The Boyz Members, 9 Members, Notify Termination of Exclusive Contract with 원헌드레드... Agency Says "Unacceptable"

A majority of the members of the group The Boyz have publicly demanded the termination of their exclusive contract with their agency, 원헌드레드, leading to a conflict between the two parties. Attorney Kim Moon-hee from the law firm Yulchon, representing the nine members excluding New, stated on the 19th that they notified the termination of the exclusive contract on the 10th of last month due to 원헌드레드's serious breach of contract and irreparable damage to their trust. The members' representatives assert that based on this notification, the exclusive contract has been legally terminated and is no longer in effect. In contrast, 원헌드레드 issued an official press release the same day, stating that they cannot accept the request for termination from The Boyz's side, indicating that the dispute is likely to escalate into legal battles.

The key issues presented by the members' representatives are the settlement problems and potential violations of management obligations. Attorney Kim Moon-hee has stated that 원헌드레드 did not pay any settlement funds to The Boyz members for activities conducted from July of the previous year, following a settlement in the second quarter of 2024. Furthermore, the members repeatedly requested to review essential documents such as contracts to confirm the transparency of settlements, but the agency allegedly refused without legitimate reasons. Additionally, the agency reportedly failed to adequately support various costs necessary for the artists' activities and even delayed payments to the staff working on site for several months, effectively neglecting normal management duties. The members' representatives reported that these accumulated issues led them to conclude that continuing the contractual relationship was no longer feasible.

원헌드레드 immediately rebutted this. The company explained that based on the premise that all 11 members of The Boyz would work together as a team during the contract period, they paid a substantial exclusive contract fee to each member and finalized the contracts. However, they claimed that last year's controversies surrounding the members destroyed this premise and ultimately resulted in one member leaving the team, making normal team activities difficult. Nonetheless, 원헌드레드 has stated that they have been trying to maintain group activities despite suffering considerable losses while persuading related parties who experienced damages, meaning that they cannot be held solely responsible for the current situation and cannot acknowledge claims justifying the termination of the contract due to a breach.

Both sides have also revealed differing positions regarding recent performance preparations. On this day, a media outlet reported that The Boyz members are preparing for a performance by renting a rehearsal room at their own expense without support from the company. In response, 원헌드레드 countered that the members are rejecting the company's support and are actually turning away from it. Given the conflicting facts, it seems that in future legal proceedings, records and evidence regarding settlement accounts, fulfillment of contractual obligations, expenditure of costs, and the actual process of support will be key points for judgment.

The Boyz is a boy group that debuted in 2017 and gained public recognition with hits like "THRILL RIDE" and "MAVERICK." They made a fresh start by transferring to the current agency 원헌드레드 from IST Entertainment in December 2024. However, while they initially contracted as an 11-member group, a variable arose when member Jo Hak-nyeon left the team due to personal controversies in June of last year. Currently, The Boyz are set to hold a solo concert at the KSPO Dome in Olympic Park, Seoul from the 24th to the 26th of next month. The members have stated their intention to proceed with the performance as scheduled to prevent harm to third parties.

This matter is considered a typical case combining key issues of contract disputes between idol groups and their agencies, such as settlement transparency, management obligations, and the breakdown of trust. However, as the details released so far are merely claims made through statements from the members' representatives and the agency, the legality of the actual contract termination and the scope of fault are expected to be clarified through additional material disclosures or legal judgments. Given the imminent concert schedule, if the dispute drags on, it could significantly impact the overall activities of the group.