[TRANS] Cassiopeia: We Will Wait

I haven't posted in a while lately, there's just been too much depression in the fandom. But I saw this article recently over at DBSKnights. Just thought I'd share it with my fellow Cassiopeians.



911 is over, SMTown is over. Listening to the screams of desperation on the audio stream had so many of us crying rivers. This explosion of emotion is the result of a year's worth of waiting...


Yes, because they're TVXQ, they are our TVXQ, whether it be 2 or 3, we'll accept them all the same. As long as you're good and well, as long as you're able to stand on that stage, even if there's only one of you, we'll love you all the same, because it is Jung Yunho, Shim Changmin, Kim Jaejoong, Park Yoochun and Kim Junsu that we love, but above all, it's TVXQ.


Watching rookies appear one after another in Korea, watching their popularity rise and yours drop has made no difference to us. We cannot and will not forget. Seeing other artists perform on stage may give us a moment of satisfaction, but then we see the five of you, and you never fail to leave us in awe with your talent. The reason you're so well loved across Asia is because you're worth it. This is why your fan cafe numbers are still sky high at 780,000. Because we're willing to love you for the rest our lives~~~


We will never give up until we see that you've found your happiness, and when the day comes, we'll bury you deep down in our hearts~~~


I know, there is a lot that Cassiopeia is afraid of talking about, we're afraid of watching videos, afraid of seeing photos or even reading news. We find solace in other artists. I've been through that too, I was afraid of the internet, but I was never able to forget, ever. It was a period of intense heartache…


Even if you cannot let go, try and accept them the way they are. Regardless of the current situation, the men that we love have remained. Their smiles and laughter may be a little empty, a little forced, but they've also become that much stronger, and so we should wait. We must wait for their return, and when they do, we'll give them and give ourselves the most beautiful red ocean and cherish the world that belongs to us alone. Until then, we must wait, even if loving them means not being able to let go, eventually we'll get used to the pain and learn to love that too~~~


We look forward to seeing another red ocean on October 23rd, one for the other three at the exact same place, Hongkou~~. We'll scream Dong Bang Shin Ki with everything we've got and we'll wait.


Because we were separated to be reunited and we will continue to believe.


Credits: 耗子的花老婆@TVXQBaidu
Translated by: dorfehh@DBSKnights

~lynn~

The Korean Idol World Realities

“I fell through the cracks,” said the attractive brunette sitting across from me with her characteristic bluntness.

I first met Isak (real name: Ida Simmons) when I worked at Arirang TV and Radio, an English-language broadcasting station. The daughter of a Caucasian father and a Korean mother, Isak had previously been the member of an unsuccessful SM Entertainment act called Isak N Jiyeon. However, she managed to eventually parlay her bubbly charms into a successful career as both a DJ and VJ at Arirang Radio.

While Isak, who still has three years left on a ten-year contract, applauded SM founder Lee Soo Man’s ability to think outside of the box and accept a biracial Korean-American into his company, she also remembered the more suffocating aspects of being a K-pop entertainer in the earlier part of the decade. For example, when she lived with several other SM trainees in a dormitory-like setting, the girls’ managers devised a clever way to keep tabs on the talent:

“[T]hey were afraid that we would sneak out. They would put in a house phone for us, and we couldn’t call from our cell phones. We had to call from our house phone to our manager as soon as we walk[ed] in the door [to inform them] that we came in.”

Isak also recalled the strict no-dating policy at the time:

“No dating,” she said. “You get caught, you pay consequences.”

I asked her what the consequences were.

“I was threatened that if I didn’t break up with my boyfriend then I would be either cut from SM or not [be] able to debut.”

Ironically, Isak found that the no-dating rule could actually hamper an artist’s performance, especially since many K-pop songs were about the very topic that its singers were forbidden to engage in: love.

“They’re singing about love but they’ve never experienced love,” she complained. “I think that’s a very big error.”

Isak noted, nonetheless, that a lot had changed in the industry. While “just look pretty and dance” may have been the rule when she began her career, current K-pop fans expect a lot more personality from their favorite stars. Now, as Isak noted, “it seem[s] to be becoming a trend for celebrities to be dating in Korea… a lot of people were coming forward and being honest about their relationships.” And it didn’t stop there: entertainers like Lee Hyori would even appear on reality shows, doing things like going to doctor appointments sans makeup, allowing fans to become even closer to their idols.

The trend toward a more naturalistic and approachable depiction of idol stars, according to Isak, is a positive one, and she heaped a great deal of praise on 2NE1, a four-member girl group represented by YG Entertainment:

“I don’t think 2NE1 is the typical Korean pretty girl,” said Isak. “I think they’re the most beautiful girls in the world because they don’t have double eyelids; because they don’t have noses that hit the ceiling; because they don’t have that “entertainer” look that people have grown accustomed to.”

For all the positive changes that have happened in the industry, however, Isak had a warning for those who were dreaming of becoming an idol star: long contracts and hidden fees had not disappeared.

“They [the management companies] promise before you debut, ‘we’re going to house you, we’re going to feed you, we’re going to give you all the lessons you need. Do your best’ and then we think that that’s all free,” remembered Isak. She soon learned, however, that all the expenses that went into her upkeep, including stylists, salon visits, manager fees, food, and clothing, were deducted from her pay.

Young Kim, host of the Arirang Radio program “K-pop Zone” and former rapper for such groups as S#arp and Uptown in the late 1990s, noted just how little money one could make, even as a member of relatively successful groups: “I made about three thousand dollars in the seven months that I was promoting the [S#arp] album.”

Although Kim, Isak, and others I spoke with said that they believed conditions had greatly improved, recent legal battles and contract disputes (such as the one staged by three members of the immensely popular boy band TVXQ against SM Entertainment, their management company) suggest that something may be rotten in the candy factory. As one industry outsider told me with a knowing smile, “They work their kids hard.”

