In a significant development in the K-pop industry, EXO-CBX, a sub-unit of the popular boy band EXO, has issued a rebuttal against their agency, SM Entertainment, following a lawsuit over contractual disputes. The trio, consisting of Chen, Baekhyun, and Xiumin, had initially taken legal action against SM Entertainment, citing issues related to payment transparency and excessively long contract durations, which were described by their legal representatives as “slave contracts.”
The legal battle began when EXO-CBX hired Lin Law Firm to address their grievances. The firm argued that SM Entertainment had failed to provide adequate financial transparency and had imposed unreasonably long contract terms, extending beyond the industry standard of seven years. These contracts, according to the law firm, were automatically extended if the artists worked overseas, a clause that particularly affected Chen and Xiumin, who were part of the China-focused group EXO-M.
In response to the lawsuit, SM Entertainment initially claimed that the artists were being influenced by external forces to sign secondary contracts with other agencies. However, this statement was later retracted, and SM issued an apology, acknowledging that the information was incorrect. Both parties have since reached a mutual agreement, resolving their differences through what they described as “smooth communication.”
Despite the legal turmoil, EXO-CBX has decided to maintain their exclusive contracts with SM Entertainment. The agency and the artists released a joint statement, confirming that they have modified parts of the contracts to better align with each other’s positions. The specifics of these modifications were not disclosed, but the statement emphasized a commitment to continue EXO’s activities more actively and consistently.
The dispute had garnered significant attention from both Korean and international media. Lin Law Firm issued several press releases, keeping the public informed about the ongoing situation. However, SM Entertainment remained relatively silent, not responding to multiple requests for comment from media outlets like Billboard.
The timing of the dispute coincided with the announcement of EXO’s upcoming album, “EXIST,” set to be released on July 10. Despite the legal issues, the group managed to release a buzz single, “Let Me In,” on June 12, featuring eight of the nine EXO members in the music video. This move reassured fans that the group’s activities would continue as planned.
The controversy surrounding “slave contracts” is not new for SM Entertainment. In 2009, three members of the boy band TVXQ! took legal action against the agency over similar issues, leading to a lengthy legal battle that eventually resulted in the termination of their contracts. This case had prompted South Korea’s Fair Trade Commission to implement a rule in 2010, limiting initial entertainment contracts to a maximum of seven years. The recent dispute with EXO-CBX has once again brought these issues to the forefront.
Fans of EXO, known as EXO-Ls, have shown overwhelming support for the trio throughout the legal battle. They have updated their social media profiles and used special hashtags to express their solidarity with the artists. On June 3, Chinese EXO-Ls sent a support truck to SM’s headquarters, while international fans took to Twitter, making hashtags like #엑소랑_함께_걸어가는_엑소엘 and #첸백시_응원합니다 trend worldwide.
Iranian EXO-Ls, known as Iris, also organized a heartwarming fan project on June 4, sharing pictures of hand gestures and CBX photos with supportive messages. The hashtag #IRIS_standWithEXO trended under the EXO topic on Twitter, further demonstrating the global fanbase’s unwavering support.
As the situation unfolds, EXO-Ls remain determined to stand by EXO-CBX, supporting their decisions and showing their loyalty to the group. The resolution of the legal dispute and the upcoming album release mark a new chapter for EXO-CBX, as they continue to navigate their careers within the K-pop industry.
