Celebrity

FIFTY FIFTY Stumbles Amid Billboard Hot 100 Success: Attrakt Entertainment Reveals Dark Underbelly of K-pop Industry

Jun 25, 2023 | by Deborah Kim

What could possibly have gone wrong with FIFTY FIFTY, the girl group that is hitting it big on the Billboard Hot 100 chart?

Attrakt Entertainment, FIFTY FIFTY's label, sparked controversy on the 26th with their official statement, claiming, "It appears that a certain outsourcing company and Warner Music Korea are involved in the recent scandal involving external forces attempting to poach our members." Alongside, FIFTY FIFTY has sent a written notice to Warner Music Korea, alleging, "We have detected a situation where this outsourcing company has approached Warner Music Korea with an offer to sell our girl group FIFTY FIFTY."

Attrakt further demanded, "We have already captured solid evidence of a blatant attempt to illegally poach the members of FIFTY FIFTY. We ask Warner Music Korea for an accurate explanation and a statement of their position."

Previously, Attrakt raised questions when it stated, "We have confirmed that there are external forces attempting to lure our artists into breaching their exclusive contracts with us. These external forces are resorting to illegal activities, including slander against our company and flattery towards themselves, to induce our artists into making misguided decisions and ignoring their valid contracts."

In response, Hongjoon Jeon, CEO of Attrakt Entertainment, shared his thoughts on the issue during a phone call with Star News.

"I know who they are. It's really distressing and outrageous," Jeon began, emphasizing, "If there is one thing I want to make clear, it's that the entity I'm pointing to is not Warner Music Korea but the third-party power that has held a meeting with Warner Music Korea. I just want to hear Warner Music Korea's explanation about this."

CEO Jeon continued, "We have already secured evidence and are preparing for a lawsuit through our lawyer while continually gathering more evidence."

Meanwhile, activities of the members of FIFTY FIFTY have been put on hold.

Aran, a member of FIFTY FIFTY, has suspended her activities after undergoing surgery due to a gallbladder inflammation diagnosis. She is expected to need a recovery period of up to two months, which has also led to a break for the other members.

"Attrakt, although it started as a small company, has made a breakthrough in the K-pop industry against financial hardships and is still writing a new history with a bold dream. We are being cheered on by fans not only in Korea but all over the world. We are unable to contain our anger at the illicit activities of the impure external forces that are trying to seize this amazing miracle achieved by a small and powerless agency. However, we will respond in a calm and resolute manner, and without any compromise with these external forces, we will fight to the end and hold them legally accountable," Attrakt stated.