Former PRISTIN member Kyulkyung has requested her contract with Pledis Entertainment be terminated, and Pledis Entertainment responded by taking legal action against her.
Pledis Entertainment filed a complaint with the Seoul Central District Court on February 19 to confirm the validity of Kyulkyung’s contract. Pledis Entertainment’s legal representative stated that this is due to Kyulkyung’s groundless, one-sided notice of the termination of her contract. Pledis says that she sent her request by postage, e-mail, and messenger, and since then, has been avoiding communication with Pledis.
Pledis Entertainment says that Kyulkyung is violating her exclusive contract by actively engaging in unauthorized entertainment activities without Pledis Entertainment’s permission such as dramas, variety shows, and advertisements. Because of this Pledis Entertainment has filed lawsuits in both China and Korea.
Read Pledis Entertainment’s full statement below:
Hello, this is lawyer Kim Moon Hee from Jipyeong, representing Pledis Entertainment affiliated with Joo Kyulkyung.
Pledis Entertainment filed a complaint with the Seoul Central District Court on February 19, 2020 against Joo Kyulkyung. This is the official position of Pledis.
After signing an exclusive contract with Pledis in 2015, Joo Kyulkyung was active as a member of the project group I.O.I, PRISTIN, and unit promotions in PRISTIN V. In addition, she promoted in China and continued her activities, appearing on JiangsuTV’s Crazy Wardrobe Season 1 as a fixed member and iQIYI’s Idol Producer as a fixed mentor.
XCSS Entertainment, a Chinese management agency that manages Pledis’ activities in China, has actively been supporting Kyulkyung’s activities in China, including her appearances in Idol Producer and YOUKU drama Miss Truth, which can be seen as the turning point of her Chinese Entertainment activities. We have provided all of the support she needs to grow into one of the best artists in both Korea and China.
However, in early September 2019, Kyulkyung suddenly sent Pledis an unwarranted, one-sided notice of termination of her contract by postage, e-mail, and messenger, and has avoided contact with both Pledis and XCSS Entertainment staff.
Since then, Joo Kyulkyung has been very active in unauthorized entertainment activities, excluding Pledis Entertainment and appearing in dramas, entertainment programs, and advertisements independently in China. Pledis has no choice but to take legal action, such as a lawsuit to confirm that our exclusive contract with Kyulkyung remains in effect. XCSS Entertainment has already filed a lawsuit in China seeking the fulfillment of her exclusive contract.
Pledis has been supporting Kyulkyung as much as possible throughout the duration of her exclusive contract period to actively promote her in both Korea and China, but we are saddened that the fans and the public have to hear these news.
Although this legal dispute is inevitable, Pledis will continue to work with an open mind to restore the trust between us and Kyulkyung, reach a smooth agreement, and a swift termination of the dispute so she can continue her entertainment activities as soon as possible.
Thank you very much
— Pledis Entertainment
