The selfish press conference held by EXO unit ChenBaekXi (Chen, Baekhyun, and Xiumin), who have left SM Entertainment, has once again put leader Suho in a difficult situation.
On the afternoon of the 10th, INB100 (Chen, Baekhyun, and Xiumin's agency) held a press conference at the Shilla Hotel Guesthouse in Seoul, accusing SM of deceptive agreements. Attendees included Chairman Chagawon of PIAC, INB100 CEO Kim Dong-joon, and their lawyer.
They claimed, "SM is demanding 10% of the individual activity revenue from INB100, which represents ChenBaekXi, ignoring the negotiation terms that were the basis of the agreement." They also stated that they had sent a certification of contents about the unfairness to SM, but had not received a response for over two months.
Prior to this press conference, ChenBaekXi had already expressed dissatisfaction with SM regarding settlement issues and exclusive contracts a year ago.
Baekhyun had been involved in tampering allegations related to MC Mong and Chairman Chagawon but denied them at the time.
ChenBaekXi and SM later announced that they had reached an amicable agreement and had re-signed contracts.
However, Baekhyun established the independent label INB100 in January this year, and Xiumin and Chen also announced solo activities while EXO group activities would continue under SM.
Last month, INB100 became a subsidiary of the producing company One Hundred, effectively aligning with MC Mong and Chairman Chagawon, sparking renewed tampering allegations. Chagawon explained, "Baekhyun is like family with MC Mong and me," adding that he had overseen the contract process.
The allegations raised by ChenBaekXi were not significantly different from those made before their agreement with SM last year. Consequently, EXO fans are questioning what the press conference achieved.
Moreover, plans for a full EXO group activity later this year have been marred by ChenBaekXi's actions. SM has stated that they will hold ChenBaekXi accountable through the courts. However, on the 11th, ChenBaekXi reiterated, "The press conference was intended to highlight the unfair demand by SM for 10% of individual activity revenue, which was a breach of agreement. It does not affect the continuation of EXO's group activities, and ChenBaekXi will continue to participate diligently."
Despite their intentions, the actions of ChenBaekXi have significantly impacted the other members. Suho, in particular, is set to face media scrutiny again during his wrap-up interview for the MBN drama "The Crown Prince Has Disappeared" on the 14th. The drama, which started with a 0.9% viewership and reached over 4%, received praise for Suho's performance as the lead actor.
However, instead of discussing his personal growth and achievements, Suho is now burdened with concerns about the future of EXO. He had similarly borne the brunt of the fallout from ChenBaekXi's grievances last year before his interview for JTBC's "Hip Hop King."
Ultimately, it is Suho who must bear the unwanted attention brought about by the seemingly pointless press conference. Given his well-known affection for the group, all eyes will be on him during his interview on the 14th.
Source(1)