However, Mark Russell, a Korean pop culture expert, recently commented on his blog, the problem is actually not rooted in the management companies, but rather in the Korean music system itself. Having to train, house, and feed future stars whose success will ultimately have to recoup not only the investment in them, but the company’s investment in other trainees who have yet to make it or who simply fell through the cracks…the economic constraints of such a system are considerable, to say the least. Imagine, then, the costs that go into sustaining the thirteen members of Super Junior or the nine young ladies who make up Girls’ Generation.

More revealing was when Russell told me that, “[In] the late 90s, Koreans spent, depending on the exchange rate, somewhere in the neighborhood of four to five hundred million dollars a year on CDs and tapes. Last year, they spent 60 million. We’re talking about an 80% decline.” The steep fall in music sales could explain why over the years, K-pop stars have moved from being only singers to multitasking entertainers – unless you were writing your own music (and many idol stars do not), there just wasn’t that much money to be found in music anymore. Revenue would have to be generated through concerts, commercial shoots, and public television appearances. Meanwhile, selling talent overseas was no longer just a ploy by the bigger management companies to increase profits, but a financial necessity as the Korean music market continued to shrink.

There are big risks at stake for those investing in idol groups. These risks did not go unnoticed by Isak who understood her previous lack of freedom, stating that, “[We] are products. I know it sounds very bad, but we are products, and that’s why our companies…sometimes treat us like products.”

However, for all the financial risks the companies bear, perhaps the biggest gambles are still those taken by the talent in sacrificing their youth to achieve national or even international stardom. As D-Lite (Daesung Kang) of Big Bang put it, sacrificing “common things in life that we liked – walking around the streets, time to hang out with old friends, etc…” was something he knew he’d have to do.

Every idol star has gone into the K-pop game knowing the cost of fame. Behind the bright lights and their big smiles hides another truth, which D-Lite voiced in simple terms: “We all knew that we had to let it [their former lives] go when we decided to [join] Big Bang but, honestly, sometimes it’s tough on me.”

As I pondered the pressures of surviving in a shrinking Korean music market, I could only think, “It’s tough all around, kid.”


SOURCE: MTV IGGY, Seoulbeats
CREDIT: omonatheydidnt

[Lawsuit] DBSK`s Activities in Japan is About 1.5 Billion

In regards to the long term contract and undisclosed earning percentage split problem, it had created an unfair contract. Tohoshinki’s 3 members finally decided to go through court to resolve this dispute with their agency SM Entertainment.

Recently, the 3 members of Tohoshinki had requested to have their earning percentage split in Japan’s documents without taking in much consideration.

It is said that Tohoshinki had debuted in Japan in 2005 and till now, 4 years had passed and each member's earning in these 4 years could only reach about 1.5 billion. This is the first time that Tohoshinki’s earnings from their daily activities in Japan have been revealed.

Representatives had too expressed that SM JAPAN is a company that SM KOREA has 90% control over, and because of the matter over in SM Korea, it is said that it makes one suspricious of how SM Korea manages to pay for SM Japan too.

The members are rather confused over the whole percentage split earning because they have yet to see the whole real contract, according to SM in May revealed their financial status, SM Japan belongs around 93.5% to them. In regard to this matter, the public have raised questions.

Korean art schools professor, Lee Dong Ting said “Because of Tohoshinki’s activities in Japan, it had created a problem in percentage splitting. According to Tohoshinki’s agency, SM Japan and Avex would like to take in 50-50 of the earnings then between SM & SM Japan, another 50-50 in earning’s and in truth, Tohoshinki actually received only 1/4 of the earnings during these activities.

With an agenda of “Through Tohoshinki you could see that the companies system is full of problems and solutions were made,” Professor Lee also pointed out “SM JAPAN and SM been seen as 1 company is okay, therefore this kind of split for earning’s can bee seen as a dirty hand trick.” Professor Lee then said “The total amount that Tohoshinki is getting, being an artist and enjoying their reputation along with SM’s way of making use of the money in the name of ‘because it’s business’ (IE. Saying they need to pay their stylists etc) is not tallying with the reality calculation.”

Source: hohobbs
Translation: mel @ OneTVXQ.com
Credits: OneTVXQ.com { One World. One Red Ocean. One TVXQ! }
Feel free to repost, but please leave the full credits intact. Thanks!

[News] 090828 An Offering Of A Sacrifice To Spirits Done For "Heading To The Ground"

There was an offering of a sacrific to the spirits done for MBC’s new Wednesday-Thursday drama ‘Heading to the Ground.’

On the 24th at 2pm, the offering was one at MBC’s Yangju set and actors such as Jung Yunho, Ara, Lee Yunji, Lee Sang-yoon, Kim Jaeseung etc camealong with Director Park Sungsoo and all the staff.

Jung Yunho, who plays the lead role of Cha Bong-goon, prayed for the success of ‘Heading to the Ground’ by saying “Please help this drama be a big hit!” and praying alongside fellow actors Ara, Lee Yunji and Lee Sang-yoon.



Director Park Sungsoo said, “I was touched by the passions of these young actors who threw themselves into everything and anything we asked them to do. I think that the hard work of the actors will be seen in the eyes of our viewers,” and “I directed this drama with a fun and happy heart because the actors and staff always made the set come alive with their jokes and antics.”

Ara, who plays the role of Kang Haebin, said, “Overall, there are a lot of action scenes. Cha Bong-goon (Jung Yunho) especially has a lot of them, but he would rarely use a stunt double and worked hard in all his scenes and that gave all of us strength to work harder,” and “Because the script itself was funny, shooting the drama was fun too.”

