Are we finally done with the JYJ/SM fight?

[benihime99.livejournal.com]

Like most Kpop fans know, for a while now, JYJ has not been able to promote freely in Korea due to their past issues with SM Entertainment. Broadcast stations and music distributors never offered a complete explanation as to why this is the case, but fans suspected all along that SM Entertainment was applying backdoor pressure.

The Fair Trade Commission or the FTC has been looking into the issue and has finally confirmed that the parties responsible for JYJ's lack of broadcast activities are SM Entertainment and 'Korean Federation of Pop Culture and Art Industry (KFPCAI)'.

Having confirmed the two's role in blocking JYJ's activities, the FTC issued a sanction today (July 24th KST) ordering SM Entertainment as well as KFPCAI to stop interfering with the group's activities.

According to the FTC, SM and KFPCAI issued out a statement asking broadcast and music insiders to restrict JYJ's broadcast activities and appearances during the release of JYJ's first album in 2010.

A FTC rep commented, "Despite JYJ's high album sales, their activities as a singer was restricted in Korea, and had to promote through areas where SM's influence was less like dramas, musicals, and advertisements."

SM also asked Warner Music Korea, the distributor of JYJ's 1st album in 2010, to stop the distribution of the group's album.

KFPCAI also helped SM by issuing out statements to Warner Music Korea, as well as 3 major broadcast stations and 6 music and cable stations, and 11 album retailers and 5 online music service sites, requesting that they restrict JYJ's broadcast appearances and music distribution.

In these statements, KFPCAI only included SM's side of the story and warned that the broadcast stations and music sites would be becoming implicated in the legal problems of JYJ and also pushing Hallyu and pop culture a step back, if they did not restrict JYJ's activities.

FTC commented, "SM, one of the big 3 agencies, and KFPCAI, which is composed of various organizations involved in the entertainment industry, applied incredible pressure on companies and as a result, JYJ experienced cancellations of music and variety programs, change in music ranking, and cancellations of documentaries and theater screenings."

The FTC has found SM and KFPCAI in violation of several policies and has ordered a sanction as well as corrective measures so that JYJ's activities will not be further restricted due to their past legal issues with SM Entertainment.

As part of the corrective measure, the KFPCAI will have to issue a statement to the 12 organizations and companies that make up the KFPCAI as well as 26 companies, including broadcast stations and music distribution sites, regarding the sanction they have been issued by the FTC.

A FTC rep commented, "This is a case in which we prohibited large-scale agencies from using their influence to pressure businesses to interfere in the promotional activities of celebrities whom they are in a dispute with."

With this sanction in place, hopefully we will soon see JYJ freely promote on various music and variety programs!

SEE ALSO: JYJ to let fans get to know them better through the summer edition of 'The JYJ' magazine

Source: AKP, Chosun via Nate, EBN via Nate

Comments

[burningleaf.livejournal.com]

Ugh please be done. I'm freakin tired of this ~drama~. I can't even fangirl Junsu properly because everywhere I turn netizens alike are broadcasting their mighty opinions.

[footballfina.livejournal.com]

*sigh* my feelings about this entire thing are so complicated....

On the one hand I'm happy for Junsu especially because he NEEDS to be back on performance shows like yesterday, but on the other hand I have a feeling this wont really change anything? And that Jae and most importantly Yoochun kinda seem over it a bit?

IDK that mythical new album seems just that, a myth. And with the rumors earlier this week of Jae and Junsu enlisting at the end of the year.... just *sigh*

[ceecile.livejournal.com]

I don't know, Yoochun and JJ have both said in recent interviews they want to go on variety shows and music shows. Even naming specific ones like Running Man or the one in the Jungle.
It was supposed to be this summer but now it's the end of the year. I think they'll release at least a mini. What I want is Yoochun's solo album he & JJ have been teasing us about for over a year.

[ceecile.livejournal.com]

Lol No. SM has Shin Dong Yup and Kang Ho Dong and SM C&C merged with Hoon Media which owns Happy Together, Music Bank, etc..
It's not the first time, the court fined them before but they never even paid the fine.

Also good for you FTC, it only took 3 years. Maybe try to actually do something about it, no?

[p3rk3le.livejournal.com]

aaarg. unfortunately thats exactly what i was thinking..

[asnindie.livejournal.com]

All the people who told JYJ fans they were delusional and butthurt, suck on it.

[cottonowl.livejournal.com]

MFTE

[akillarian.livejournal.com]

Well well well...

[pepper.livejournal.com]

And also LOL at all those SM stans (and TVXQ fans) who kept saying JYJ fans were delusional for even suspecting SM.

[boba-holic.livejournal.com]

lebron <3

[torontok.livejournal.com]

applying backdoor pressure

I have the brain of a twelve year old

[toshi830.livejournal.com]

I wouldn't say brain. Maturity maybe.

