Korean lawmaker Ha Tae Keung from People Power Party has proposed a new bill named FIFTY FIFTY Act to protect small and medium-sized Kpop agencies and take a step in the direction of sustainable development. Read ahead to find out more about the act and why it is named after the Cupid singers.
Korean lawmakers propose FIFTY FIFTY Act
As per reports of News1, Ha Tae Keung expressed his desire to protect small and medium-sized Kpop agencies, establish fair trade, and promote pop culture by proposing the ‘Partial Amendment to the Pop Culture and Arts Industry Development Act.‘ This bill is also being called the FIFTY FIFTY Act after the dispute of the quartet with their agency.
#FIFTYFIFTY
The so-called Fifty-Fifty Act was proposed. This is to establish a fair trade order in the entertainment field and protect the rights and interests of small and medium-sized agencies. pic.twitter.com/YfJT3B6eDk— muv3357 (@sung_yong) December 18, 2023
If the bill passes then this act will add amendments to the current laws and system that protect singers from mistreatment by their agency. It will mainly focus on helping agencies protect their artists from outside sources and establish fair trade.
It was prepared as a response to the lack of legal mechanisms protecting small agencies from attacks of external influences when they persuade their artists to break their contracts illegally. Lawmaker Ha supported this bill by stating that it is a vital amendment to establish a balance between artists and agencies with the increase of the industry’s status internationally.
Why is the proposed amendment called the FIFTY FIFTY Act?
The girl group FIFTY FIFTY debuted in November last year and became a global sensation with their viral song CUPID. However, soon the members and their agency ended up in legal disputes for alleged mistreatment and profit division problems.
I can't believe they called it the fifty fifty act. I'm gonna be sick.
— SIO DAY! (@hunnieforaran) December 18, 2023
Their agency ATTRAKT Entertainment accused The Givers CEO Ahn Sung-il of persuading the members to go against the company and break their contracts illegally. The agency also accused Ahn Sung-il of committing obstruction of business by deleting project materials and secretly purchasing the copyright of CUPID. Due to this, the new bill is also being called the FIFTY FIFTY Act.
ATTRAKT’s CEO Jeon Hong-jun also expressed his appreciation for this bill by stating that he hopes this bill passes and a fair competitive environment can be established in the Kpop industry. He also hopes that the blood, sweat, and efforts of small and medium-sized agencies can be protected from going to waste.
What happened to the lawsuit?
The girl group members Keena, Sio, Saena, and Aran filed a temporary injunction to suspend the exclusive contract but the court denied it based on lack of evidence. The members continued their lawsuit and published various pieces of evidence about profit omission, violation in managing their mental and physical health, and lack of transparency.
#FIFTYFIFTY's #Keena Cancels Appeal To Suspend Exclusive Contract And Returns To ATTRAKThttps://t.co/haFul4Nf4c pic.twitter.com/9vY6qU4lfM
— Soompi (@soompi) October 17, 2023
Keena later withdrew her appeal and returned to the agency and the Seoul Court rejected the appeal of other members in the District Court. ATTRAKT Entertainment eventually terminated its contract with Sio, Saena, and Aran and decided to continue the FIFTY FIFTY group with Keena.