Jung Yunho, who plays the lead role of Cha Bong-goon, said, “I’m doing everything for the first time so it took me some time to get comfortable, but all the staff members are excellent and all the actors on set were cheering each other on so I’m expecting this drama to be really good,” and “I still am lacking in some areas but everyone will be able to see me grow more along with Bong-goon each time an episode airs,” and was very modest.

The drama ‘Heading to the Ground’, which is gaining a lot of attention as this is TVXQ’s U-Know Yunho’s debut into acting, will first air on September 9th.

Source: [pimedia+DNBN]
Translation credits: jeeelim5@tohosomnia.net
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[Trans] 090829 GQ September Issue ‘The Real TVXQ Was In Japan’ CRITIQUES

TVXQ sings “I got you~ooo, Under my skin,” and dances. When the buttons on the shirts that cling onto their bodies cannot handle their powerful moves and burst, U-Know Yunho’s well-developed and chiseled pectoral muscles are shown. Fans from all over Korea, who may have had ill feelings towards the long stretch of Japanese activities, act as though the group had never left and stare at their TV and even go up to the TV screen and stroke it. I’m talking about the comeback stage of that happened after the album’s release last December. Fans found something a little odd about TVXQ during this stage. Although the five members’ faces were the same, it was as though their faces had been stuck on someone else’s body. This was because of their ‘muscles’.

TVXQ’s thin and muscular bodies are completely different from SM Entertainment’s preceding idol groups. The direction that the members of TVXQ are headed is being influenced by the Japanese activities they have been carefully and diligently doing. In Japan these days, their is a ‘Hosomacho’ or ‘thin muscle’ trend blazing through the nation. The biggest reason for this trend is because the majority of young Japanese women prefers the thin muscled hosomacho look over the heavily muscled gorimacho (gorilla macho) look.

What am I talking about? There are probably going to be some people who tell me that this trend has been around for a while with the majority of singers in Johnny’s Entertainment and with the majority of males in Tokyo having a thin muscle body structure. But what they are talking more about skinny guys who look as though they have muscles because they are skinny, not the ‘thin muscle’ look. But to think that TVXQ is just one of the many hosomacho groups is a big mistake. This is because the popularity of Tohoshinki, as they call themselves in Japan, is so great and out of this world that it cannot be fully comprehended or understood in Korea.

If we divide the dominating Japanese male idol groups into three categories, the first would be ‘role Lolita’, groups comprised of pretty boys, the second would be ‘Yankees’, groups comprised of members who have a bad boy vibe to them, and the third would be the TVXQ style. The TVXQ style’s popularity can be properly felt in Japan’s host clubs. Koreans may connect the words host or hostess with adult clubs and see these words with a negative outlook, but to many young, handsome and popular college students in Japan, it is the most preferred part-time job.



Different from Korea’s hosts, Japan’s hosts serve only alcohol and there is a different term for those who provide sexual intercourse and they are called ‘Urisen’. In these host clubs that can easily be found in Shinjuku’s Gabukicho area, the pictures of the hosts in the clubs tell women what kind of style each host is. Before, most of the people in the pictures copied the style of Johnny’s Entertainment’s idol groups. But now, at least one or two hosts in every club very conspicuously copies the style of one of the members of TVXQ.

In this area, there was once a time where the most manly people were nabe (a girl dressed up as a guy or a trans gender female). with their thin, pretty bodies. But now many Japanese women are asking for the hosomacho style, men who are not only pretty, but are also manly, and who are not only skinny, but has muscles. The TVXQ wind is blowing through the clubs of Gabukicho.

Since many Korean idol groups are popular not only in Korea but all of Asia, many Koreans may think that TVXQ’s popularity is similar to that of other celebrities. Shall we delve deeper to see just how popular TVXQ is in Japan? TVXQ’s most recent Japanese single sold almost 200K copies in one week. This sets TVXQ with the second highest first week sales in their agency, Japan’s biggest company Avex.

The only group above TVXQ is the 14-member group Exile, the group that received the highest award from the Japanese Record Association and the group that even creates big changes in society with their raging popularity. This means that TVXQ’s first album sales beats that of the female leaders of Japanese pop, ‘Amuro Namie’. ‘Hamasaki Ayumi’ and ‘Koda Kumi’. This is a feat that not even popular star ‘BoA’ has achieved. These are the kind of top singers we can compare TVXQ to now.

But I am not basing their popularity on album sales only. TVXQ has set a huge record of being on Japan’s representative music chart ‘Oricon Chart’ as 1st on weekly single sales six times already. Since the year 2000, the number of stars who have attempted to enter the Japanese market is enormous, with stars such as S.E.S, Sugar, Park Junghyun, Rain, Lee Soo Young, Se7en, SS501, Ryu Siwon, Park Yongha, Lee Byunghun, Yoonha, K, Sunmin, Big Bang and Super Junior.

But the only singers who have reached first on Oricon’s weekly single charts are BoA (once) and TVXQ (six times). TVXQ also succeeded in being invited to hold two concerts in July at the Tokyo Dome which is considered the Dream Stage, even to Japanese singers. This has never been completed by any other Korean singer before.

But the Bible sends a message, “Prophets do not get respect from their homelands.” For some odd reason, TVXQ’s outstanding achievements do not seem to be reported or praised in Korea. Also, it is sad to see that TVXQ’s success of almost selling 200K copies of their single was buried under the dispute between SM Entertainment and three members of TVXQ (Micky Yoochun, Xiah Junsu, YoungWoong Jaejoong) and the disbandment rumors that followed it.

They are not something something ’sama’ (like Yonsama) who were washed ashore by the Hallyu Wave. No, they even asked all Japanese media agencies not to associate the word ‘Hallyu’ with them (even asking for news articles to be pulled down if the word was used in relation to them), to show that they wished to succeed with their own powers and were able to become widely known in Japan. TVXQ had to erase their nationality in order to gain the acceptance from the Japanese population.

