JYJ's global album "The Beginning" controversy

Controversy surrounds the pending release of JYJ’s new global album, “The Beginning”, as the lawsuit with their former agency, SM Entertainment, continues to worsen. SME has been at odds with JYJ since June 2009 when the three singers filed a lawsuit against their agency to revoke their “slave contracts.” A Seoul court has issued a temporary injunction against SME that allowed the trio to hold activities independent from the agency.

SME’s latest court injunction to stop the distribution of JYJ’s album stems from the contract between JYJ and CJeS Entertainment, a Korean agency that is now managing the trio. On October 8th, SM Entertainment filed an exclusive contract suspension and album sales prohibition injunction to the Seoul District Courts. Even though Seoul courts granted JYJ the ability to participate in their own independent activities, SME believes that the contract they have signed with CJeS is an unlawful dual contract as the courts have not suspended the exclusive contract between SME and JYJ.

Sports Korea confirmed that, “SME has sent a certification of contents to the US headquarters of Warner Music Korea, the company in charge of distributing JYJ's album.” Due to the fact that this album was one that was released simultaneously in various parts of the world, SME contacted the US headquarters in efforts to stop the distribution in other countries. However, the distributor of this album is Warner Music Korea and “Warner Music Korea is offended that SM has sent the certification of contents, which calls for the recipient to take responsibility for the matter, to the US headquarters and not to themselves.”

The physical album was originally scheduled for release on October 14th but Warner Music Korea has decided to postpone it, citing production and sales problems. To further add to the controversy surrounding the album, Korean media reported that the so-called Korean Federation of Pop Culture and Art Industry (KFPCAI), an umbrella organization of entertainment organizations, had sent official letters of notice to TV stations KBS, SBS, and MBC, cable station Mnet, and Korean online music sites asking them not to allow JYJ to appear on their shows or distribute digital albums. KFPCAI stated that the reason was that JYJ was causing a negative effect on the Hallyu wave. However, many representatives of the industry believe SME did this because JYJ has created conflict with them. JYJ could not be seen on TV after the 12th and their ranks on online music sites have stayed in the top 10 since their music was released on the 14th.

These recent events were more shocking as they happened right before their Seoul showcase on the 12th. JYJ suffered from 500 album preorders being simultaneously canceled right before the show.

JYJ decided to fight SM in a legal battle in order participate in music-related activities free from the contract that they felt was unlawful. However, with stages in their own country shut off from them, JYJ is planning to hold overseas showcase events to greet their fans. An entertainment industry representative stated, "A leading entertainment agency and talented singers are locked in an emotional battle. This is game with no winners. All it will do is create scars on both sides. There is a need to approach this issue from a broader perspective."


Source: Korea Herald, Sports Hankooki, and Tohosomnia