Former Fifty Fifty Members Sena, Aran, And Sio Are In A 130 Billion Won Lawsuit Lor Damages

The girl group Fifty Fifty lawsuit, which surprised everyone in 2023 as one of the biggest contract dispute lawsuits in the K-pop scene, is currently being sued for damages worth a whopping 13 billion won.

On December 18, 2023, Attract, the agency of Fifty Fifty, filed a lawsuit for damages worth 13 billion won against a total of 12 people, including former Fifty Fifty member Sana Aran Sio, their parents, CEO Ahn Seong-il of The Gibus, and director Baek Mo. Currently preparing for trial.

The start of this lawsuit dates back to June 2023. The four members of FiftyFifty, who rose to surprising stardom by breaking the Billboard Hot 100 chart record for the shortest period in K-pop history with the hit song ‘Cupid’ in February 2023 (only 130 days after debut), are not filled with the public’s expectations of a rosy future, but instead contain shocking conflicts. In the end, all of the members announced through their legal representatives, “On June 19, 2023, an application for injunction to suspend the exclusive contract against Attract was filed with the Seoul Central District Court, and the trial is currently in progress,” causing a significant stir. Prior to this, Attract announced on June 23, 2023, a member’s surgical treatment due to deteriorating health and announced a cessation of activities, saying, “It has been confirmed that an external force was approaching the artists during the relevant period and enticing them to violate their exclusive contract with the company.” It is done,” he claimed, and Attract sent a certificate of contents to Warner Music Korea on June 26, 2023, saying, “An external force attempted to rob the member.” The person behind the robberies of the member was the CEO of Dougie Bus and the producer of ‘Cupid.’ They named three people, including CEO Ahn Seong-il, and filed a complaint with Gangnam Police Station in Seoul charging them with breach of trust and obstruction of business.

Separately, although CEO Jeon Hong-jun constantly indicated that he could resume his activities at any time, saying, “I want reconciliation with the members,” the members kept quiet for two months, hiding behind their families and lawyers, and said, “I wish I had not been a singer.” He made a strong statement, saying, “I didn’t do it and I will never go back.” Mediation in court also failed.

The members later expressed their feelings in a handwritten letter 60 days after announcing their breakup with Attract, saying, “We would like to apologize for causing concern to everyone who loves us.” In relationships, we want to correct things that have been forced upon us in a wrong way. To make that happen, we will continue to collect and submit evidence and data based on the truth. We will do our best to clearly resolve wrong suspicions and misunderstandings. “We sincerely ask you to refrain from excessive criticism based on suspicions and misunderstandings and look at the circumstances objectively. Our earnest wish is to work as sincere artists in a trustworthy environment.”

Meanwhile, the members sequentially posted long articles about two months after the handwritten letter announced through the newly opened Instagram in August 2023, making revealing claims against the agency Attract and CEO Jeon Hong-jun. . The posts include claims that CEO Jeon Hong-jun plotted to settle Fifty Fifty members for the purpose of relieving advance payments from the investment company, attended an investment briefing session with Management Company H USA without prior notice to the members and urged them to give a positive answer, and related to the members’ health. There were issues, etc.

However, at this point, FiftyFifty, who were already facing a backlash from the public along with the modifier ‘top idol’, ended up losing the suit filed with the Seoul High Court for a temporary injunction to suspend their exclusive contract. The 50th Civil Affairs Division of the Seoul Central District Court said, “It is difficult to conclude that it was a violation of (Attract’s) obligation to provide settlement data, and it is difficult to say that the violation of health care and consideration obligations was a sufficient explanation, and the termination of work with Dougie Bus is not a violation of the exclusive contract.” He stated the reason for dismissal.

Immediately after, the members appealed, but member Kina suddenly withdrew the appeal after the appeal, and the court dismissed the re-appeal, ending the lawsuit with Attract’s complete victory.

Meanwhile, Saena Aran Sio continued to take legal action, and even after the appeal was dismissed, through Barun Law Firm, which is acting as legal representative, “Since both parties announced the termination of the contract, the exclusive contract will be said to have been terminated, and the reason for fighting the injunction has disappeared due to the changed circumstances.” “We will dispute the essence of the matter in the main lawsuit,” he said. “We prepared content to be argued in the appeal trial, but the decision (to dismiss) was made while the submission was postponed due to reasons such as a change in the court, withdrawal of part of the appeal, and notification of termination of the agency. Without a reason for appeal, 1 According to the contents of the trial and the decision, the settlement structure for the import of music recordings, the failure to notify the details and items of the advance payment paid by the music distributor that were used for the production of Fifty Fifty, and the related issues of whether the debtor’s CEO was in breach of duty are on the merits. “The decision that must be made in the lawsuit is the same,” he argued.

Meanwhile, while Kina, who withdrew the appeal, suddenly announced its return to Attract, Attract declared that it would select new members of FiftyFifty, led by Kina, and targeted Dougie Bus CEO Ahn Seong-il and Baek Jin-sil, who had been pointed out as the forces behind this incident. Legal action against this is also continuing. CEO Ahn Seong-il was summoned to Gangnam Police Station for questioning and was sent to the prosecution without detention in February.