The rumors of disbandment at the height of their popularity has become a hot topic of conversation in the Japanese music industry. Japanese media has been created a daily special to update everyone about what’s happening in Korea with regards to TVXQ, and this has caused Avex’s CEO to come forward and give an explanatory statement to clam the Japanese fans. He announced that TVXQ’s Japanese activitees would continue regardless of what was happening in Korea and he decided to announce this himself. This has never happened before.

It seems as though the way Korean agencies set the income division when writing up the contract has surprised the people of Japan who are used to the Japanese agencies’ way of working that gives monthly salaries that may change. Since the first official event TVXQ held after the disbandment rumors came out was in Japan and not Korea, the source of such rumors, with the Fireworks Festival Concert, the Japanese media was more vigilant when it came to reporting the issue than the Korean media.

Therefore, whether they wanted this or not, this case has opened TVXQ up to a wider fan base including the younger generation. YoungWoong Jaejoong, who is the most popular amongst the members in Japan, was even seen in a paparazzi scandal magazine that only extremely famous Japanese celebrities appear in.

Although the situation in Korea is a complete mess, TVXQ might be able to take one step further in their Japanese activities through this happening. But they must once more grab hold of their Korean fans. There are already rumors that the ‘light fanbase’ is ready to embrace the new 6 member male idol group SM Entertainment is preparing.

As faithful as Korean fans are, they are also able to turn their backs on a singer very quickly. If even the fans who used to embrace them turn their backs on TVXQ, the group will become the prophets who are not respected in their homelands.

Source: [GQ Magazine+DNBN]
Translation credits: jeeelim5@tohosomnia.net
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[News] DBSK’s Expected 2 Months Break

Dong Bang Shin Ki outdoor concert, a-nation that is pre-scheduled to be held on August 29th in Osaka, Japan will keep going on.

After the provisional disposition facing DBSK’s agent SM Entertainment to stop exclusive contract effect from part of DBSK members, it’s been a difficult environment for DBSK to continue their activities, therefore the continuance of DBSK future activities has been gathered lot of fans’ attention ever since.

Recently DBSK’s Korea label SM Entertainment and Japanese label AVEX don’t catch any additional schedules other than ones have been pre-arranged. Except Yunho who will debut in MBC drama “Heading to The Ground”, the remaining members are said to be having break naturally (T/N: I’m not sure why the reporter doesn’t mention Changmin as well)

Members activities will be stopped at least for 2 months is being certain, but members’ concert in Shanghai that has been planned to proceed on October 2nd is expected to be executed.

The provisional disposition againts SM Entertainment filed by 3 DBSK members Jaejoong, Yoochun, and Junsu has received its first hearing on August 21st in the morning. The judge at that time said, “For the sake of public responsible to DBSK biggest fans and also the members internal relationship, I hope the two sides to consider settlement of this dispute amicably.” advising for a consensus.

Next hearing will be held on September 11th.

Source: pressdot@newsway.kr
Translation: sharingyoochun@wordpress

[News] Despites The Crisis, Changmin is Still Concentrating on His Acting Debut

“This first debut, I want to carry it perfectly.”

DBSK member Changmin (21) has been concentrating on acting training for his first challenge drama “Paradise Ranch”. Recently DBSK meets crisis as in lawsuit case related to some of its members. During this lawsuit period, it’s been repeatedly stressed that the lawsuit and members’ individual activities are separate stories. They’re already preparing for another coming up activities.

Just few days ago, after finishing a performance in Japan, Changmin returned home and when there isn’t any official activity, he’s fully absorbed to the debut drama training. Going back and forth Japan – Korea, Changmin never once keeps aside his script reading training.

From Changmin’s assistant, “The series of recent crisis creates burdensome to him mentally, is true. But as acting has been his long dreamed challenge, makes a great motivation to him afterall. From now on, he’s going to be busy traveling back and forth between Korea and Japan. Even from his recent departure (in Korea) few days ago, he already portrayed an excitement about the drama preparation.”

“Paradise Ranch” is a co-production drama between SM Entertainment and Samhwa Networks and they have goal to broadcast the drama at the end of this year. A delightful story of romance is blended by beautiful music will show the fresh youth romantic acting of Changmin. The drama will enter its first shooting early next month.

Source: naver news
Translation by: sharingyoochun@wordpress

[News] Cosmetic Company Lawsuit Case: Full Investigation

Seoul’s Gangnam Police Station on August 27th has lauched a full investigation regarding lawsuit filed by cosmetic company, CREBEAU in which DBSK members Jaejoong, Yoochun, and Junsu have their investment.

The public prosecutor from Seoul police office section 7 (head: Kim Cheong-hyeon) directed the investigation according to letter of complaint to SM Entertainment from CREBAU officer who requested for a full investigation of complainant’s identity before court review next week.

This police investigation is held as an instant basis to decide whether there’s criminality charges in defamation mark that is accused to SM Entertainment as defendant by CREBEAU company.

On August 4th, CREBEAU company where in DBSK members Jaejoong, Yoochun, and Junsu have their investment in filed a lawsuit against SM Entertainment for a defamation issue.

Source: jjw@fnnews.com
Translation: sharingyoochun@wordpress

[News] 3 DBSK Members’ Investment Cosmetics Company Sue SM for Defamation Issue

Seoul Central District Court officer revealed on August 26th that a representative of CREBEAU (위샵플러스) cosmetic company had filed lawsuit against SM Entertainment in charge of defamation issue on August 4th.

