Storm Still Brewing

The rift between three members of boy band TVXQ and their agency SM
Entertainment grew deeper last week as the singers failed to notify SM
on whether they are willing to resume their activities in Korea next
year as a five-member group.
The agency, in a legal dispute with Hero Jaejoong, Micky Yoochun and
Xiah Junsu who asked a court in late July to nullify their exclusive
contract with SM, had announced during a press conference in early
November that it would give the three singers 10 days to make the
decision but the three did not hand a response to SM by the deadline
last Thursday.

“TVXQ will not be able to make a comeback to the local music scene
early next year since in actuality, they refused to be members of the
group,” SM said in a statement, adding they are “sorry to see such an
outcome despite our will to see the band continue its activities.”

SM added that the three members however, told the company that they
would not take part in a concert set to take place in Shenzhen of China
on November 21, leaving the future of other pre-scheduled shows
uncertain.

The concert was one of the total 12 shows TVXQ was set to perform at
as part of their third Asia tour which had been agreed upon in the
middle of last year, and the three singers had agreed to participate
and perform at all shows already set, despite the ongoing legal battle,
SM explained.

A legal representative for the Hero, Micky and Xiah refuted SM’s
argument, saying SM notified the group of the concert after the three
singers had applied for provisional disposition of their 13-year
contract with SM and failed to disclose a contract detailing the terms
regarding the show.

“Even their fans know the concert in Shenzhen had not originally
been on their agenda…… The three asked SM to provide them with the
contract but they never got to see it so they decided not to perform,”
Lim Sang-hyuk, attorney at law firm KIM & SHIN said.

He also added that the three members are still willing to talk with
the agency as soon as issues over their unfair contract and shares of
profit are resolved.
TVXQ, who debuted in 2004 with album “Hug”, is one of Korea’s most
successful K-pop groups. They are stars throughout Asia, reportedly
having the largest fanbase in the world, and have enjoyed great success
in the Japanese music industry in particular.

The band became the first foreign artist to top the Oricon singles
charts six times with their 27th single “Share the World/We are!”
released this year.
source: Asiae