Allegations of embezzlement and breach of trust lead to a 1 billion won compensation claim and ongoing legal battle

K-pop girl group Fifty Fifty / Courtesy of Attrakt

Attrakt, the K-pop label representing the burgeoning girl group Fifty Fifty, has initiated legal action against an outsourced production company, The Givers, and its key officials. The suit was filed with the Seoul Central District Court, seeking financial compensation of 1 billion won ($734,699) for alleged damages resulting from embezzlement, breach of trust, and lost business opportunities, including advertising and sponsorships.

The lawsuit implicates The Givers' co-CEO and music producer Ahn Sung-il, responsible for producing Fifty Fifty's global hit "Cupid," and a board member identified as Baek, who managed the band and handled related affairs. Attrakt contends that these alleged transgressions led to a contractual dispute and subsequent hiatus by the idol group.

Fifty Fifty, once an obscure rookie group, gained international prominence with "Cupid," which dominated the Billboard's Hot 100 singles chart earlier this year. However, the group's activities were halted in June when they sought a court injunction to suspend their exclusive contracts with Attrakt, citing contractual violations.

Attrakt, in response, filed a criminal complaint against Ahn, suspecting his involvement in the contract dispute. The label also accused Warner Music Korea and Ahn of attempting to poach group members. Although the court dismissed the injunction request in August, Fifty Fifty is determined to challenge the ruling and plans to initiate a major lawsuit to nullify the contracts in the near future. The legal battle continues as the entertainment industry closely watches the outcome and implications for artist-agency relations.

Sayart.net 

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