On July 5th, CEO Jun Hong Joon of ATTRAKT, a record label and entertainment company, faced legal and financial challenges in the K-pop industry due to a legal dispute with Fifty Fifty, a one-time sensational group. Controversy about the challenges erupted among netizens.

The Givers, a production company run by Ahn Sung Il, allegedly induced members to terminate contracts and legal disputes ensued. Netizens initially were critical but later shifted sentiment in favor of the CEO due to the apparent extensive dedication and financial sacrifices he made for the group’s success.

In 2021, CEO of ATTRAKT, Jun Hong Joon, made his presence known to the world of K-pop by creating his first K-pop group, Fifty FIfty.

However, he was soon met with challenges, and it became apparent that the CEO lacked the capabilities for acquiring music producers, thus leading him to seek assistance from The Givers.

It was soon discovered that The Givers were actively persuading the members with money to terminate their exclusive contract and join their organization.

According to ATTRAKT, The Givers engaged in actions in a manner that were detrimental to the agency, undermining the company’s business with Fifty Fifty.

It included the deletion of pertinent data and the unilateral acquiral to the ownership of the copyright to the girl group’s song, “Cupid”, all without prior notification to the agency.

In response to the allegations, a formal statement issued by Yoon & Yang LLC in July 2023 from The Giver’s CEO Ahn, unequivocally refuted the allegations and asserted that there was no veracity to the claim put forth by ATTRAKT in their attempt to acquire members from Fifty Fifty.

Still, the CEO of the ATTRAKT sued the organization for copyright infringement and member exploitation.

Fifty Fifty has accused the CEO of violating terms such as the ability to provide an accurate “right transfer contract”, a key document which indicates that the CEO is providing members an accurate reflection of their required payroll.

They further accused the CEO of neglecting the physical and mental well-being of the group members.

Furthermore, the group claimed that the agency did not provide adequate resources for the group’s future entertainment activities.

Initially, the allegations stated by Fifty Fifty led netizens to defend the girl group against the CEO.

Yet, the legal dispute took a decisive, pivotal turn when a chat screenshot between the CEO and Ahn Sung Il substantiated claims of the CEO’s genuine care for all the members.

Moreover, more evidence in favor of the CEO has been revealed, such as the massive financial investment in setting up accommodation in Gangnam for the members of Fifty Fifty, consisting of 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms, with a monthly rent of 2.7 million won.

Additionally, upon their debut, Fifty Fifty members also received extensive training in various subjects.

It included vocal theory, rap, dancing, English, exercise, and acting, in which the CEO ended up spending more than 20 million won in monthly training costs.

Not only that, the CEO invested more than 100 million won into the music video, “Cupid”, a recent track that gained record-breaking worldwide success, further demonstrating his immense effort in promoting the group globally.

This is further compounded by the fact that the CEO faced financial strain due to his extensive investment into the group.

He sold cars, disposed of his watches, and even invested his mother’s lifelong savings into the group’s production, demonstrating his unwavering commitment to their success.

The ATTRAKT CEO’s deep dedication sparked a notable shift in public opinion.

Netizens criticized Fifty Fifty for their betrayal and ingratitude and The Givers for their attempts to lure members away from a company that had tirelessly supported their success in the competitive music industry.

Olivia Ahn

Grade 9

Chadwick International School