The Seoul Central District Court has ordered a mandatory mediation to settle legal disputes between SM Entertainment and EXO members Kris Wu and Will Luhan. But even when the current EXO lawsuit is settled, SM will need to address the issue that Tao may also be end his contract.
The two former EXO members filed for contract nullification in 2014 and subsequently sued SM Entertainment, citing unfair work conditions as reason for lawsuit. Over the past year, the two parties have been in a legal battle with lawsuit volleys being fired to and fro.
It was reported that SM Entertainment filed their own lawsuit against the two EXO members for promotions or activities completed during their legal battle since the agency still considers them under contract with them. SM representatives have stated that the contracts between Kris Wu and Will Luhan remains active until such the time that the court releases its final verdict. This was a blow to Wu and Luhan since they've both kept themselves busy with various advertisements, movie projects and other promotional activities both in Korea and in China.
News of the mandatory mediation is a welcome relief to both parties with the hope that this will bring an end to the legal dispute. Previous mediations between the two parties have unfortunately failed, which resulted to the court ordering a forced arbitration.
But SM Entertainment's contract issues may not end with Kris Wu and Will Luhan. The third EXO member Tao is also rumored to be leaving SM soon. Last month, Chinese media outlet Sina reported that Tao's father requested the cancellation of his son's contract with SM Entertainment, due to health reasons. At present Tao is in the US undergoing treatment after suffering from ankle injuries a month ago.
Over the years, SM Entertainment has had a history of ending contract disputes with arbitrations. In 2009, three members of the famous Hallyu group TVXQ namely Kim Junsu, Park Yoochun and Kim Jaejoong filed contract nullification lawsuits against SM. Both parties reach a mutual agreement in 2012, after three long years of arbitration. The company also made an out-of-court agreement with former Super Junior member Han Geng, after the courts ruled in his favor in 2010.
Noh Min Woo, actor and former TRAX member, is also following the footsteps of ex-EXO members as he joins the list of talents who also filed a lawsuit against SM Entertainment, claiming to be a victim of the agency's slave contract.
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