Between June 5 and June 6 KST, the dispute between EXO members Baekhyun, Xiumin, and Chen and SM Entertainment took on new dimensions after a set of latest press releases by either side. 

First, on June 5 KST, it was revealed that Baekhyun, Xiumin, and Chen (hereby known as EXO-CBX) had filed a complaint with the Korea Fair Trade Commission with a view to maintain SM Entertainment accountable for “unfair abuse of bargaining power”. 

Additionally on June 5 KST, SM Entertainment released a press statement declaring that it’ll meet the calls for of EXO-CBX by offering copies of requested fee data, so long as EXO-CBX signal confidentiality agreements. 

Then, early on June 6 KST, EXO-CBX launched a proper press assertion responding to SM Entertainment’s newest place. 

During this course of, extra particular particulars surrounding the authorized dispute between the 2 sides, and the issues that every aspect is placing ahead, had been publicly revealed. This has led many Ok-netizens following the problem to take completely different sides, some exhibiting their assist for EXO-CBX and a few for SM Entertainment.  

First, some netizens who’ve determined to point out assist for SM Entertainment’s aspect primarily based their understanding of the scenario primarily based on these elements of the company’s newest statements:

1. According to SM Entertainment, artists can invite authorized representatives/accounting agency representatives to go to the corporate as to peruse over fee data and balances as wanted.

2. However, EXO-CBX made no try to stick to SM’s recommendation to peruse the data with their authorized/accounting representatives first earlier than requesting full copies of all earnings and funds, and continued to solely request copies.

3. In order to distribute copies of an artist’s [EXO’s] earnings and funds, the corporate should purchase permission to launch such paperwork from all different members, as the whole doc will encompass confidential data involving the opposite members. This was one of many the reason why SM Entertainment denied EXO-CBX’s request for copies a number of instances.

4. However, because of the persistent requests of EXO-CBX, SM Entertainment has determined to acquire the permission of the opposite EXO members with a view to present the requested copies to EXO-CBX, even though confidential monetary data of the different EXO members could also be jeopardized. 

5. According to SM Entertainment, no coercion was concerned within the means of negotiating the phrases of the unique contract renewal with all members of EXO. This is confirmed by the truth that one member of EXO nonetheless has but to resume his contract, and is presently within the negotiation course of.

On the opposite hand, these netizens exhibiting their assist for EXO-CBX’s aspect primarily based their understanding of the scenario primarily based on these elements of CBX’s statements:

1. While SM Entertainment claims that the three members of EXO-CBX “voluntarily” renewed their unique contracts after a good negotiation course of, in accordance with CBX, there was important coercion and “gaslighting” concerned within the negotiation course of. 

2. Despite SM Entertainment’s coercion, CBX nonetheless tried to barter particulars of the renewal contract 8 instances. What they finally obtained in response was that SM Entertainment couldn’t settle for any of the options made by CBX.

3. The CBX members had been instructed that “if you do not renew, the other members or even the whole team could suffer negative consequences” and Baekhyun notably was instructed, “Baekhyun, if you renew, we can offer the other members this much for their renewal payment”. At the time, Baekhyun was nonetheless finishing up his necessary service duties, however felt that he had no alternative however to resume his contract early [with approximately a year still remaining before its expiration] with a view to shield the group.

4. After Lee Soo Man and his LIKE Holdings controversy, CBX have motive to imagine that unexplainable, irrational charges comparable to “producing fees” or “royalties” exist of their earnings and fee data from the previous 12 years. 

Meanwhile, the members of EXO most not too long ago bid Kai farewell for a short time for his necessary enlistment service on May 11 KST.