Attract alleges that Ahn Sung-il violated the contract.
This case is expected to have significant implications for the K-pop industry.
[TV Daily] The court's decision regarding the lawsuit filed by Attract's CEO Jeon Hong-jun against Ahn Sung-il and Baek Jin-sil of The Givers for approximately 2.1 billion won is set to be announced today. The 33rd Civil Division of the Seoul Central District Court will reveal the first instance ruling's outline this morning, concluding a legal battle that has lasted around 2 years and 4 months since its filing in September 2023. Following the end of the final argument session on November 20 of last year, Attract claims that Ahn Sung-il and Baek Jin-sil violated their contractual obligations and caused financial damage to the company. Key issues have included allegations of embezzlement, wrongful rejection of advertisement proposals, and cessation of fan cafe management. Conversely, Ahn Sung-il's side contends that the termination of the contract was mutual and claims discrepancies and exaggerations in the allegations against them. This lawsuit is intertwined with external involvement suspicions related to the Fifty Fifty exclusive contract dispute, drawing considerable attention from the K-pop industry. The ruling results may also impact an ongoing separate lawsuit amounting to 13 billion won in damages.
This case stems from numerous controversies related to the exclusive contract for Fifty Fifty, highlighting the complex legal issues in the K-pop industry today. According to Attract, the damages caused by Ahn Sung-il and Baek Jin-sil's alleged breach of contract extend beyond mere financial losses, potentially damaging the company's credibility and future business relations as well. Therefore, the outcome of this ruling is significant for both parties involved.
The rebuttal from Ahn Sung-il’s side cannot be overlooked. They maintain that the termination of the contract was mutually agreed upon and that the facts surrounding the allegations are different. This aspect requires careful consideration by the court and is likely to impact ongoing damage-related lawsuits as well.
Moreover, as K-pop globalization continues, the contracts between companies and artists are becoming more intricate, with relevant laws evolving rapidly. This case stands to serve not just as a legal dispute between individuals and corporations but as an important precedent that might gauge the future direction of the K-pop industry.
This article is KOSTAR’s reinterpretation of a story originally reported by TVDaily.
Photo: DB
