• IOK Company Confirms No Legal Issues in Signing Three Former FIFTY FIFTY Members, Stage Names Remain

    IOK Company has officially signed Saena, Aran, and Sio, three former members of FIFTY FIFTY, who are currently in a legal dispute.

    On August 12, IOK Company told Newsen that all three members will keep their stage names, and there are no legal issues with their new contracts.

    When asked about any concerns over signing them while their legal battle with ATTRAKT is still ongoing, IOK Company said, "We received a legal opinion that the exclusive contract with their previous agency has been terminated, allowing them to continue their activities without any problems."

    Saena, Aran, and Sio have signed exclusive contracts with MASSIVE E&C, a new label under IOK Company. They plan to debut as a new idol group under MASSIVE E&C as soon as the second half of this year. IOK Company added, "We will fully support these talented and passionate members to help them grow on the global stage."

    Saena, Aran, and Sio originally debuted as part of the four-member group FIFTY FIFTY under ATTRAKT in November 2022. However, just seven months after their debut, they filed a lawsuit to end their contracts, accusing ATTRAKT of business negligence.

    The court sided with ATTRAKT, and in October, Kina, another member, withdrew her appeal and returned to ATTRAKT, apologizing to fans. ATTRAKT then terminated the contracts of Saena, Aran, and Sio, accusing them of serious breaches of contract.

    On October 26, the three members, through their lawyers, stated that both sides had agreed the contracts were terminated, and there was no longer a need to contest the injunction. They asked the media to stop speculating until the main lawsuit is settled.

    The reaction to the trio's new beginning with IOK Company has been mixed. While some international fans are excited for their comeback, many K-pop fans are critical, seeing their decision as too rushed, especially since the legal dispute with ATTRAKT is still unresolved.

    Meanwhile, ATTRAKT is moving forward with a new lineup for FIFTY FIFTY, led by original member Kina. The revamped group is set to release their second mini-album on September 20.

    Source: [1]

  • BTS's V Causes MASSIVE Crowd Chaos in Indonesia - Fans Flock to SimInvest Event for Exclusive V Merch

    BTS’s V is creating major buzz in Indonesia once again, and this time, it’s all thanks to his role as a global ambassador for the financial platform SimInvest!

    In March 2023, V was chosen as the face of the Indonesian investment platform, and he continues to hold the title for the second consecutive year. SimInvest has seen impressive growth thanks to V’s loyal fanbase, particularly among the younger generation. The platform expressed their delight, revealing that V’s influence has played a huge role in their success.

    For 2024, the platform is making an exciting move by adding legendary actor Jackie Chan as a co-ambassador alongside V. SimInvest hopes that this partnership will boost the platform’s appeal even further and help build trust among a wider audience.

    To celebrate the incredible growth, SimInvest threw an event in Jakarta from January 16 to 24. They set up a special booth at the MRT station where fans could grab exclusive V-themed merchandise and enjoy free coffee. As expected, the turnout was massive, with fans flooding the station and forming long lines. The crowd was so large that the event had to be paused multiple times for safety reasons, as SimInvest had to manage the growing number of fans. Both the company and the fans were in awe of the overwhelming "V-effect"!

    V’s popularity in Indonesia is undeniable. On Instagram, he was recently ranked as the second most influential celebrity in the world—just behind Cristiano Ronaldo. He also tops the search volume charts on Indonesia’s Google Trends for Korean stars.

    This isn’t the first time V has caused a stir in Indonesia. Back in 2021, during BTS's ambassadorship with Hyundai Motors at the Indonesia International Auto Show (GIIAS), a "Hyundai x BTS" photo booth saw V being the most popular member with attendees. Fans couldn’t get enough of the global superstar!

    It’s clear that V’s impact in Indonesia—and globally—continues to grow stronger, with fans everywhere eager to show their love for the K-pop icon!

    Source (1)