• These Kpop Agencies Received Love And Backlash From Fans For Mistreating And Treating Their Former Idols Well

    The relationship between the management company and the artists under it is always a matter of concern for Kpop fans. In addition to the investment in "home chickens" during their activities, the treatment attitude of each company when the idols' contracts expire and decide to leave is also one of the points evaluated by netizens.

    Agencies Who Have Conflicts With Their Former Idols

    Cube Entertainment quickly registered the trademark for the name "BEAST" when the boys' contracts expired and left.

    Most of the idols who leave are no longer connected with the old company. In particular, trademark copyright is always one of the "headache" issues for artists and many conflicts have occurred around it.

    BEAST is one of the most regrettable cases for Kpop fans. At the time of the end of the contract, Cube Entertainment (BEAST's management company) quickly registered the trademark for the name "BEAST" with 3 products including "digital music, songs", " advertising" and "performance events" with a deadline until 2026.

    This caused the group to leave but "lost everything", having to take a new name, HIGHLIGHT to continue their activities.

    The group has to take a new name, HIGHLIGHT to continue working

    Although they still receive the support of a large number of fans, this is still a disadvantage because if they want to use music products composed when they were still called BEAST, the group will have to pay royalties for Cube and at the same time.

    After all, the popularity of HIGHLIGHT can't be as bold as BEAST.

    Having the same fate as HIGHLIGHT, artists who have left SM also have to struggle because the copyright of the group's name belongs to the company.

    To reunite on a TV show stage after 17 years, the first generation boy group from SM was forced to use the name "High-five of Teenagers" instead of the stage name HOT because this name already belongs to SM.

    To reunite, the first generation boy group from SM was forced to use the name "High-five of Teenagers" instead of the stage name HOT.

    Three former DBSK members Jaejoong, Yoochun, and Junsu also had to work under the new name JYJ when in the midst of litigation, SM quickly registered for exclusive rights to the DBSK trademark and other names of the group such as TVXQ. THSK without letting idols leave the company can be used.

    SM has registered the exclusive ownership of the DBSK brand and other names of the group such as TVXQ, THSK
    Three former DBSK members, Jaejoong, Yoochun, and Junsu, when leaving the company, had to operate under the new name JYJ.
    GFRIEND will not be able to continue using the group name after disbanding because Source Music has registered the ownership rights

    Recently, fans are also extremely regretful when GFRIEND after disbanding will not be able to continue using the group's name because Source Music has registered the ownership rights since March 2015, after about 2 months since GFRIEND's debut .

    The legal battle over the name copyright between T-ara and MBK Entertainment is extremely long

    Although they were luckier than other groups when after many rounds of disputes, the T-ara girls won and continued to use the group's name when they left the company.

    But the legal battle for the named copyright with MBK Entertainment was also extremely long and took a lot of time and effort of the members.

    Agencies Who Treated Their Former Idols Well

    YG secretly allowed 2NE1's reunion without any legal problems

    However, there are also lucky idols who don't have to get into legal conflicts with the company when they leave.

    Although they often receive complaints when they don't really pay due attention to the idols working under their management, YG surprises with the way they treat "old people".

    YG has implicitly allowed 2NE1 to reunite on the Coachella 2022 stage . The group was able to use the joint song as well as the group's name without being involved in a dispute about the idol's trademark copyright infringement, because YG responded that " will not take any legal action" against 2NE1 .

    In particular, for each artist after leaving the company, YG gives back their own YouTube channels such as CL, PSY, EPIK HIGH, SE7EN and Lee Hi.

    Lee Hi and many other artists who left YG were still given back their own YouTube channels

    Even YG's artists still come and visit regularly contact with juniors, showing a good relationship between them and the company even though they have left the company.

    Artists leaving the company still interact with juniors, Dara dances to I Love You with Seunghoon (WINNER)

    GOT7 owns all its copyrights and trademarks

    Recently, GOT7 was surprised when it was the first group to leave JYP with the whole lineup, and also owned all of their copyrights and trademarks.

    All copyrights including songs, works produced, recorded, distributed and performed… were transferred to 7 members on 12/5/2022.

    It is known that, thanks to the change of Korean property law and the research efforts of leader Jay B, GOT7 has received the brand name copyright of the group.

    Thanks to the change of Korean property law, the research efforts of leader Jay B and the acceptance of JYP's return, GOT7 has received the brand name copyright.

    At the same time, regarding this issue, JYP also showed a gentle attitude, accepting to return the name GOT7 to the members, not leading to lawsuits or disputes.

    In addition, most of the artists who worked at JYP after leaving the company have positive comments. JYP has never been in a situation of being sued by an artist, and more importantly, many people still maintain a relationship with President Park Jin Young.

    Jia (former member of Miss A) took a photo with Park Jin Young in China after she left the company a few months
    The reunion of Park Jin Young and Wonder Girls (now all members have left JYP) in the show Real Love Story, showing the closeness of the two, makes many people excited.

    Source(1)

  • Chun Jung Myung’s Manager Now Serving Time After Stealing Billions, Source Reveals

    Actor Chun Jung Myung has opened up about a devastating betrayal by his former manager, who swindled tens of billions of won from his family. The former manager, who had been trusted like family, is now serving prison time for his actions.

    In the December 8 episode of SBS’s My Little Old Boy, Chun Jung Myung shared the shocking details of his financial fraud ordeal with fellow cast members Lee Sang Min and Kim Heechul.

    He explained, "I was financially defrauded by the manager I had worked with for 16 years since my debut. He forged documents to steal money and even caused huge financial losses for my parents."

    A close source confirmed on December 9, "The manager mentioned on the show ultimately couldn’t repay the damages and is now serving his prison sentence for fraud."

    The source also revealed that Chun Jung Myung suffered losses in the tens of billions of won. The emotional toll was severe, leading to social anxiety, and he even considered retiring from the entertainment industry due to the devastating betrayal.

    Chun Jung Myung debuted in 1999 with the drama School 2 and became a household name with roles in Beijing, My Love, Fashion 70s, and What's Up Fox? However, after his role in the 2019 drama Urban Cops: KCSI, he suddenly disappeared from the spotlight, sparking concerns from fans.

    An entertainment agency CEO weighed in, saying, "Celebrities, especially those with limited real-world experience, are vulnerable to scams because of their public status. Some get trapped and lose vast amounts of money after being used as figureheads."

    An entertainment law expert added, "Fraud cases are tricky because proving the intent to steal is difficult. If someone makes an enticing offer, always ask, ‘Why me and not them?’ Skepticism is key."

    Source: [1]