#icymi
MAY:
1- We had two major contract disputes make it to the top of the headlines between May & June! The first dispute involved Exo members Baekhyun, Chen & Xiumin. The three took legal action against SM Entertainment after the label blocked the artists from viewing their own financial accounts with the agency. The trio also further complained about the excessive duration of their individual contracts, which far exceeded the 7-year maximum length set by the Korean Fair Trade Commission following TVXQ's legal dispute. The group also filed a complaint to the Fair Trade Commission in relation to their complaint. The dispute only ramped up over the following three weeks with comments from SM and the three Exo members regarding their contractual dispute, while BigPlanetMade (BPM) also released a statement after being accused of interfering with legal discussions between SM Entertainment and the three complainants. The contractual dispute was finally solved during the final weeks of June when the company released a joint statement with the three Exo members. The statement shared, "We are glad to announce that SM and the three artists have resolved our differences and reached a mutually amicable settlement" and that "We will make negotiations and modifications to our contracts and further solidify our relationships." In regards to the supposed interference by BPM, the company shared that they had received a tip-off from a third party that they had been interfering with their artists, but that "thanks to the recent conversation, we learned that we misunderstood some parts. We are sorry to the people involved."

3- Also in May, we saw various line-up alterations and announcements related to new and old groups alike. TEEN TOP restructured themselves into a four-member group after TOP MEDIA announced that the group's leader, CAP would be leaving the group after a series of controversial actions on a YouTube livestream. The idol's contract was later terminated with his agency. Then on the 24th of May, it was announced by SM Entertainment that Sungchan and Shotaro would be leaving NCT to re-debut in the company's new rookie boy group, RIIZE. Previously, the pair were expected to debut in NCT's 6th and final unit, NCT TOKYO. Now moving on to girl groups and BRAVE GIRLS revealed that they would be making their return under a new name, BB GIRLS after the group's prior disbandment announcement in February. Meanwhile, YG Entertainment officially revealed the full lineup of their upcoming girl group, BABYMONSTER. The group made their debut in November as a 6-member group consisting of Ruka, Pharita, Asa, Haram, Rora & Chiquita.