Recent reports on K-pop idol group B.A.P's lawsuit against their agency TS Entertainment claimed that it was not all a surprise. According to Koreaboo, the issue about the conflict has been going on earlier this year.
The idol group filed a lawsuit in a move to nullify their contract with their managing agency. According to reports, the lawsuit cited that while TS Entertainment earned 10 billion won ($9 million) in the idols' three years of promotions, each B.A.P member received only less than 18 million won ($16,000).
However, the group's move to file a lawsuit was not at all surprising. It was revealed that the group first sought legal help back in May, Koreaboo added. The report also said that TS Entertainment was not aware at the beginning, and the agency subsequently had over six months to reach an agreement with its artists.
Apparently, no agreement has been made, prompting B.A.P to file a lawsuit. Koreaboo noted that in most cases, entertainment companies share only a profit with members and TS Entertainment's position is that they had large investments in the promotions of the idol group, the reason the end profit was not as big.
According to Kpop Herald, all members of the group, Yongguk, Himchan, Daehyun, Youngjae, Jongup and Zelo, submitted their legal documents on Wednesday to the Seoul Western District Court. The lawsuit reportedly aimed to end what was referred to as a "slave contract" that is only beneficial to the agency. Other than unjust profit distribution, the idols allegedly accused an unreasonably long seven year contract, as well as intrusion of privacy and exploitation of basic rights.
After the news on the idols' filing, the agency released an official statement, refuting the accusations. Published by AllKpop, part of the statement reads:
"Currently TS Entertainment is in the process of trying to figure out the details and the truth of the matter. However, we wanted to make clear that there is no such thing as a 'slave contract' or 'unfair contract conditions' in our contracts, and we have never given them unfair, one-sided treatment."
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