CREBEAU representative said, “The problem that is filed by 3 members who are also investors in our company is something to do with the unfair distribution income and to terminate the exclusive contract effect. However, SM keeps distorting the essence of the issue by saying that the main reason of their lawsuit is related to the cosmetic company. This is definitely a false representation and inflicts a serious libel to our company.”

Source: pretty@yna.co.kr
Translation: sharingyoochun@wordpress

[Lawsuit] SM x DBSK Lawsuit: “Will The Evidences Application be Accepted?”

As had been reported, besides the provisional disposition to terminate exclusive contract effect, 3 members of DBSK namely Jaejoong, Yoochun, and Junsu also submitted Preservation of Evidence request so that they could calculate the exact amount of their income.

However, in the first hearing held on last August 21st, SM responded regarding the Preservation of Evidence request, “This immediate appeal for Preservation of Evidence can’t be executed.” SM expressed disapproval regarding the submission request. The company explained that DBSK income receipts along with other documents and materials needed for this settlement is company’s trade secret. And if they’re to be exposed to the media, it can lead to fatal effect.

Regarding the problem, the court described an “in camera” system to invalidate SM’s claim of a fatal risk. The “in camera” system is the process in which the viewers of the evidences are to selected/limited number of people only. Because of this, DBSK’s payment issue can be resolved and the current conflict can be raised.

SM officials therefore approved the DBSK’s ‘Preservation of Evidences application’ and the submission deadline is tomorrow, August 26th.

The court judgment whether SM’s application is received as valid evidences or not is to be determined on Friday, August 28th.

Meanwhile, on the same day (August 28th), DBSK fanclub Cassiopeia is showing support to their idol by submitting petition which is signed by approximately 121,073 people at 1:30 p.m to National Human Rights Commission. “DBSK members have been victims of serious human rights violation and now are seeking way to escape from it. We asked the help from National Human Rights Commission to give human rights protection for DBSK members through their court hearing.”

On last August 20th, Cassiopeia had already submitted their petition which was already signed on-line by 120,000 people from August 12th to 18th (six days) to Seoul Central District Court to support the terminate of unfair contract.

Source: diodeo + newsen
Summarized by: sharingyoochun@wordpress

[Lawsuit] 090821 SM "We've Lost 15 Billion Won+ In Image Damage Because Of This Trial"

SM Entertainment (SME) stated that they were the only ones who received damages because of the request for the suspension of TVXQ's exclusive contract.

On the 21st at 10:20 am, the first hearing for the lawsuit between SM Entertainment and the three members of TVXQ's Youngwoong Jaejoon, Micky Yoochun and Xiah Junsu, began.

During this hearing, SME's lawyer stated, "In the case of the three members of TVXQ, they don't have any dissatisfied feelings towards this lawsuit as it got them out of concerts and advertisements that they did not want to participate in," and "But in the case of SME, they had to pay compensation for said canceled events and future scheduled events with 8 billion Won to pay domestically and 15 billion Won to pay if overseas activities are calculated. Not only will SME suffer monetary loss, the image of SME has also been hit because of this trial."

SME's lawyer stated that the focus of this lawsuit was not the period of the exclusive contract or the unfair income division, but the cosmetic company that the three members were involved with. He explained that the only two reasons SME asked the three members not to participate in such a venture were because such a venture went against their exclusive contract and because the venture could hit TVXQ's image in a negative way.

SME's lawyer also said, "In reference to the length of their exclusive contract, the special quality of the entertainment business needs to be considered," and "Even in the recommended exclusive contract guidelines released recently, there are exceptions when it comes to singers."

He also said, "The three members claim that they never were told of exactly how much they earned but SME revealed this amount to the members every six months and the members even signed these income documents."

On a side note, the three members of TVXQ filed for an Exclusive Contract Validity Suspension and Provisional Disposition Request against their agency SM Entertainment on July 31st. They also filed for a Preservation of Evidence request to be able to calculate the exact amount of TVXQ's income.

The three members asked for a cancellation of their contract due to the unlawful clauses in said contract but SM Entertainment stated that the three members were filing this lawsuit because of the cosmetic company they were associated with; both sides show no signs of backing down. TVXQ's leader U-Know Yunho and youngest leader Choikang Changmin did not participate in this lawsuit.



Source: [star news+DNBN]
Translation credits: jeeelim5@tohosomnia.net
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[Lawsuit] TVXQ's 1st Court Hearing Ended Today

TVXQ and SM Entertainment's first court hearing took place today August 21st, 2009 at 11:40am KST.

TVXQ's lawyer stated "TVXQ members are very upset about the entire situation, but hopes that the lawsuit will end well." In addition, "We do not want TVXQ to split up. And even if they do change management companies, there is still a chance that TVXQ will remain together."

SM Entertainment's lawyer stated, "There are no personal grudges against the members, however this lawsuit is an enormous loss to the company, therefore we wish to resolve this as quickly as possible and have TVXQ continue their activities." In addition, SME stated that, "In regards to the members running Chinese based cosmetics businesses, SM only intervened as it could potentially hurt their image. That was the only reason."

The 1 hour and 20 minute hearing over exclusive contract rights and improper compensation is now over, however all parties are required to submit all proof and documentation by September 12th, 2009, in order for the courts to make a final judgment.

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TVXQ: " We Want This Lawsuit to be Finished as Quickly as Possible"

TVXQ's YoungWoong Jaejoong, Micky Yoochun and Xiah Junsu have stated that they wish for their lawsuit against SM Entertainment to finish quickly.

Both sides stated their position at the first hearing held on the 21st at 10:20 am.

The members' side pointed out the unlawful problems in their exclusive contract as well as the doubtful income division made by SME.

SME's side stated that they were in red figures for four years after TVXQ debuted, said that they had divided the income well and that what the three members were saying was false.

