SAEDNEWS: EXO-CBX and SM Entertainment failed to reach a settlement in their highly publicized legal battle, leaving fans wondering what comes next in this high-stakes K-pop clash.
The long-running tension between EXO-CBX and SM Entertainment just reached another boiling point. The first court mediation session ended without any agreement, and fans are buzzing with questions about the future of one of K-pop’s most dramatic legal battles.
On September 23, the 15th Civil Division of the Seoul Eastern District Court, led by Judge Cho Yong Rae, held the first mediation session between EXO-CBX and SM Entertainment. The private session lasted about 30 minutes, with only lawyers from both sides present. By the end, no deal was struck, and the case remains unresolved. A second mediation session is set for October 10.
The roots of the dispute go back to June 2023, when EXO-CBX — Chen, Baekhyun, and Xiumin — declared their intent to terminate their exclusive contracts with SM. Their main claim? That SM failed to provide accurate settlement data. They even filed a complaint with the Korea Fair Trade Commission.
While the group later agreed to continue EXO’s group activities under SM, the trio launched their own agency, INB100, for individual work. But SM fired back in April of last year, claiming EXO-CBX owed 10% of individual activity earnings as previously agreed.
K-pop fans are glued to their screens, analyzing every court update and speculating about what this means for the future of EXO. Social media has exploded with hashtags, with fans expressing both frustration at SM and concern for the members of EXO-CBX.
One fan posted: “It’s heartbreaking that after so many years, they’re still fighting for fair treatment.” Another asked: “If SM can’t even settle with EXO-CBX, what does this mean for other artists?”
