Star Singer Publicly Lashes Out At Agency For Allegedly Shunning Group

Urban Zakapa member Jo Hyun Ah publicly criticized her now-former label, ABYSS Company.

On October 6, Jo Hyun Ah uploaded a statement on her Instagram story. In her story, the singer begins by revealing that she hadn’t known that her contract with the company had been terminated.

No one is answering me. As per your statement, I will now consider my contract to be terminated.

— Jo Hyun Ah

The singer then blasted the company for not booking any tours for the popular group and alleged that the label was trying to stop them from making music.

I tried to abide by the contract during its remaining length, but we haven’t toured domestically in 600 days. I sent you a demo for our next album, but seeing how you haven’t released it for this long, I want to ask why you are trying to stop Urban Zakapa from promoting.

— Jo Hyun Ah

Jo Hyun Ah then accused the company of ostracizing the group by purposefully leaving them out of a recent company photo.

You wrote in your statement that you purposefully left us out in the company photo. Does our original contract allow ostracization?

— Jo Hyun Ah

The singer then pleaded with the label to release their album or for them to book the group a show, stating that she wanted to continue as a member of Urban Zakapa.

If not, at the very least, release our album, or please just book us a show. I want to continue Urban Zakapa. We have been friends since Middle School, so why are you trying to stop us from making music?

If that is not the case, I would be grateful if you apologize on the label’s official account and reveal plans for our next album and concert.

— Jo Hyun Ah

Jo Hyun Ah then chastized the label for prioritizing singers who made a lot of money for the label before asking the label not to take out their displeasure with her on her members who are still under contract.

Making money isn’t the only thing that makes you a singer. All who are signed with ABYSS are singers. All of Urban Zakapa was signed with you, but as of today, my contract with you has ended. I hope you don’t take out (your displeasure) on them and treat them well as per our original contract. The two Urban Zakapa members are someone’s sons.

— Jo Hyun Ah

Previously, ABYSS Company faced backlash from Urban Zakapa fans after excluding them from the company photo. The company would later state that Jo Hyun Ah was no longer signed with the label.

Meanwhile, Jo Hyun Ah is one of Korea’s most popular singers at the moment and currently runs a YouTube channel with over 460K subscribers. Jo Hyun Ah debuted with the indie band Urban Zakapa, which has achieved both critical and commercial success and is considered one of the most instrumental bands that helped usher in the Hongdae music movement in the 2010s.