K-pop agency Attrakt and Warner Music Korea are set to face off in court in September for the first hearing in a 20 billion South Korean won (USD $14 million) lawsuit over Warner’s alleged attempt to poach former members of K-pop group Fifty Fifty.
Korea JoongAng Daily reported on Tuesday (August 5) that the first hearing will proceed at 11:30 am on September 11.
Attrakt sued Warner Music Korea in October 2024, accusing it of “tampering” with members of the girl group Fifty Fifty. As JoongAng explained, tampering, common in sports and entertainment industries, occurs when outside parties encourage artists or athletes to violate existing exclusive agreements.
The agency claims Warner executives encouraged the artists to breach their exclusive contracts and join the music giant.
The dispute dates back to 2023 when three members of Fifty Fifty — Aran, Saena and Sio — allegedly attempted to cut ties with Attrakt through a “provisional injunction”, Naver reported in September 2024.
“We have obtained comprehensive legal evidence proving that Warner Music Korea, The Givers, and former Fifty Fifty members Aran, Saena and Sio colluded to breach their exclusive contracts and engaged in tampering activities.”
Attrakt
In a statement cited by Naver at the time, Attrakt said: “We have obtained comprehensive legal evidence proving that Warner Music Korea, The Givers, and former Fifty Fifty members Aran, Saena and Sio colluded to breach their exclusive contracts and engaged in tampering activities.”
The agency added: “We have secured audio recordings from their meetings held on May 13, 17, and June 6, 2023, along with other related materials. According to the plans discussed in their recorded meetings, these tampering parties filed a provisional injunction to suspend the effectiveness of their exclusive contracts with Attrakt on June 19, 2023.”
“Warner Music Korea, the principal force behind this tampering, has attempted to unlawfully seize our valuable artists through the use of financial and coercive power. We will not succumb to the might of such corporate giants and are prepared to stand resolutely against these actions,” Attrakt reportedly said.
It added: “From today, we will be rigorously reviewing all legal options against Warner Music Korea. We reaffirm our commitment to holding all parties involved in this tampering scheme fully accountable.”
“Warner Music Korea, the principal force behind this tampering, has attempted to unlawfully seize our valuable artists through the use of financial and coercive power.”
Attrakt
Attrakt’s allegations emerged after South Korean outlet Dispatch reported that Ahn Sung-il of The Givers told parents of group members about connections at Warner Music. According to the report, Ahn referenced a Warner executive identified as Chief Financial Officer “Simon” who had “agreed to sign with Fifty Fifty.”
Ahn was quoted by Dispatch as saying: “There’s a guy named Simon, the overall CFO of Warner Music Group. He was very supportive of me when I worked there. He helped me a lot, and we’ve been doing really well in the US. The condition was, ‘You take all the money you earn and use for your expenses.’”
Warner Music Korea has reportedly denied involvement in any tampering activities. However, the company acknowledged that former executives had met with the members’ parents, according to the Dispatch report.
Aran, Saena and Sio have since been removed from Fifty Fifty and Attrakt. They are now part of IOK Company’s subsidiary, Massive E&C. Meanwhile, original member Keena remained, and has been joined by new members Chanelle Moon, Yewon, Hana and Athena, who debuted on September 20, 2024.
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