Phone Interview with DBSK’s Legal Representative

Phone interview with the Dong Bang Shin Ki Xiah, Micky and Hero’s legal representative, Im Sang Hyeok from SeJong on their lawsuit against SM.

Additional: New news update about the group from AVEXEnt

New news update from the Japanese company:

“Looking at Dong Bang Shin Ki’s situation now, we see that there will be no change to their Japanese activities”

Dong Bang Shin Ki’s Japanese company AVEX Entertainment talked about their stand after news of the group’s 3 member went to apply for retractile fo their exclusive rights effects from their contract with SM.

They posted an official statement on their official website on 1st August, saying “We are confirming the details of the Dong Bang Shin Ki’s problems with SM which arose yesterday. But we have not grasped fully the situation.”

“We apologise to fans for all the confusion and worry. Even though we are sorry to everyone, we hope you would understand.”

Dong Bang Shin Ki participated in the summer song festival with AVEX singers on 1st August. There are also plans for them to perform on ‘A-Nation’ concert this month.

Here’s the photo of them taken after their performance on 1st August

cr : sookyeong@wp

The phone interview with their lawyer

- The core of the disagreement.

Unreasonable contract. In the Fair Trade Commission, the contract period should not be longer than 7 years. Of course, during the trainee period there are occassion that the singers choose to develop their contract but some of the terms given to Dong Bang Shin Ki, FTC have find it unfair in many ways.

- Also the cosmetics enterprise which three member and their parents running became known as one axis of the conflict.

“The cosmetics company could be one of the reasons for the discord but not what ultimately convinced the three members to go to court. We have examined the official statement from SM this morning and noticed that SM had painted the cosmetics company as the cause in a negative light on the surface of their statement. If they think that the additional business of the members is the legal case, then it’s a mistake.”

- There’s a conclusion appearing about the crisis that the activities of 3 members who file the lawsuit will be stopped?

(I cant understand this one in details, but basically he said that the members would continue if their disposition is approved, and he hoped it would be soon. The court’s desicion is now in the middle of the most important and difficult variables and he had goal to finish the case within 6 months.)

- The possibility of winning?

“To see it on the bright side… SM Entertainment has in the past been ordered by the Korea FTC several times to reform contracts for violating the standard contract limits. TVXQ are now appealing for the parts that are different from the FTC terms.

- Before taking the legal action, it’s said that the members did not try to make consultation with the agency before.

“We have tried to solve the problem through dialogue. Members had even met directly with the agency. While I was also trying to resolve the problem through multiple channels. However, the agency ignored members opinions, therefore a legal appeal finally made. The members are very sorry to the fans as well.

- What is the conflict regarding to cosmetic issue?

“Should an agency has a fight with artists who are having family’s personal investment? Other celebrities are common to have additional business. Moreover, the three members had already made consultation process with agency representative, Kim Young-Min before they started the cosmetic business, but we feel betrayed then as the company told another story later on.

- TVXQ has already taken the step, but eventually dismantled

“We have already tried many ways, but all the efforts finally bring us here. We’re not too hasty to be in this position. We create legal procedure first before we present every single new plan. The 5 people based their activities together in SM Entertainment, therefore it will not be easy to be in our situation now. “

- Is there a plan for press conference?

It’s necessary but as for now, we don’t have any plan yet. The members are really sorry now to the fans. Actually we want to proceed this case undisturbed.

In addition, according to him as well, from Star News that the members have never been informed with the accurate details of their income from the agency. Therefore in general, the members asked a claim to clean up the damage regarding this matter. As for now, the law firm can not confirm clearly the details of income submitted in the same application.

credit: onetvxq