Media Reports Suggest CEO’s Actions May Affect EXO-CBX, Taemin, And THE BOYZ’s Promotional Activities

Artists belonging to music labels under the same umbrella — including Taemin, Baekhyun, Chen, Xiumin, and The Boyz — are reportedly facing a potential crisis that could affect their ability to carry out normal activities.

Its been reported that multiple companies that worked with these labels claim they have not received payment, with some reportedly suffering financial hardship and severe psychological stress. At the center of the issue is CEO Cha Ga Won.

According to reporting by The Fact on the 5^th of February, Cha Ga Won — who leads One Hundred, Big Planet Made Entertainment, and INB100 — allegedly failed to pay numerous vendors involved in essential areas of artist promotions, including album production, content production, hair and makeup, marketing, and more. It was also reported that even stage set production costs for music programs featuring the agency’s artists remain unpaid.

One company representative stated that unpaid fees left them in financial difficulty, explaining that despite doing nothing wrong, they ended up in debt and had to sell their car and take loans to cover expenses after payments failed to arrive.

The report claims unpaid amounts began accumulating in the second half of last year, becoming more serious around September, with the total reaching tens of billions of won [tens of millions of dollars]. Several companies have reportedly sent formal notices demanding payment, while some are preparing legal action. Many affected parties are said to be reluctant to speak publicly due to concerns about industry repercussions.

The situation has also reportedly affected album releases. Physical album production requires cooperation with printing companies and other vendors, and because payments were allegedly not made, artists under the labels have mainly released digital singles rather than physical albums in recent months. Since the last July and September releases by The Boyz, VIVIZ, and Chen, no artists under these labels have reportedly released physical albums for about five months.

In addition, unpaid stage production costs for music shows such as MBC’s “Show! Music Core” and Mnet’s “M Countdown” were reported. Industry insiders noted that while temporary delays in payment can occur, continued nonpayment by a large agency is unusual and could eventually affect artists’ ability to appear on broadcasts if unresolved.

The issue is reportedly widespread, with unpaid balances involving various vendors and even broadcasters. Some insiders expressed concern that ongoing payment disputes could further reduce opportunities for artists to promote through music shows, which are considered key platforms for fan communication.

Reports also state that Cha Ga Won has been sued on fraud allegations under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Economic Crimes and has allegedly failed to properly settle payments owed to artists as well.

A representative from Cha Ga Won’s side responded that the company is currently verifying the facts

Cha Ga Won’s side responded that they are currently verifying the facts surrounding the unpaid payments overall and that the company is proceeding with processes to organize and resolve confirmed issues.

Source: (A)