The dispute between FIFTY FIFTY and their former agency ATTRAKT Entertainment continues after contract termination. The agency has reportedly filed a USD 99 million (KRW 130 billion) lawsuit against Aran, Sio, Saena, their parents, and The Givers CEO Ahn Sung-il. Read ahead to find out more details about the lawsuit.
ATTRAKT sues former FIFTY FIFTY members
As per the reports of Korean News outlets, the agency has filed a USD 99 million lawsuit against the former members Aran, Sio, and Saena for breaking their contracts. The company has also sued The Givers CEO Ahn Sung-il, Baek Jin-sil, and the members’ parents for conspiring with the members.
ATTRAKT has filed a 13 billion won lawsuit against 3 former members of FIFTY FIFTY (Aran, Sio, Saena) and their parents for violating exclusive contracts.https://t.co/IZ1RDV5qUx pic.twitter.com/m88USAcZnZ
— Kpop Charts (@kchartsmaster) December 18, 2023
The agency is currently demanding USD 99 million in damages based on the amount spent throughout the legal dispute but they have alerted of the possibility that the amount might be greater as the lawsuit progresses and more charges are explored.
Attorney Park Jae-hyun of the law firm Lee & Ko will represent ATTRAKTÂ and has shared his determination to win the civil suit. In one of the statements, he mentioned that he would carry out the lawsuit by keeping in mind that it is an important opportunity to establish fair trade in the Korean entertainment business.
Just weeks ago, CEO Jung Hong-jun and People’s Power Party member Ha Tae-Kyung announced the 18th amendment, titled FIFTY FIFTY Act, in the Popular Culture and Arts Development Act to protect small and medium-sized companies.
Netizens are concerned the new act will encourage slave contracts
The new FIFTY FIFTY Act is receiving mixed opinions from international K-pop audiences. They have shared their beliefs that the act poses a threat to artists for becoming a loophole for slave contracts.
kpop was going through the correct route after what happened to loona/chuu and others but after what happened to fifty fifty… the industry took a whole 180 and now the artists will be going back to pre tvxq slave contract days… do yall know how bad this is..
— cement bread (@kimhyjs) December 14, 2023
For the unversed, salve contracts refer to long-term contracts that bound K-pop idols with their agencies with nominal profit and rights distribution. These contracts are signed when the idols are 12-13-year-old trainees hoping to debut.
The Popular Culture and Arts Development Act was created to maintain fairness in the art fields including the K-pop industry. This act helped protect artists from slave contracts. However, the new Act that protects small and medium-sized companies poses a threat to artists, who might not seek justice in fear of a counter lawsuit worth millions of dollars.
And where is the protection for the idols themselves? Naming this after fiftyfifty, who revealed their personal stories of abuse and mistreatment committed BY the company that this Act could possibly be protecting is absolutely ridiculous. https://t.co/dt16vN4RYG
— elaina 3JEONGS ARE BACK! (@fifiluvz) December 18, 2023
As the latest news of ATTRAKT’s USD 99 million suits came days after the official proposal of the FIFTY FIFTY Act, netizens believe Aran, Sio, and Saena are victims of injustice. The former quartet sued their agency earlier this year based on alleged negligence, embezzlement, and mistreatment.
They didn’t win the primary injunction in court and filed an appeal. Soon after Keena withdrew from the case and returned to the company. The other members also eventually dropped the lawsuit as the agency agreed to terminate their contract.
