Sayart.net - Debut of Fantasy Boys, MBC′s Idol Audition Offspring, Marred by Contract Dispute

PocketDol Studio

A discordant note reverberates through the impending debut of Fantasy Boys, the project group born from MBC's renowned idol audition show. The ensemble's debut, scheduled for September 21, has been engulfed in a contractual feud that has led to the exclusion of No. 1 winner Yu Jun-won. The acrimony between Yu and the group's agency intensifies as clashes over the terms of his contract persist.

In a decision that casts a shadow over the much-anticipated event, PocketDol Studio, the team's management agency, revealed on Thursday that Fantasy Boys will launch their musical journey a few days earlier than initially planned, moving the debut from September 25 to September 21.

The swift announcement follows a statement released by the agency a day prior, declaring that Fantasy Boys would enter the scene as an 11-member ensemble, sans Yu, who faced an "unauthorized departure" from the group. The rift between Yu and PocketDol stems from a dispute over his contract, which led to a cascading chain of events culminating in his withdrawal.

The agency's joint statement with Funky Studio, the production company behind the idol audition show, unveiled that Yu and his parents opted for his exit from the group due to a divergence in the distribution of earnings. The contention arose from Yu's desire for a higher share of the income, rooted in his highest final score on the show. However, the agency opposed this request, citing potential conflicts regarding fairness among the group's members.

Despite repeated attempts at negotiation, Yu's parents withdrew him from scheduled activities twice without the agency's consent, ultimately informing PocketDol that he would not be part of the team.

In response, Yu offered his perspective through a handwritten letter shared on social media, asserting that the agency coerced him into accepting unreasonable terms and conditions. He highlighted that not only did the company reject his suggestions for revising the contract, but it also attempted to impose unfavorable clauses.

PocketDol refuted these allegations, stating that they hadn't exerted any undue pressure in contract negotiations. The agency underscored the industry standard of equal profit division between members and management in contracts related to audition programs, a policy also applied to the Fantasy Boys members.

The dispute escalated with both sides releasing subsequent statements. Yu divulged the specifics of his contract to bolster his argument that the agency attempted to unfairly burden the members with expenses. PocketDol countered, stating that they were ready to present all relevant documents if necessary.

Such contractual conflicts remain endemic within the local entertainment sphere, a result of the industry's operating dynamics. Entertainment agencies heavily invest in K-pop idol group members before profitability is realized, frequently leading to clashes over revenue distribution.

The incident comes in the wake of the legal struggle involving up-and-coming rookie band Fifty Fifty, who are locked in a legal battle with their original agency Attrakt over claims of inequitable profit sharing. Popular boy band Exo's members Baekhyun, Xiumin, and Chen recently filed an antitrust complaint against SM Entertainment, which was later withdrawn after an accord was reached.

Despite the tumultuous backdrop, Fantasy Boys will step into the spotlight on September 21, albeit as an 11-member formation, including K-Soul, Kang Minseo, Lee Hanbin, Hikari, Ling Qi, Hikaru, Kim Wooseok, Hong Sung-min, Oh Hyeon-tae, Kim Gyu-rae, and Kaedan.

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