{"id":844,"date":"2025-10-28T13:50:42","date_gmt":"2025-10-28T13:50:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/saranghero.com\/blog\/?p=844"},"modified":"2025-10-28T13:50:43","modified_gmt":"2025-10-28T13:50:43","slug":"exos-chen-baekhyun-xiumin-lose-sixth-case-against-sm","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/saranghero.com\/blog\/exos-chen-baekhyun-xiumin-lose-sixth-case-against-sm\/","title":{"rendered":"EXO\u2019s Chen, Baekhyun &amp; Xiumin Lose Sixth Case Against SM"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>On October 27, 2025, it was reported that EXO members Chen, Baekhyun, and Xiumin had lost the sixth round of their legal and administrative dispute with their long-time agency, SM Entertainment (SM).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>According to publicly released documents, court rulings, police decisions, and regulatory notices, all found no evidence that SM committed illegal or deceptive practices in its contract arrangements with the trio.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This marks a significant moment in a currently stalled dispute. With six major decisions now against CBX, the group\u2019s claims of unfair contracts and demands for termination appear to have reached a critical turning point. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For fans and industry watchers alike, the outcome raises fresh questions about the realities of artist-label relationships in K-pop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"669\" height=\"439\" src=\"https:\/\/saranghero.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Screenshot-64.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-845\" srcset=\"https:\/\/saranghero.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Screenshot-64.png 669w, https:\/\/saranghero.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Screenshot-64-300x197.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 669px) 100vw, 669px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_73 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-light-blue ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/saranghero.com\/blog\/exos-chen-baekhyun-xiumin-lose-sixth-case-against-sm\/#Whats_at_Stake_Contract_Transparency_and_Artist_Autonomy\" title=\"What\u2019s at Stake: Contract Transparency and Artist Autonomy\">What\u2019s at Stake: Contract Transparency and Artist Autonomy<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/saranghero.com\/blog\/exos-chen-baekhyun-xiumin-lose-sixth-case-against-sm\/#What_it_means_for_EXOs_future_and_the_members_involved\" title=\"What it means for EXO\u2019s future and the members involved\">What it means for EXO\u2019s future and the members involved<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/saranghero.com\/blog\/exos-chen-baekhyun-xiumin-lose-sixth-case-against-sm\/#The_big_questions_going_forward\" title=\"The big questions going forward\">The big questions going forward<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/saranghero.com\/blog\/exos-chen-baekhyun-xiumin-lose-sixth-case-against-sm\/#Final_Thoughts\" title=\"Final Thoughts\">Final Thoughts<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Whats_at_Stake_Contract_Transparency_and_Artist_Autonomy\"><\/span>What\u2019s at Stake: Contract Transparency and Artist Autonomy<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Chen, Baekhyun, and Xiumin first raised concerns publicly in June 2023. The trio alleged that they had been induced into what they considered an unfair long-term contract with SM, and sought termination.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>They argued for clearer accounting records, more equitable terms, and questioned the transparency of revenue allocation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In response, SM and the members signed a so-called \u201c6\u00b718 Agreement\u201d in June 2023, which affirmed the validity of the existing contract but carved out solo and unit activities under a new label, INB100, while group-level promotions would remain under SM. The members also agreed that SM would receive 10 % of their personal activity revenue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, things didn\u2019t go smoothly. After CBX allegedly failed to remit the agreed 10% revenue share, SM filed a lawsuit in June 2024 seeking contract enforcement. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Meanwhile, CBX counter-sued, claiming misrepresentation and failure to disclose accounting. Authorities, including the Korea Fair Trade Commission (KFTC) and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MCST), conducted investigations but found no actionable wrongdoing by SM.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Then came the most recent decision: a Seoul Eastern District Court dismissed CBX\u2019s request for document disclosure, saying it was \u201ca means of psychologically pressuring SM and contrary to the provisional nature of such injunctions.\u201d The high court and the Supreme Court subsequently upheld these rulings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_it_means_for_EXOs_future_and_the_members_involved\"><\/span>What it means for EXO\u2019s future and the members involved<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>For the group EXO, this decision deepens existing complications. While the group remains active under SM for the team\u2019s promotions, the trio\u2019s solo and unit activities continue under INB100. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The split of management and revenue lines has always been delicate. Now with this legal setback, there is likely more pressure on CBX to reconcile roles or risk long-term incoherence in their branding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For Chen, Baekhyun, and Xiumin personally, the decision is a setback. They pursued legal options over more than a year and now face six adversarial rulings. That does not preclude future negotiations or settlements, but for now the public record suggests that their contract-termination bid has stalled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Fans have reacted strongly. Some feel the trio has been unfairly constrained, while others believe the renewed structure under INB100 gives them more freedom. Regardless of personal views, the legal clarity now tilts in favor of SM\u2019s status quo contract.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_big_questions_going_forward\"><\/span>The big questions going forward<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>With this sixth decision in favor of SM, what are the next steps? Will CBX pivot toward independent promotions under INB100 while strictly adhering to the 10 % share agreement with SM? Or will both parties reopen negotiations in light of public and fan pressure?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>One major unknown is how this outcome will affect EXO\u2019s group scheduling. Recent news suggests that upcoming promotional activities might exclude Chen, Baekhyun, and Xiumin, though that remains unconfirmed. The extent to which group-level activities integrate all members will be watched closely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>According to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.allkpop.com\/article\/2025\/10\/exols-lash-out-at-sm-entertainment-over-exos-upcoming-schedule?utm_source=chatgpt.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">one source<\/a>, EXO\u2019s upcoming fan meeting and album may proceed with only six members \u2014 a decision that already triggered backlash among fans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Another implication lies in the broader contract negotiations within K-pop. Will agencies tighten transparency provisions to stave off future disputes? Or will artists demand more co-ownership and auditing rights? The CBX case may serve as a cautionary tale for both sides.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Final_Thoughts\"><\/span>Final Thoughts<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The six-round loss by CBX in their legal battle with SM is not only a turning point for EXO\u2019s internal dynamics but also a moment that shines a spotlight on artist-label relations in K-pop. As the team navigates the next phase of their careers, all eyes are on how the trio will respond commercially and creatively.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For SM, the decision reinforces the strength of its contractual framework but also raises questions about its relationship with long-standing artists. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Stay tuned for updates and remember to check out <a href=\"https:\/\/saranghero.com\/\" title=\"\">Saranghero<\/a> for the latest K-pop and K-drama news.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>On October 27, 2025, it was reported that EXO members Chen, Baekhyun, and Xiumin had lost the sixth round of 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