Both sides stated that they wanted this lawsuit to be solved as quickly as possible. The judge stated, "If both side would like to set a settlement date that will not be open to the public, that can be arranged," and urged both sides to come to a mutual agreement.

It can be seen that the judge believes it will be better for the two sides to start fresh as quickly as possible rather than have a tiring fight in court.

On the other hand, on the 20th, 120,000 fans submitted petitions against SME's unlawful contract to the Seoul District Courts where the trial is being held.

Source: [asiae+DNBN]
Translation credits: jeeelim5@tohosomnia.net
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[Lawsuit] 090818 Yoochun, jaejoong, Junsu "Focusing completely on the First Hearing"

The three members of TVXQ who are currently in a dispute with their agency SM Entertainment, YoungWoong Jaejoong, Micky Yoochun and Xiah Junsu are completely focused on preparing for the first hearing.

On the 17th, a representative of Sejong law firm, that is aiding the three members, told Money Today Star News that,
"We are preparing for the first hearing that will be soon," and "TVXQ's stand and SME's Stand on this situation have not changed at all."

He also said, "As they are still under SM Entertainment, all five of them are completing the shcedules they have been given."

The three members' lawsuit's first hearing will be held on the 21st this month.

The three members of TVXQ filed for an Exclusive Contract Validity Suspension and Provisional Disposition Request against their agency SM Entertainment on July 31st asking for their release from their exclusive contract. They also filed for a Preservation of Evidence request so that they could calculate the exact amount of their income. TVXQ's leader U-Know Yunho and youngest member Choikang Changmin did not participate in this lawsuit.


Source: [star news+Yuaerubi]
Translation credits: jeeelim5@tohosomnia.net
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[Lawsuit] DBSK forced to a corner; freedom comes at a price of 10.6 billion TWD

DBSK forced to a corner; freedom comes at a price of 10.6 billion TWD


Unsatisfied with their treatment under their managing company, members of Korean superstar boyband Dong Bang Shin Ki, namely Xiah Junsu, Youngwoong Jaejoong and Micky Yoochun have brought their case to court.

However, once the hearing is held and if the members lose their case, a compensation sum of approximately 10.6 billion TWD will have to be paid, tantamount to forcing them into a tight corner.

At the beginning of this month, news of the three members being dissatisfied with SM Entertainment and wanting to leave had begun to surface. In return, SM declared publicly that there was no such thing, and even professed that if they wanted to leave, then they would have to pay to do so.

Once the news of this got out, the 800 thousand strong fan base of Dong Bang Shin Ki almost immediately took action, firstly by using the cancellation of the SM Town Concert to start a boycott of SM products as a form of support for their idols.

SM Entertainment has also seemingly not cared much about all of these measures fans have been taking. Instead, SM has been registering the names of their popular groups such as Super Junior and So Nyeo Shi Dae (Girls’ Generation) as well as Dong Bang Shin Ki, in order to prevent Dong Bang Shin Ki from starting over elsewhere.

According to news reports, a seminar where media experts and scholars came together to discuss this problem all stood on DBSK’s side, saying that SM has used DBSK merely for profit, and the amount that they are paid every year, five miliion TWD, is ridiculous.

Now that DBSK wants their freedom back, the price that they have to pay is far too much, and purely a device to back them into a corner that they cannot retreat out of.

The “Dong Bang Shin Ki Seminar”, co-held by fans, scholars and media experts, was held in order to examine what would happen in the case if the three members lost the case: the end result would be to pay the 10.6 billion TWD compensation sum.

Thus, fans have denounced SM as a bloodsucking company, and they wish to voice out for their idols via the SM boycott

10 600 000 000 Taiwan dollars = 401.778473 billion South Korean won

10 600 000 000 Taiwan dollars = 321.02100 million U.S. dollars

Source: Yahoo! News
Translated by: hazel @ http://asianfanatics.net/
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[Lawsuit] Star Name is Money

Agency SM Entertainment who has been having legal disputes with 3 members of TVXQ, on July 4th submitted trademark application of names of some of its singers including TVXQ, Girls’ Generation, and Super Junior. SM is currently waiting for the result.

In 2004 SM already tried to enter the same application but was rejected since “There’s no agreement from TVXQ members,”. To consider the current situation where there’s disputes between the two sides, the members are most likely not consent yet, again.

Meanwhile, quoting the statement from patent attorney Hwang Sung-pil which was aired on MBC “Happy Day” on August 17th, “The cycle of legislation from trademark rights to trademark, is to legitimate the brand of artists name when deciding margin products, as well as to identify the source of right to display certain brand so that customers are ensure of one’s brand reliability.”

Estimation of the value of star name.

The star name whose value is worth for 180 billion won, is gained by Seo Tai-ji on 1st rank. The Korean wave star Bae Yong Joon name is worth for 100 billion won, and rose the 2nd.

Active in three countries including Korea, Japan, and U.S, singer BoA is ranked 3rd for 100 billion won while on 4th with estimation value of 50 billion won is name of group Shinhwa.

TVXQ group name is estimated to be worth 40 – 50 billion won thus made 5th. Meanwhile Korean wave star Won Bin and Choi Ji-woo names both are worth 30 billion, thus are placed together on 6th.


source: Newsen
trans: sharingyoochun@wordpress

[Lawsuit] Court Accepts TVXQ's 'SM Preservation of Evidence' Form

On July 31st, three members of TVXQ, Xiah Junsu, YoungWoong Jaejoong and Micky Yoochun, filed for an Exclusive Contract Validity Suspension and Provisional Disposition Request Form, and the Seoul Central District Court has accepted the three members' Preservation of Evidence Request.

The Seoul Central District Court has accepted the three members' Preservation of Evidence Request that they submitted on the 5th earlier this month through the Sejong Law Firm. This request was for the preservation of all receipts, transaction slips, account books and such to calculate the exact amount of TVXQ's income.

