Mastermind of the tampering scandal, original figure… Former FIFTY FIFTY trio: It took 1,061 days to reach a conclusion [Star Issue]

*This content was translated by AI.View Original

It took a whopping 1,061 days. The first-instance conclusion to the lawsuit filed by former members Sena, Sio, and Arian of girl group FIFTY FIFTY, whose tampering controversy in the K-pop industry shocked everyone, is finally set to be announced.

The 61st Civil Division (Collegiate) (D) of the Seoul Central District Court is scheduled to hold a judgment pronouncement hearing on the 13th for the damages claim lawsuit filed by Attrax against a total of 12 individuals, including Sena, Sio, and Arian, seeking approximately 13 billion won in compensation.

On December 18, 2023, Attrax filed a damages claim lawsuit seeking approximately 13 billion won against Sena, Arian, Sio, their parents, An Seong-il, CEO of The Givers, and Director Baek Mo, among others, totaling 12 defendants. However, after the complaint was filed, the 31st Civil Division (D) of the Seoul Central District Court, which had completed all preparations, was unable to commence the trial despite confirming the date for the first hearing due to the filing of counterclaims by the three members. Furthermore, in addition to applying for restrictions on access to court records, they also applied for restrictions on viewing trial records, showing moves to keep litigation issues strictly confidential ahead of their transfer to a new team and re-debut activities.

Although it took a long time before the main lawsuit date was finally set, with the first hearing in August 2025 also conducted non-publicly, the proceedings were strictly restricted, gradually moving out of public view.

Subsequently, they ultimately established a new base under the label entity Massive E&C (MESSIVE E&C) affiliated with IOK Company, signaling the resumption of activities. They also emphasized their contribution to FIFTY FIFTY’s achievements by appealing that "the three members played a pivotal role in achieving remarkable results with 'Cupid' and establishing it as a global mega-hit song."

The beginning of this lawsuit dates back to June 2023. FIFTY FIFTY, which had set a record for the shortest time to enter the Billboard Hot 100 chart in K-pop history with their hit song "Cupid," caused a stir on June 28, 2023, when members announced through legal representatives that they had filed an application for an injunction suspending the exclusive contract with Attrax at the Seoul Central District Court on June 19, and that the trial was currently in progress. Prior to this, Attrax had alerted everyone by announcing a suspension of activities due to surgical treatment for deteriorating member health and claiming that "an external force was identified approaching our artists during this period to induce them to violate their exclusive contracts with us."

Despite Attrax, led by CEO Jeon Hong-jun, continuously hinting that they "want reconciliation with the members" and could resume activities at any time, the members remained silent for two months behind their families and lawyers, taking an extreme stance by stating, "If we didn't do it as singers, so be it, but we will absolutely not return." The members later expressed their feelings in a handwritten letter 60 days after declaring their separation from Attrax last August, conveying that "through this incident, we want to correct things that had been forced upon us in the wrong way in our relationship with the agency."

However, the 50th Civil Division of the Seoul Central District Court previously rejected FIFTY FIFTY’s application for an injunction suspending the exclusive contract against Attrax, stating as reasons for rejection that "it is difficult to definitively conclude a violation of the obligation to provide settlement data, it is difficult to see sufficient proof of violations in health management and consideration obligations, and the termination of business with The Givers does not constitute a breach of the exclusive contract."

However, Sena, Arian, and Sio instead continued to push forward with legal action. Even after the dismissal of their appeal for retrial, they argued that "since both parties have declared contract termination, the exclusive contract can be said to have been terminated, and the reason to contest the injunction has disappeared due to changed circumstances; we will contest the essence of this case in the main lawsuit." They added, "We prepared content to contest in the appellate court, but submission was delayed due to reasons such as a change in the judicial panel, partial withdrawal of the appeal, and notice of termination from the agency, at which point the (dismissal) decision was made. The determination that issues regarding the settlement structure for record and music revenue, non-disclosure of details and items used for FIFTY FIFTY production out of the advance payments paid by the music distributor, and whether the representative director of the debtor committed breach of trust should be judged in the main lawsuit remains the same, based on the first-instance content and decision document without an appeal brief."

They also filed a counterclaim for 13 billion won in damages against Attrax, explaining that "the purpose of the counterclaim is not simply for the three members to receive part of the unsettled settlement funds. We judged it important and urgently necessary to clearly organize the expenditure details related to each member's past entertainment activities before determining the validity of the 13 billion won in damages claimed by Attrax, hence this legal action." They continued, "This counterclaim was filed after the law firm in charge conducted additional review following the rejection of our application for an injunction suspending the exclusive contract against Attrax, as overall revenue details were confirmed and related procedures were initiated," adding that "to date, the three members are proceeding with the relevant lawsuit without having received any transparent settlement details from Attrax."

Meanwhile, Attrax also won a partial victory in the damages claim lawsuit filed against The Givers. Previously, the 33rd Civil Collegiate Division of the Seoul Central District Court (Presiding Judge Choi Jong-jin) ruled in favor of Attrax partially in its damages claim lawsuit against The Givers, CEO An Seong-il, and Director Baek Jin-sil, stating, "The Givers and CEO An shall jointly pay 499.5 million won to Attrax."

Attrax announced that it is also proceeding with a 13 billion won damages claim lawsuit against the three former members who left the team without authorization in the tampering incident—Sena, Arian, and Sio—their parents, The Givers, CEO An Seong-il, and Director Baek Jin-sil, as well as a 20 billion won damages claim lawsuit filed against Warner Music Korea and Clayton Jin (Jin Seung-young).

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*This content was translated by AI.View Original