Courtesy of Coupang Play
The Korean entertainment show "SNL Korea" is currently embroiled in legal disputes shedding light on the working conditions faced by production staff at content production companies providing material to streaming services. South Korean production company Astory, responsible for various streaming content, filed a 7 billion won ($5.2 million) lawsuit against CP Entertainment, the entertainment arm of retail giant Coupang, accusing it of unlawfully acquiring Astory's production staff.
 |
| ▲ Courtesy of Coupang Play |
Astory also implicated its former employee, producer Ahn Sang-hwi, in the lawsuit, alleging a breach of trust. Ahn, involved in establishing CP Entertainment while employed at Astory, is accused of coercing staff to join the new venture. In response, Ahn and the former production staff of "SNL Korea" stated that their decision to switch companies was prompted by Astory's habitual delays in wage and production cost payments.
The legal dispute intensifies with conflicting statements between Astory and Ahn. Astory claims Ahn actively aided in establishing CP Entertainment, leading to the disintegration of Astory's entertainment division. Meanwhile, Ahn accuses Astory of making false claims and highlights evidence, including phone calls and KakaoTalk records, to substantiate allegations of delayed payments.
The essence of the case, as indicated by the former production staff of "SNL Korea," revolves around mistreatment and overworked production staff. They cite a challenging working environment at Astory, prompting their move to CP Entertainment for better conditions. The transfer, they argue, was official and legal, following the termination of employment contracts.
The situation has drawn attention to poor working conditions in the Korean entertainment industry. Posts on corporate review platform Jobplanet describe Astory as treating employees as disposable commodities, with complaints about the lack of separation between teams and a non-existent system for work distribution.
A November 2023 report by the Film Industry Complaint Center reveals issues within the industry, with 21% of surveyed production staff experiencing delayed payments. Additionally, 45% reported instances of harassment, including verbal abuse and bullying on working sites. The report suggests that poor working conditions may stem from a lack of awareness among production companies and streaming platforms, as well as the industry's focus on productivity at the expense of labor laws.
An anonymous former streaming service industry official noted regulatory blind spots, with the streaming service industry operating outside existing frameworks of standard working contracts due to a lack of specific regulations governing this relatively recent industry.
Sayart
Sayart, sayart2022@gmail.com
Allegations of Contract Violations and Poor Work Environment Emerge as Legal Battles Unfold
Courtesy of Coupang Play
The Korean entertainment show "SNL Korea" is currently embroiled in legal disputes shedding light on the working conditions faced by production staff at content production companies providing material to streaming services. South Korean production company Astory, responsible for various streaming content, filed a 7 billion won ($5.2 million) lawsuit against CP Entertainment, the entertainment arm of retail giant Coupang, accusing it of unlawfully acquiring Astory's production staff.
|
| ▲ Courtesy of Coupang Play |
Astory also implicated its former employee, producer Ahn Sang-hwi, in the lawsuit, alleging a breach of trust. Ahn, involved in establishing CP Entertainment while employed at Astory, is accused of coercing staff to join the new venture. In response, Ahn and the former production staff of "SNL Korea" stated that their decision to switch companies was prompted by Astory's habitual delays in wage and production cost payments.
The legal dispute intensifies with conflicting statements between Astory and Ahn. Astory claims Ahn actively aided in establishing CP Entertainment, leading to the disintegration of Astory's entertainment division. Meanwhile, Ahn accuses Astory of making false claims and highlights evidence, including phone calls and KakaoTalk records, to substantiate allegations of delayed payments.
The essence of the case, as indicated by the former production staff of "SNL Korea," revolves around mistreatment and overworked production staff. They cite a challenging working environment at Astory, prompting their move to CP Entertainment for better conditions. The transfer, they argue, was official and legal, following the termination of employment contracts.
The situation has drawn attention to poor working conditions in the Korean entertainment industry. Posts on corporate review platform Jobplanet describe Astory as treating employees as disposable commodities, with complaints about the lack of separation between teams and a non-existent system for work distribution.
A November 2023 report by the Film Industry Complaint Center reveals issues within the industry, with 21% of surveyed production staff experiencing delayed payments. Additionally, 45% reported instances of harassment, including verbal abuse and bullying on working sites. The report suggests that poor working conditions may stem from a lack of awareness among production companies and streaming platforms, as well as the industry's focus on productivity at the expense of labor laws.
An anonymous former streaming service industry official noted regulatory blind spots, with the streaming service industry operating outside existing frameworks of standard working contracts due to a lack of specific regulations governing this relatively recent industry.
Sayart
Sayart, sayart2022@gmail.com
Related articles
- Horror Film 'Sleep,' Starring Lee Sun-kyun, Wins Best Picture at French Film Festival
- BTOB Set for March Comeback as Full Group Following Contract Expirations
- Zerobaseone Achieves 100 Million Streams on Spotify, Gains Recognition in K-Pop Scene
- Le Sserafim to Unveil Third EP with Seoul Showcase on Feb. 19
