving the agency and group, now Song Ji-eun has joined a new agency and focuses on her acting career.
INX
Previously, it was reported that one of the K-Pop groups has received bad treatment from the agency. The K-Pop group is INX, which debuted in 2016. On June 20th, the group finally won a lawsuit to end the contract with their agency in the Seoul District Court.
According to reports, their agency did not provide support, such as in terms of managers, transportation, and vocal and dance lessons. They also pay for hair and makeup on the grounds of “self-management.” Despite the hard work they have done, INX is said to have never been paid for their activities. When they brought the case to court, the judge stated that their exclusive contract was invalid because the company had not fulfilled their contractual obligations.
INX made their debut in 2016 with the release of the digital single “Alright,” and the last time they released “2gether” in 2017.
