Court invalidates ‘slave-like contract’ for entertainers

articlesThe Supreme Court upheld a ruling that long-term contracts between entertainers and their agencies are unfair and therefore invalid.

The top court Friday invalidated a contract putting an entertainer under the control of his agency for as long as a decade, saying the contract restricted freedom.

This verdict is expected to put the brakes on entertainment agencies’ long-established practice of controlling its stars for as long as possible with slave-like contracts.

Woo Sung-hyun, a 20-year-old member of popular boy band U-Kiss, filed a suit in 2008 challenging his contract, calling it “unfair.”
In 2006, Woo signed with the agency, Ssing Entertainment, a 10-year contract that stipulated if his performances were suspended due to health problems or mandatory military service, the inactive period would be added to the term.

U-Kiss Member wins Lawsuit against Previous Company; Exclusive Contract Issue

articlesKevin wins lawsuit against company
In the battle against his previous company concerning his exclusive contract, the court ruled in favor of the celebrity, male group U-Kiss’s member Kevin (real name Woo SungHyun).

The court revealed on the 13th that the contract was “unfair, as the contract consisted of a long term for Kevin and one-sided profit for the company (Xing Entertainment)”.

The exclusive contract that Kevin had signed with Xing Entertainment in 2006 stated that he would be under the company for 10 years, and that under circumstances in which he would not be able to complete his celebrity duties because of military service or health, his contract would be lengthened according to the missed time.

Changmin FRAU Mag Sept 2010 Issue Writeup

changmin_03
Changmin arrived in Japan on the rainy night. Although this time he had tight schedule and only managed to spend two days and one night in Japan, but because it was the first time to do photo shooting in a comfortable old Japanese-style house with good ventilation, so Changmin’s stress expression was slowly relieved.

‘This is my first time to be photographed in this old Japanese style house, it does made people feel comfortable. It has been a long time since my last time to spend time at home properly. I hope that one day, I can decorate the room with simple style and the style that suits me.’

Especially these past six months, because of his first challenge in acting, he almost had no leisure time. He had to rush between Seoul and Jeju Island to film his drama series, and had been very busy everyday. Either it was the recitation of lines, or living together with co-actors and staff, they were fresh experiences for Changmin.