It has been found that the Court demanded that SM hand in all documents relevant to this lawsuit.

Source: [no cut news+DNBN]
Translation credits: jeeelim5@iscreamshinki.net
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[Lawsuit] Is There a Solution for ‘Slave Contracts?’

With Korean pop group TVXQ embroiled in legal action against its agency, SM Entertainment, over an allegedly unfair contract, fans and agencies alike are focusing attention on the validity of so-called “slave contracts.” Contracts are dubbed as such for reported disadvantaging the stars and would-be stars who enter into them with management agencies.

These excessively binding contracts came into focus when actress Jang Ja-yeon ended her life earlier this year amid allegations that she was threatened and forced to provide sexual favors by her former agent.

TVXQ brought yet another perspective to ongoing speculations regarding unfair practices carried out by both large- and mid-sized entertainment agencies here.

According to the legal document filed by three members of the group ― Micky, Xiah and Hero ― the agency prohibited their freedom as artists by claiming that the group’s and members’ activities belonged to the agency, requiring them to follow the agency’s demands to appear at certain performances and broadcasts, and requiring them to stay under the agency’s wing for 13 years.

Experts say that this type of contract is standard in Korea’s entertainment industry. A newcomer’s path to stardom depends highly on local agencies’ investments, unlike in the United States, where up-and-coming artists often sign deals with agencies after proving their talents at bars and small theaters on their own.

“From top stars like the late actress Choi Jin-shil and singer Uhm Jung-hwa, celebrities were ‘made’ into stars by their agents and agencies. These young artists need to be ‘invested in’ for at least 10 years,” said Choi Jung-han, a lawyer and former head of the Korea Entertainment Law Society.

The agencies, naturally, extend contracts for more than 10 years to collect investments in the future. Of course, this only applies to successful cases.

Choi explained that although agencies spend their time and money investing in several groups and aspiring talents, only a few of those clients ever taste success. This leads to contracts that trap successful stars into what is now referred to a “slave contract.”

“If the case with TVXQ and SM does not settle down in a proper way, the same incidents will continue again and again. We must revise contract terms regarding the contract periods and profit distribution,” Kim Won-chan, chairman of the Korea Singers Association, said during a radio interview last week.

Kim pointed out that although SM Entertainment claimed that they offered 11 billion won to the members, the fairness of the payment amount should be questioned, considering the overall profit the agency has received over the past years.
“There must be separate regulations detailing the maximum and minimum amounts in profit distribution,” he said.

The Fair Trade Commission posted a recommendation notice regarding the issue last month, setting forth a standard contract for artists and agencies.

“The commission did release the notice as a standard contract, but this does not have any legal effect, which is why many agencies and artists are quarreling about the actual practice of it,” culture critic Kim Sung-soo said.

Kim added that the overall atmosphere must change to scrap such “slave contracts” and messy legal disputes.

“This type of discontent appears because Korea focuses on only a number of stars. Agencies have no choice but to rely on those who are popular and successful. In the case of major entertainment agencies, newcomers have no choice to follow their contracts to become famous. We have to change the overall system so that the entertainment business can focus on a larger and longer perspective and nourish various types of artists,” he said.

Meanwhile, the group is expected to follow through with their scheduled performances in Japan. Avex, the group’s agency in Japan, said last week on its official Web site, “We will support TVXQ’s Japan activities to the full. We expect fans to continue to root for TVXQ,” according to Yonhap News.

“We have received assurances that both sides don’t want the group to disband. This is interpreted as meaning that SM and the three TVXQ members will go ahead with their scheduled performances in Japan,” Avex said.

The K-pop group will sing in Tokyo on Aug. 22 and 23 and Osaka on Aug. 29 and 30.

The five-member boy band will also appear on “Music Japan,” NHK’s music program* next month.

Source: sanghee@koreatimes.co.kr 08/11/2009
Shared by: KPOPJjang@wordpress + DBSKnights

*The author made a mistake here. All five members will not be appearing on "Music Japan," only Jaejoong and Yoochun to promote "Colors ~Melody and Harmony~"

[Lawsuit] SM Entertainment’s application for trademark rights of "Dong Bang Shin Ki" on 5th August

SM Entertainment has once again applied for the trademark rights for Dong Bang Shin Ki.

It is known that SM Entertainment had gone to apply for continuation of trademark rights for the name ‘Dong Bang Shin Ki’ at the Korea Industrial Property Rights Information Service (KIPRIS) on 5th August together with 3 other names.

Currently the company is in a lawsuit with Dong Bang Shin Ki 3 members Xiah JunSu, Micky YooChun and Hero JaeJoong, and this application has brought up different interpretations from music experts.

With the case of SM Entertainment applying for trademark rights for the name, especially since there was once in 2004 SM has refused to do so for 東方神起, much interests are roused as to the intention behind the act.

SM Entertainment also applied for trademark rights of other groups like Super Junior and So Nyeo Shi Dae on 4th August.

One music industry expert said, “Applying for the trademark rights for the singers in your own company is a natural thing. Sometimes it has been taken as a sensitive issue by many.”

Another said, “The company has the right and this is a natural thing to do. It shouldn’t be seen as a bad intention.” While another said, “Dong Bang Shin Ki is a group that is wellknown throughout Asia and Korea. If the trademark rights are abused, it is damaging to their image. There was a problem of disbanding some time back. But it is true that the sensitive time comes when the company applies for trademark rights to the name.”

Source: K-Bites

[Lawsuit] Probe Finds Entertainers Frequently in Bum Deals

After three of the five members of the Korean pop band Dong Bang Shin Gi, a k a TVXQ, took legal action against the group’s management agency, S.M. Entertainment, on July 31, claiming an unfair contract, officials began examining how other top groups are being managed.

