๐ข [READ] CBX Contract Dispute Explained:
โ
1. 2011 โ Original Contract
โข Baekhyun signed a standard 7-year exclusive contract with SM Entertainment in May 2011, along with the members of EXO. The contract period was counted from the groupโs first album release.
โข Shortly after debut, the members reportedly signed an additional 3-year extension, mainly due to overseas promotions.
- The clause automatically extends the contract until the required number of albums is released.
โข SM Entertainment had previously received corrective measures stating that contracts should not exceed 7 years. It was introduced by Korea FTC after earlier SM contract disputes.
โข Including Bekhyunโs military service hiatus (which pauses the contract), his contract was expected to end in early 2024 โ roughly 13 years in total.
2. Late 2022 โ 5-Year Pre-Signed Extension (2024โ2029)
Before his original contract expired, Byun Baekhyun signed a 5-year extension (2024โ2029) with SM Entertainment while still enlisted in the military.
โข Reported pressure: Baekhyunโs side later stated that the renewal was signed under pressure. They claimed he was singled out and told that other members would receive certain benefits only if he signed.
โข โSign now, cancel laterโ claim: His legal team stated he was told, โSign now; you can cancel it later before the contract activates.โ At the time, about one year remained on his original contract, and he was reportedly told changes could be made before January 2024. It was implied that refusing to sign collectively could also pose risks to the groupโs stability.
โข Revision requests: CBXโs legal representative, Lee Jae-hak, stated that contract revisions were requested eight times, but none were accepted.
โข Settlement data requests:
Starting in March 2023, Baekhyun, along with Chen and Xiumin, requested transparent settlement data (โprovisionโ) under their contract and the Popular Culture and Arts Industry Development Act.
โข CBX stated they made multiple formal requests (commonly cited as seven), but were denied copies.
โข SM disputed this, stating that the data was made available for on-site inspection, but not for copying.
โข Termination notice:
On June 1, 2023, CBX formally submitted a notice of termination for the extension contract set to begin in 2024, citing lack of settlement transparency.
Presentation: https://t.co/VP3bBaOkSR
Full list of sources: https://t.co/4aX9zv90Zq
A Korean reporter shared a personal story that shaped his view of Baekhyun long before the controversies.
He recalls getting lost during a trip to China years ago, when a Chinese female student helped. When he attempted to thank her with money, she declined, shyly explaining that she was โa Baekhyun fan.โ The encounter left a lasting impression on him, and he later found himself quietly following Baekhyunโs career.
Over the years, news of Baekhyunโs activities became a small source of joy. However, recent headlines surrounding him struck him differently after reading about him tearing up at his final world tour concert.
An entertainment industry insider once told the reporter, โBaekhyun is truly a precious artist. He is an artist who takes responsibility to the very end, so that no one is harmed because of him. Having watched him from his debut until now, I can guarantee that.โ That same sense of responsibility is what ultimately led Baekhyun to shoulder controversies that were not solely his to bear.
Baekhyun endured, and apologized โ turning responsibility into a burden only he carried, while those who should have shared it retreated. This raises a crucial question: are accusations once again being aimed at the weakest link, allowing structural problems and misjudgments by those in power to go unexamined? Even the media, once praising his agency, now criticizes trivial things like expensive cookies!
Baekhyun is not perfect, and he cannot be free from consequences. But he was not the planner nor the one with power. He was an artist who sang, trusted his fans, and tried to protect his world.
The reporterโs closing words recall the Chinese student who helped him years ago โIf I could meet her, I'd love to tell her this. โ่ฐข่ฐขไฝ ๅๆฌขไผฏ่ดค.โ (Thank you for liking Baekhyun)โ
(https://t.co/B9N7GYGXyx)
I feel hurt for my younger self. She endured so much and waited so long, holding onto the hope that one day she would see EXO OT9 live in concert believing that once she had a job and her own money, she could finally make that dream come true.
๐Throwback 5/6/23
CBX did not breach their contract on June 1, 2023โผ๏ธ
When they filed a complaint (not a lawsuit) against SM ent for unfair treatment.
Claims of a โbreach of contractโ are baseless.
Hereโs the official statement from CBX:
๐https://t.co/oK8nyAet2I