Here Is How Korean Netizens Are Reacting To EXO Members’ Lawsuit Against SM Entertainment

Netizens criticized SM Entertainment after EXO‘s Baekhyun, Xiumin, and Chen filed lawsuits to terminate their contract with the agency.

From left: Chen, Baekhyun, Xiumin | SM Entertainment

On June 1, fans were shocked to learn that EXO’s Baekhyun, Xiumin, and Chen had officially filed a lawsuit requesting to terminate their contracts with SM Entertainment.

In a statement from the members’ lawyer, the idols accuse SM Entertainment of holding artists to slave contracts.

As if 12-13 year contracts weren’t bad enough, the label is trying to make artists sign for 17-18 years. This is an abuse of power by SM.

— Lawyer for Baekhyun, Xiumin, and Chen

According to a Yonhap News report, the idols had asked for a full accounting of their activities in March but still have yet to receive it.

EXO’s Baekhyun Xiumin And Chen Sue To Terminate Contract With SM Entertainment

Netizens reacted to the news with bewilderment over the length of the idol’s contract, considering they had previously become the face of “slave contracts” when TVXQ won a historic lawsuit against the agency decades ago. Netizens were also critical of the fact that the agency has not provided the label with a full accounting of their activities.

• “Nothing  has changed since then. This is seriously shocking.”
• “Wow… I’m a fan of an idol in a different agency, but I am concerned that all labels are like this.”
• “SM, again?”
• “I hope everything will be revealed and that the contracts are transparent. I hope the idols receive everything owed to them.”
• “SM really doesn’t change, sigh.:
• “Wow, but I thought the idols were re-signing with the agency, but I guess their contracts may have just not ended…”
• “SM is the same whether with or without Lee Soo Man.:
• “Wow.”
• “SM is the only major label that has an issue with providing a full accounting to its artists.”

Meanwhile, SM Entertainment has responded to the contract termination request by accusing another label of poaching its artists. Read more in the link below.

SM Entertainment Accuses Big Planet Made Of Attempting To Poach EXO’s Chen, Baekhyun, And Xiumin