In which case thanks, now so do I

[platafina.livejournal.com]

So, the FTC is sanctioning SM and the KFPCAI on their letters sent out in 2010. Well, better late than ever. But how are they proving that those letters are have exerted influence with broadcast companies during all the years since? I think that is trickier, but hopefully they've got testimonials and all manner of evidences to prevent SM from suing their pants off.

[shintotchi.livejournal.com]

Whether this changes anything or not, I feel vindicated. SM is not just some conspiracy theory. They were actively blocking JYJ this entire time. I do hope things change though. I'm frustrated, but I'm not tired though. If fans get tired, how're we supposed to expect JYJ to feel? I'm in for as long as they're in. T_T

[soft-daisy.livejournal.com]

No worries, not tired so much but more like eating popcorn and watching at this point. :D

[guitarchic11292.livejournal.com]

Wonder if this will actually change anything.
Idk how anyone thought SM wasn't blocking JYJ. ALL the shows just happened to decide to exclude them~

[mishi07.livejournal.com]

In my country, producers hear about JYJ is BECAUSE they're off limits. Its ridiculous and very, very real.

[twinedays.livejournal.com]

let's see when (and if it happens) JYJ actually gets TV appearances.

[waterpulse.livejournal.com]

SM us hardly the only force wanting to keep JYJ out if the general public eye, you also have broadcast companies and other agencies who don't want their artists going the lawsuit route JYJ went, to enforce the whole "fuck with us and you will never be on TV again" thing. This kind if blacklisting is pretty common in entertainment industries everywhere, not just SK.

They're fighting the good fight but they're not going to be the ones to see the rewards of it.

[anconeous.livejournal.com]

THIS. It's not just about SM. It's about the industry itself, and it's understandable, really.

I really doubt JYJ will even reap the benefits of this.

[baboboy.livejournal.com]

"SM Entertainment claims they never blocked JYJ's activities + will be taking legal action against the sanction"

it's never going to end

[soft-daisy.livejournal.com]

oh shoot. when will they stop? -___-

Re: I have nothing to contribute to this

[pepper.livejournal.com]

+1 for the kangaroo~

[ashiva.livejournal.com]

LOL @ all those SM apologists claiming SM's innocense in previous JYJ posts. Anyhow I hope this will help JYJ.

[saydeey.livejournal.com]

lol (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/692/rcg.gif/)
(http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/692/rcg.gif/)

[nounou24.livejournal.com]

please please please tell me they will be on tv now. i knew sm were bastards but i never knew another company was in on this.

[lexissexist.livejournal.com]

I always thought SM was trying to screw over JYJ, it's just that I supported their efforts. ^^

[uguukawaii.livejournal.com]

Lol mte

[levelgrind.livejournal.com]

Even as someone who loves SM's artists, I can believe anyone would ever be naive enough to think that SM wouldn't possibly try to block JYJ's activities. Like... come on, seriously? HOW COULD YOU NOT KNOW THAT?? That said I'm really happy for JYJ and hope this forces SM to play fair and that their "legal action" ends up for naught. I just want JYJ and TVXQ (HoMin) to be successful and happy and for all of this shit to just eeeeeend already.

[dc222.livejournal.com]

Apparently, no, we are not done yet.

It sucks that SM can have so much control over the networks.

[chibiyunie.livejournal.com]

As much of a SM-stan I am, this is honestly sad.

[prettyminstrel.livejournal.com]

as mush as i would like to say "lol i'm so done with this" "what's new?" i can't, because seeing how jaejoong tweeted Thank You after all this time eventhough it took almost 3 years made me keep up the slight glimmer of hope inside me. at least 180,000 other fans in the petition certainly didn't lose theirs, so who am i to say i'm done with this?
doesn't matter how long it took, i believe both side of JYJ and the fans would never give up to make the best out of this ongoing battle.

[furcalor.livejournal.com]

Well colour me surprised... or not. SM needs to stop being pathetic and move on and Junsu needs to be on a music show ASAP. Boy deserves airtime.

[hipployta.livejournal.com]

Wait...there were actually people who thought SM wasn't blacklisting JYJ? That stuns me more than anything

SM already said they are taking legal action against the sanction but JJ said Thank You so it seems to still mean something to them

[jrt131n.livejournal.com]

SM must really have a hard on for JYJ for them to be doing all of what they were doing. I mean did SHINhwa have to go through a lot when they all left? Would this all still be happening if Lee Soo Man was still the head cheese in charge?

[merely-a-facade.livejournal.com]

Shinhwa left after their contract with SM expired. They left because SM only wanted to re-sign certain members and not others. So, Shinhwa and SM remain on good terms.