On June 1, 2023, EXO‘s Baekhyun, Chen, and Xiumin announced that they are suing SM Entertainment to terminate their exclusive contracts.

Although the sudden information shocked netizens, many pointed out that “SM really doesn’t change” of their administration of their artists. For occasion, Okay-Pop followers have witnessed TVXQ obtain unfair payments from SM Entertainment.

And between 2014 and 2015, three former EXO members additionally filed lawsuits in opposition to SM Entertainment.

Kris Wu (previously generally known as Kris, his EXO stage identify) was the primary to file a lawsuit in 2014 to terminate his unique contract with SM Entertainment. Luhan additionally filed a lawsuit in the identical 12 months. Then in 2015, Huang Zi Tao (previously generally known as Tao, EXO stage identify, and at present generally known as Z.Tao, his new stage identify) additionally filed a lawsuit to terminate his unique contract with SM Entertainment.

Kris Wu and Luhan each claimed that SM Entertainment had them “sign unfair contracts” and that the company uncared for their well being and opinions and discriminated in opposition to the Chinese members of EXO.

Compared to the standard contract with a Korean leisure company, it is without doubt one of the longest in existence.

Because of the long-term contract, it’s limiting [Kris’s] freedom, it’s an anti-social and illegal act.

— Kris Wu’s illustration throughout his first court docket listening to

Similarly, Luhan’s lawsuit revealed not solely the discrimination that the Chinese members have confronted together with SM Entertainment’s neglect of their artists’ well being but additionally the lack of financial compensation in comparison with Luhan’s busy schedules. Luhan’s attorneys revealed he had solely earned ₩530 million KRW (about $498,000 USD at the moment) for his actions since October 2013.

SM Entertainment has discriminated in opposition to Chinese members in EXO-M’s unit in comparison with these Korean members in EXO-Okay’s unit. Since EXO’s debut, SM Entertainment has supplied EXO-Okay members with extra possibilities for energetic promotion whereas EXO-M couldn’t obtain monetary help throughout their inactivity.

— Luhan’s illustration

However, SM Entertainment additionally filed lawsuits in 2015 in opposition to the businesses that employed Luhan and Kris Wu, who have been “pursuing activities illegally” earlier than their termination lawsuits have been “even taken to court.” At the time, SM Entertainment claimed that the 2 “left the group without sufficient reason” and “ignored contracts” to pursue solo schedules for their very own profit.

In July 2016, Kris Wu and Luhan have been forced to settle their lawsuits. Although they weren’t returning as members of EXO, their contracts with SM Entertainment remained in impact till 2022. However, they may pursue their careers outdoors of Korea and Japan by way of different labels and businesses.

Meanwhile, Tao’s lawsuit was additionally filed on the premise that SM Entertainment’s contract was unfair because of the length of the contract, the discrimination the members confronted, and the monetary compensation they obtained.

However, on January 5, 2016, SM Entertainment won its lawsuit in opposition to Tao as he had obtained a sophisticated fee from the corporate however “did not pay back the amount owed within the promised timeline.”

Tao and SM Entertainment stayed entangled in a authorized feud as Tao won a lawsuit in China in 2016 however lost his lawsuit to nullify his contract in Seoul in 2017 earlier than winning his second case in Chinese courts in 2018. Like Kris and Luhan, Tao’s contract with SM Entertainment remained legitimate till 2022, however he was not a member of EXO and will return to China and begin his personal firm, Z.TAO Studio.

You can examine EXO Baekhyun, Chen, and Xiumin’s lawsuit in opposition to SM Entertainment right here.

Here Is EXO-CBX’s Full Statement Regarding Terminating Their Contract With SM Entertainment

EXO

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