The members of the rebooted K-pop girl group Fifty Fifty are (from left) Hana, Athena, Chanelle Moon, Keena and Yewon. Photo: Handout
South Korean agency Attrakt, which launched K-pop girl group Fifty Fifty, has filed a 20 billion won (RM62.5mil) lawsuit against former and current executives of music label Warner Music Korea, alleging that it tried to poach the group’s former members.
The current line-up of Fifty Fifty has five members – original member Keena and four new members added to the group in 2024.
The original line-up, which debuted in 2022, had four members – Keena, Saena, Aran and Sio. The latter three left in 2023 due to contractual disputes with Attrakt.
According to South Korean news outlet Korea JoongAng Daily, Attrakt said in a press statement on Oct 23 that Warner Music Korea played a “key role” in the dispute, alleging that the company tampered with the former members’ contracts.
It said: “They held a tampering meeting with the parents of the former members at the Warner Music Korea headquarters on May 17 (in 2023), and we have secured all key evidence.”
Attrakt’s chief executive Oscar Chun added: “The actual amount of damages is even greater, but we are initially claiming 20 billion won and plan to increase the amount of damages in the future.”
The accused executives include Mr Clayton Jin, the former chief executive of Warner Music Korea, and current executive director Yoon Hyung-geun.
The original line-up of Fifty Fifty released pop song Cupid in 2023 to great success.
The TikTok-viral tune was used in a cumulative 15 million videos on the platform, and rocketed the rookie girl group to fame, making them the fastest K-pop act to enter the Billboard Hot 100. They were also featured on the soundtrack of Hollywood blockbuster Barbie (2023).
But just months after their success with Cupid in June 2023, Attrakt accused external forces, later revealed to be Warner Music Korea, of attempting to poach the group.
That same month, all four members filed to suspend their contracts with Attrakt, citing contractual disputes such as a lack of transparency in financial settlements and forcing them to work through ill health.
The court ruled in favour of Attrakt in August 2023, dismissing the members’ case. They then filed for an appeal, but Keena eventually dropped the case and reconciled with Attrakt in October 2023.
Shortly afterwards, Saena, Aran and Sio were removed from the group and had their contracts terminated by the agency. Their appeal was also rejected.
Auditions, including one in Singapore, were held in early 2024 to seek new members for the rebooted Fifty Fifty. Eventually, South Koreans Hana and Yewon, as well as Korean-American Chanelle Moon and Korean-Swedish Athena, were added to the group alongside Keena. The quintet released their seven-track EP Love Tune in September.
It was announced in August that Saena, Aran and Sio have signed with a new agency, Massive E&C, and have plans to resume activities as a trio under the group name Ablume. – The Straits Times/Asia News Network
