Denying SM's Claims On Third Parties, EXO-CBX Confirms Staying With EXO Even Though Contract Ends

EXO-CBX (Twitter @weareonEXO)

JAKARTA - Lawyer Lee Jae Hak representing Chen, Baekhyun, and Xiumin EXO released a new statement in response to SM Entertainment's statement. They explained that there was no influence from third parties in the termination of the contract.

"The SM claim regarding intervention in influence that actually belongs to Chen, Baekhyun, Xiumin (hereafter being called an artist) is false and false information. Artists feel pressured after seeing SM's official statement which continues to call a third person," said Lee Jae Hak of law firm LIN.

They feel pressured because it seems clear SM's view of the artist. Is this the influence of a third party? Our artist is an adult who can think of themselves and be responsible for their decision," he continued.

They are individuals with independent thoughts and views. They felt some doubt over a decade, and they devised the courage to ask questions they didn't ask when they were rookies," he said.

Lawyers explained that his client heard and asked many people about what was right. The closest people in question start from family, seniors and juniors in the music industry, colleagues, and even staff who work with them.

"Of those individuals, there are those who share similar concerns, share support, and express their support. We have to ask if all these people are the influence of third parties, the bad influence, the detrimental influence," said Lee Jae Hak.

Our artist is a human being who can make their decision and make their choice. The decision to seek their rights is like asking for a report on the deal to be made by themselves after discussions and this is not because of a third party," he said again.

"SM claims our artist has signed a dual contract, but three individuals Baekhyun, Chen, and Xiumin have not signed or tried an exclusive contract other than their contract with SM. SM must avoid making false claims," he said.

Lawyers feel confused because SM is worried that artists will share reports with other parties. Even in an exclusive contract, it is not stated that artists cannot show reports to others.

"SM does not provide data and legal parties and celebrities call this an unfair situation. This will definitely raise questions about who should criticize whose mistakes are in this situation," he said.

Chen, Baekhyun, and Xiumin feel they have to terminate the contract because SM Entertainment's legal side refuses to share transparency reports. In the applicable regulations, artists can review contracts for 30 days and not just look at them.

"The fact that SM refuses to do so makes us apply for an exclusive contract is key to this case," EXO-CBX said.

They also mentioned one part of an exclusive contract that is considered too long and could harm their artist. In the first statement, it was discovered that SM had an exclusive contract of 12 to 13 years. This passed the seven-year duration according to the contract set by the Trade Commission.

According to Article 5, Paragraph 1 of the next exclusive contract, This contract is valid for 5 years since... However, if the minimum number of albums specified in Article 4, Paragraph 4 is not released in the same period, the contract period will be automatically extended until conditions are met. In fact, there is no maximum limit for this automatically extended period of time," he said.

This article indicates that the contract period is automatically extended after the artist released an album according to the provisions of the figures from SM Entertainment. Lawyers say this contract is a slave contract that takes the power of their artist.

In addition, it is not justified to try to tie up artists by signing the next exclusive contract stating a long-term contract without a maximum limit when about one year remains on the exclusive existing contract. SM also doesn't pay a down payment to artists for the next exclusive contract," he continued.

On the other hand, the statement also contains plans for Chen, Baekhyun, and Xiumin with EXO. They confirmed that they were still active as EXO members even though they ended their exclusive contract with SM.

"In the negotiation process with SM to terminate this exclusive contract, the artist proposed the idea to continue EXO's activities even though Baekhyun, Chen, and Xiumin left SM," he said.

"Artis is grateful for the love and support fans have given EXO for a long time. Whatever legal results that occur in the future, they will continue their activities as EXO entirely," the statement concluded.