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EXO Xiumin Confirmed as One of Judges For ‘Mister Trot 3’

EXO’s Xiumin, veteran entertainer Lee Kyung Kyu, and actress So Yi Hyun have officially joined the panel of judges for TV Chosun’s highly anticipated show “Mister Trot 3”. The new program is already set to premiere later this year.

‘Mister Trot 3’ Reveals Talented Panel of Judges

On October 14, TV Chosun confirmed their participation, marking an exciting addition to the star-studded judging lineup for the popular trot competition program.

Xiumin of EXO, the youngest of the judging panel, shared his perspective as someone familiar with the pressure of auditions, having previously served as an MC for similar programs. “Rather than evaluating them, I will be supporting them,” Xiumin commented, expressing his desire to encourage the participants.

Lee Kyung Kyu, known for his long-standing career in Korean entertainment, shared his enthusiasm for being part of the show, stating, “I really enjoy listening to trot music. When it comes to Bae Ho, there’s no one who knows more about him than I do.” He also expressed his desire to use his foresight to discover the next generation of trot stars, attributing the current trot craze to the success of the movie “Highway Star”.

Actress So Yi Hyun, who has personal connections to the trot world, explained, “My father-in-law has released trot albums and participated in auditions, and my husband has also acted as a trot singer and released trot music. I can’t be separated from trot.” She emphasized that “Mister Trot” is beloved by mothers across Korea, and she plans to judge contestants through the lens of a typical Korean housewife, looking for unique charms.

When Will The New Program Be Broadcast?

Production for “Mister Trot 3” is already underway, with the show having completed its recruitment phase on October 10. Out of over 12,000 applicants, only around 1,000 were selected to move forward, with 100 finalists ultimately chosen after a rigorous selection process. According to the production team, the competition was fierce, with a staggering ratio of 120 applicants for each spot.

The show is set to premiere by the end of the year, promising exciting performances and emotional moments as contestants vie for the coveted title of the next trot star.

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EXO Members Support Lay During ‘GRANDLINE 4’ in Seoul

The EXO members are proving yet again that they will always have each other’s back. Xiumin, Chanyeol, and Sehun have all been spotted attending fellow member Lay’s solo concert ‘GRANDLINE 4’ in Seoul this weekend!

EXO Members Attend ‘GRANDLINE 4’ in Seoul

Lay Zhang was recently in South Korea for the Korean leg of his ‘GRANDLINE 4’ world tour and the “Psychic” singer held a two-day concert in the country. Although fans were initially expecting to just see Zhang Yixing’s performance, they were also treated to awesome appearances from his fellow EXO members.

On the first day of the concert, Lay immediately noticed EXO maknae Sehun in the crowd. Lay even called out to his fellow member, thrilling the crowd with the interaction.

The second day of the concert tour brought in even more EXO members. This time, Xiumin and Chanyeol attended and even took awesome pictures with their Chinese member. Chanyeol shared a fun photo of himself with Lay Zhang in his Instagram stories.

Fans also spotted the EXO members having a meal together once the after-party has wrapped. It certainly confirms the bond between the idols continues to be strong despite Lay’s hiatus from group activities.

Lay had previously teased fans with a fun interaction with Chanyeol.  On April 21, Zhang Yixing went on Instagram Live as he was on his way to a music show appearance. As he was answering questions from fans, he was interrupted by a video call from fellow EXO member Chanyeol, who was in Japan for a solo schedule.

Although there was no interaction with the other active members of EXO, Eris were delighted to see Lay and Chanyeol having a great time in their video call. Fans are hoping that this is just the start of more interactions between the EXO members this year, especially since the group is expected to release a winter album.

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EXO Baekhyun Chen and Xiumin Apologize to Fans for SM Lawsuit

EXO’s Baekhyun Chen and Xiumin have taken a decisive step in their ongoing conflict with SM Entertainment. The EXO-CBX members have announced their plans to sue the agency over allegations of unfair profit distribution.

Baekhyun Chen and Xiumin vs SM Entertainment

Earlier this week, the EXO-CBX members held a press conference to voice their concerns, accusing SM Entertainment of failing to honor an agreed-upon 5.5 percent music distribution fee for INB100. They further argued that SM Entertainment’s demand for 10 percent of their earnings from solo ventures was unjust. This press conference highlighted the deep-seated issues between the artists and their former management.

SM Entertainment responded with a counterclaim, stating that EXO-CBX had voluntarily terminated their exclusive contracts ahead of schedule. According to the agency, the trio had signed an agreement that stipulated they would remit 10 percent of their individual activity revenue to SM Entertainment as a condition for early contract termination. SM Entertainment asserted that there was no clause regarding a distribution fee in the final agreement, as the agency purportedly lacked the authority to determine such a fee.

The situation escalated further when SM Entertainment declared on June 13 that they would pursue legal action to ensure EXO-CBX adhered to the terms of their agreement. The announcement came after a series of additional statements from both parties, each attempting to clarify their stance and justify their actions.

EXO-CBX Statement Includes Apology to Fans

On June 14, Chen, Baekhyun, and Xiumin issued a new statement, revealing their decision to sue SM Entertainment over the disputed profit distribution. In their statement, the trio expressed their frustration with the agency’s practices and reiterated their commitment to seeking justice through legal channels.

“As SM has filed a lawsuit first, we will actively participate by revealing everything, including our negotiations from last year.

“Additionally, regarding the distribution of profits that we had always doubted, we will file a lawsuit against SM over the distribution of profits. Through this lawsuit, we will assert our just rights by receiving accounting and profit-distribution data as decided by the law and our exclusive contracts. We will also reveal to the court that SM’s profit-distribution system is wrong.