What they’ve found was sometimes startling. Yuna, a member of a band called Girls’ Generation that is under the same agency, is in a 13-year contract similar to the ones claimed by the three TVXQ complainants.

A member of Super Junior, a 13-member pop band managed by S.M., cannot leave the company for between five and 13 years.

“Even though I want to transfer to another management agency, it is not easy because of the long contract period and a large penalty I would have to pay,” the member said during a phone interview with the daily newspaper Ilgan Sports. “Since each member receives 1/13 of total profit earned from the band’s record sales, individual income is not that high.”


Wonder Girls, a Korean girl pop band. [JoongAng Ilbo]
Members of the Wonder Girls, a five-member girl band under JYP Entertainment, have signed an exclusive 7-year contract.

Members of pop groups Big Bang and SS501 are locked into 5-year contracts by YG Entertainment and DSP Entertainment, respectively.

During its investigation into 20 management companies starting in April, the Fair Trade Commission has found unfair contract clauses for 230 entertainers managed by 19 agencies.

Included in such clauses are ones mandating that entertainers have to report their whereabouts to the manager at all times, contractors are not allowed to get any job in the entertainment industry after terminating contracts and contractors cannot retire without authorization from the manager.

Following the investigation, large agencies have completed either renewing or revising contracts and small and medium companies are in the process of doing so. So far, most legal disputes have been between agencies and actors and actresses rather than singers. “The reason why controversies over unfair contracts among singers have not surfaced is that within Korean pop music, there still exists a custom of running the business by verbal agreement rather than strict contract clauses,” said an executive official from an agency who asked not to be named. “Many new singers think that it is hard to become a star if they file complaints against their companies. I believe there are a lot of entertainers suffering from unfair contracts.”

The official also said that members of idol pop bands are mostly teenagers when they sign contracts and have to serve two to three year apprenticeships. They have no choice but to accept unfair contracts because they will not have a chance to debut if they fail to satisfy managers during their training period.

Many experts say disputes between agencies and entertainers occur because agencies try to make up for initial investment costs they expend in promoting idol groups. Also, some budding stars fail to make it despite the investment, leaving the agencies holding the bag. Agencies complained that it is difficult to run the company when contracts are revised after an entertainer becomes popular because of various investment costs.

Others see things differently. “If Korean management agencies keep on taking the lion’s share of profits earned by their entertainers, more legal disputes like TVXQ are bound to happen,” said Lim Jin-mo, a music critic.

Experts say the only way to limit onerous contracts is to adopt new rules and regulations. Along with these steps, some suggest that the patriarchal system that lets agencies treat their entertainers as chattel needs to be modernized.

As conflicts related to unfair contracts have flared in recent years, the Fair Trade Commission began a contract-by-contract probe into the issue and has requested revisions. Some improvements have been enacted. And the commission introduced a system of using “standard contracts” for entertainers last month and strongly recommended that the entertainment industry to use it.

However, there are exceptions in the revised contracts letting an agency sign long-term contracts for special reasons, such as a long period of overseas activity. Korea Entertainment Producers’ Association has come out against the new system, saying that it does not reflect the reality of Korean pop music.

Perhaps the Achilles’ heel of the proposed contract is that it is merely a recommendation that has no enforcement teeth. Japanese fans of TVXQ and many experts there deride Korean entertainment management. They said it is impossible to sign a contract that lasts for more than 10 years in Japan.

But there are differences in the entertainment culture of the two countries. In Japan, where the scale the entertainment industry is much larger than in Korea, a few big agencies are firmly in control of the industry. New entertainers renew their contracts every two or three years and get paid monthly. In the United States, one entertainer is sometimes managed by two separate companies, a management agency which supports overall activities, and an agent overseeing an entertainer’s products and contracts.

“The entertainment industries in the United States and Japan have developed after going through a lot of trial and error. It is impossible and not right for Korea to immediately follow their example,” said Hong Sung-kee, president of Korea Entertainment Law Society.

Some say culture is more important than changes in written rules and laws. In a culture that refers to an agency as an entertainer’s benefactor while treating a singer as a betrayer when he or she complains, it is difficult to develop a reasonable contract. “Even though more Korean entertainers are becoming popular on the global stage, the system of managing them has not changed,” said Lee Dong-yeon, professor of Korean Traditional Arts at Korea National University of Arts.

“A new management system and culture have to be developed so that new entertainers can also get legal advice when signing contracts,” he said.


By Yang Sung-hee, Lee Young-hee [smartpower@joongang.co.kr]

Source: JoongAng Daily
Shared by: lynaeina@soompi + DBSKnights

[Lawsuit] Eugene on DBSK-SM discord, “It is a pity that companies make use of new singers’ weaknesses”

Singer/actress Eugene talks about her views regard the discord between SM Entertainment and Dong Bang Shin Ki. She said in a recent interview, “Even though I don’t know the details, I hope both sides can settle this amiably.”

Eugene was from S.E.S under SM Entertainment debuting in 1997. S.E.S was one of the first girlgroups and had the concept of fairies and had made issues with their songs and costumes. After which, there were the other girlgroups like Fin.K.L, Baby VOX, Chakra. And then recently we have WonderGirls and So Nyeo Shi Dae etc.

Eugene said, “It is true that SM have a good training system for a big company. With that, there are many youths who wants to debut under these big companies and there are many cases of them signing long term exclusive contracts with the company. When the singers grow and develop, the contract should also change if not there will be piled-up unhappiness. It is a shame that companies take advantages of the weaknesses of these new singers.”

She added, “Recently when I look at the juniors, it seems that their schedule is so tight they can hardly breathe. It would be great if they are able to find happiness and influence through their entertainer activitise and at the same time are able to improve on things like profits etc.”

Credit: Kbites