Korean Netizens React Coldly To FIFTY FIFTY’s Label Dispute
Korean netizens criticized both parties involved in FIFTY FIFTY‘s label dispute.
On June 28, all four members of rookie group FIFTY FIFTY filed lawsuits against their label ATTRAKT to suspend their contracts, sending shockwaves throughout the K-Pop industry.
All 4 FIFTY FIFTY Members Have Filed A Lawsuit Against Their Agency ATTRAKT
According to FIFTY FIFTY’s lawyer, the label had violated their contract with the group. In a statement, the lawyer listed several of the group’s grievances against their label.
The members questioned the various situations where ATTRAKT did not faithfully fulfill their contract obligations, such as the lack of transparency in financial documents and unilaterally trying to have the group promoted despite the members having health issues.
— Barun Law
In their statement, the group also denied ATTRAKT’s earlier statements alleging that a third party was attempting to poach the group from them.
We would also like to clarify that this [lawsuit] was a decision made by the four members themselves, with no outside intervention.
— Barun Law
The statements follow a series of statements released by ATTRAKT. The group had previously claimed that Warner Music Korea had colluded with partner The Givers, whose CEO is reportedly responsible for the group’s breakout hit, “Cupid.”
Korean netizens reacted to the latest development in the group’s label feud. Many felt it was unfortunate that the labels, rather than expanding on the group’s popularity, were embroiled in in-fighting, which inevitably would hurt FIFTY FIFTY’s image.
- “It must be really hard for a smaller label. It seems they are going to disappear after one hit song.”
- “They should be teaming up to make the group even bigger. If they are already fighting, they are bound to fail.”
- “I hoped that their next song would do well, but they are already breaking up.”
- “At the end of the day, it’s all about money.”
- “It’s a pity since Aran’s voice is such a treasure… I think she’ll do well as a solo artist.”
- “I think Ahn Sung Il (“Cupid” producer”) is so weird!!! Even if he is the one who picked 3 members and produced the group, he used someone else’s money (ATTRAKT) to do so, but is now claiming the group is his after they hit it big? Would he have done the same if the group failed?”
- “To sum it up, just think that Bang Si Hyuk (ATTRAKT) and Min Jin Hee (The Givers) are fighting for the rights of NewJeans (FIFTY FIFTY). Bang Si Hyuk (ATTRAKT) is saying that because he invested his money, the group is his, while Min Hee Jin (The Givers) is saying because she did everything from casting the members to directing the song, the group is hers, and NewJeans (FIFTY FIFTY) basically said they want to follow Min Hee Jin (The Givers), so Bang Si Hyuk (ATTRAKT) sued Min Hee Jin (Min Hee Jin).”
What are your thoughts?