“Also, through our complaint to the Fair Trade Commission regarding the unfairness of our exclusive contracts, we will receive a proper judgment from the law.”

They also took the opportunity to apologize to their fans for the turmoil and uncertainty that the dispute has caused.

“To our fans who always send us love and support and should only receive joy [in return], we feel truly sorry for bringing you anxiety and disappointment due to the same issue as last year.

“In the future, we will minimize releasing official statements, and we will try to resolve this situation quickly.

“Also, we promise to remain a Chen, Baekhyun, and Xiumin who can forever be together with you through the precious memories we’ve made with you all.”

This legal battle marks a significant chapter in the ongoing struggle for fair treatment and transparency in the K-pop industry. As EXO-CBX and SM Entertainment prepare for their court showdown, fans and industry observers alike will be closely watching to see how this conflict unfolds and what implications it may have for other artists and agencies in similar situations. The outcome of this lawsuit could potentially reshape the dynamics of artist management and contract negotiations in the K-pop world.

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EXO-CBX Reveals SM Entertainment’s Alleged Breach Of Settlement

EXO-CBX is continuing to fight against SM Entertainment. The legal representatives for Baekhyun, Xiumin, and Chen have just revealed details about their former company’s alleged breach of settlement in a press conference.

EXO-CBX’s Legal Representatives Expose SM Entertainment’s Alleged Breach of Settlement

On June 10, representatives of EXO’s Chen, Baekhyun, and Xiumin, collectively known as EXO-CBX, held a press conference to address their ongoing dispute with their former agency, SM Entertainment. P_Arc Group chairwoman Cha Ga Won, INB100 CEO Kim Dong Joon, and attorney Lee Jae Hak attended the event. INB100 is currently managing the individual activities of the three artists.

During the conference, attorney Lee Jae Hak presented significant allegations against SM Entertainment, stating that the agency had attempted to breach settlement agreements previously established with EXO-CBX. He highlighted that SM Entertainment failed to honor the agreed-upon 5.5 percent commission rate for albums and music guaranteed to INB100. Instead, SM Entertainment has been demanding an increased commission rate of 10 percent from the artists’ revenue generated through their individual activities, including solo album releases, concerts, and endorsements.

Attorney Lee Jae Hak elaborated that this move by SM Entertainment constitutes unfair practice. He confirmed that it is not in line with the settlement terms agreed upon by both parties. To address this breach, a certification of contents was sent to SM Entertainment in April. However, despite this formal communication, there has been no response from SM Entertainment, further complicating the situation.

The Fight Continues

The press conference was a critical step for EXO-CBX in making their stance public. It also sheds light on the alleged unfair practices of their former agency. Additionally, it is aimed to gather public support and awareness regarding the challenges they are facing. The dispute also highlights broader issues within the entertainment industry. This includes contract fairness and the treatment of artists.

As the situation develops, fans and industry observers are keenly watching how SM Entertainment will respond and whether the dispute will be resolved amicably or escalate further. The outcome of this dispute could also potentially set a precedent for future contractual agreements and artist-agency relationships in the K-pop industry. For now, EXO-CBX also continues to stand firm in their position, advocating for fair treatment and the rightful fulfillment of their agreed terms.

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EXO’s Xiumin, Baekhyun and Chen Respond to SM’s Statement

Xiumin, Baekhyun, and Chen continue to fight back against SM Entertainment. The EXO members issued a new statement regarding the decision to terminate their exclusive contracts. Their legal representative responded to SM’s claims that a third party influenced the termination.

Xiumin, Baekyun, and Chen Issue New Statement In Response to SM Entertainment

Lee Jae Hak of the law firm LIN is the lawyer representing Baekhyun, Xiumin, and Chen. They issued a statement on behalf of Byun Baek Hyun, Kim Min Seok, and Kim Jong Dae in response to SM Entertainment’s recent claims.

The statement addresses five points starting with SM Entertainment’s “claim of an external influence’s intervention.”

“Our artists are definitely adults who can think for themselves and take responsibility for their own decisions, and they are individuals with independent thoughts and judgments,” it read.

“They have felt some doubts for a decade, and they mustered up fearful and difficult courage with the thought that the questions they couldn’t dare bring up as rookies should at least be brought up now.”

“Our artists asked and listened to many people around them about what is right and what they need to do to find wise solutions. Of those people around them, there are family and acquaintances, seniors and juniors of the music industry, colleagues, and even staff who have worked together with the artists.”

The statement also addresses SM Entertainment’s claims that Xiumin, Baekhyun, and Chen tried to sign contracts with other companies.

“SM is claiming that our artists have signed or attempted to sign dual contracts, but the three individuals Baekhyun, Chen, and Xiumin have not signed or attempted to sign other exclusive contracts besides their current exclusive contracts signed with SM. SM must refrain from making false claims,” it read.

Xiumin, Baekhyun, and Chen Criticize SM For Mishandling Contract Termination

The statement continued by criticizing the way SM Entertainment had handled the situation.

“SM not even providing settlement data, and their legal representative and other celebrities advising them about the injustice of this situation. This inevitably raises the question of who should be criticizing the wrongdoing of who in this situation.”

“We would like to state again that the essence and truth of this case is that the artists and their legal representative have consistently requested the provision of settlement data, but SM eventually refused, which has led to contract termination.”

In the end, the statement confirms that Byun Baek Hyun, Kim Min Seok, and Kim Jong Dae plan to continue EXO group activities. The singers have proposed ideas on how they can keep promoting with EXO after leaving SM Entertainment.

On June 1, Xiumin, Baekhyun, and Chen notified SM Entertainment regarding the termination of their exclusive contracts. The statement was delivered by their legal representative. SM has since refuted the EXO members’ basis for contract termination.

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