The Seoul Western District Court has officially dismissed the please of Yu Jun Won to void his exclusive five-year contract with Phunky Studio. 

According to an allkpop report on Friday, November 24, Yu Jun Won, known for his participation in the MBC audition program Boys Fantasy, not only had his request denied but was also directed by the court to bear all expenses related to the legal proceedings.

Yu Jun Won vs Phunky Studio 

In August, Phunky Studio announced Jun Won’s unauthorized departure from Fantasy Boys, saying that the group will continue as an 11-member ensemble instead of the initially planned 12-member group. Such development came as a surprise to many fans as Jun Won secured the top spot on MBC’s talent audition program Boys Fantasy. 

According to the agency, Jun Won had an “unauthorized departure.” Allegedly, the idol’s parents also requested to modify the contract several times. 

In response, Jun Won argued that the exclusive contract presented by Phunky Studio was “unfair” and brought the matter to court. Despite expressing his disappointment at being unable to fulfill his dream debut, Jun Won countered Phunky and PocketDol Studios‘ claims, asserting that he had sought revisions to unfavorable clauses in the contract. Allegedly, the company rejected reasonable conditions and attempted to coerce an agreement with additional unreasonable demands.

Since he already lost his trust in the company, Jun Won decided to sever ties with the agency. On top of that, he also claimed to possess records of calls, emails, and discussions with the company, suggesting a willingness to use them as evidence.

The court ruling 

According to reports by Korean media, the Western District Court‘s ruling emphasized that most of the clauses in the contract offered by Phunky Studio adhered to the exclusive contract standards set by the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism. 

After comparing Jun Won‘s raised concerns with the standardized contract, the court found it challenging to determine any instances of ‘unfairness.’ Consequently, based on the evidence presented, the court could not conclude that Jun Won had been subjected to unfair treatment and demands by Phunky Studio.

As of now, there is no indication that either party plans to appeal the Western District Court’s decision.

Meanwhile, Fantasy Boys made their debut as an 11-member group in September with their first EP New Tomorrow. 

Featured image: Yu Jun Won during the group’s Welcome to Your Fantasy show. Credit: Twitter/Fantasy Boys