Rookie K-pop girl group Fifty Fifty lost their court bid to suspend their exclusive contract with their agency, Attrakt.
Last June 19, Fifty Fifty filed the case against Attrakt, asking a court to issue a preliminary injunction on their contract.
Fifty Fifty (Photo from X, formerly Twitter)
Fifty Fifty filed the injunction case just seven months after debuting in November last year.
However, on Aug. 28, the Seoul Central District Court sided with Attrakt and dismissed Fifty Fifty’s application for injunction to suspend their exclusive contract.
“All applications in this case are dismissed for lack of merit,” the court said, Korean media reported.
Fifty Fifty raised three issues against Attrakt: failure to fulfill settlement obligations, lack of support and neglect in protecting their health.
They pointed out that Attrakt omitted music revenue including in April’s statement, which had zero income. But the mistake was made by accounting staff of an outsourcing company by The Givers. Attrakt corrected the omission of the income.
"It is difficult to conclude that Attrakt violated the obligation to settle or provide settlement data to the extent of destroying the relationship of trust," the court said.
After the court issued its decision, Attrakt CEO Jeon Hong-joo was interviewed by Korean media outlet Munhwa Ilbo.
He said, “I am truly grateful to the public for supporting me and the company.”
Jeon Hong-joo said he would continue to take legal action against The Givers, tagged for trying to poach Fifty Fifty members.
About Fifty Fifty, Jeon Hong-joo said, “Most of all, I want the members to come back.”
Fifty Fifty’s lawyer said he will discuss with the members about their next move following the decision.
"After receiving the ruling, we will discuss with the members and decide whether to appeal. We will come to a conclusion within two to three days," the lawyer said.
Korean netizens commented on the decision of the court against Fifty Fifty.
“And farewell to Traitorty Traitortyy. Not like we ever knew who the members were, it wouldn't be weird if the CEO just got rid of the members and debuted them again with new faces,” one netizen commented on an article about the court decision, according to Netizen Buzz.
Here are other comments by Korean netizens:
- “This seems to be the most fair. Management agencies do not conjure money from thin air to train these idols. It's a just ruling.”
- “Wow, for once a ruling I can agree with. Totally washes away the day's exhaustion”
- “Who can they blame but themselves for kicking away the luck of a lifetime. You're all adults now, you take care of your own lives.”
- “I kind of feel bad for them. Had they played their cards right, they could be living thel life of the 0.01% right now. Too bad their parents got so blinded with greed.. tsk tsk tsk tsk”
- “The conclusion that Koreans had been hoping for. Things are about to get fun.”
- “It's over for them. The public will never put up with a group as malicious as them. To be so young, greedy, and traitorous.”
- “Whether they won or lost, it was over for them anyway”