Compiled list of SM Entertainment's shadiness

[tokyocinema.livejournal.com]

even back then, sm's contracts have been referred to as 노예문서 by the media

— kat (@rigagirls) August 24, 2015

sm's long history of shadiness (also the investigation on SM began in 2001 which i didn't include) pic.twitter.com/nit4UUDajq

— kat (@rigagirls) August 24, 2015

Source: rigagirls on twitter

(OP note: 노예문서 literally translates to "slave documents", so it means "slave contracts")

I saw this post roaming around online (reposted on comment sections on omona and on twitter) and figured it could be made into a post to share with everyone.

I found most of the receipts corroborating the claims here, as most of them were made into posts on here, but can't find full articles for some of the 2001 - 2007 claims--just tiny blurbs mentioning them in the whole JYJ/TVXQ kerfuffle

Lee Soo Man embezzlement ( x )
blurbs of other unfair contract lawsuits ( x )
SM warned by FTC about slavery contracts in 2007/mentions earlier case from 2002 (from ashiva) ( x )
Lee Soo Man getting caught doing illegal trading this year (from ashiva) ( x )
these absolutely helpful comments from ashiva (thank you so much ;~;) ( x ) ( x )
Not that I don't believe it, but just for those who absolutely need receipts before believing something. This is still in progress but hopefully, people can help by providing links in the comment section?

Also, "Court also orders SM to pay 20 million won every time they interfere with JYJ's activities"?????
They're still fucking with JYJ's activities though??????

Rihanna_Bitch_Betta_Have_My_Money.gif

Comments

[torontok.livejournal.com]

But clearly it's the defectors who are the issue.

[sayuridoll.livejournal.com]

jfc sm is so gross

also, how can exo's contracts be 10 years? wasn't there some ruling that you can only make it 7 years long (correct me if i'm wrong or just got it out of thin air somehow).

[tokyocinema.livejournal.com]

Yeah, there was iirc
and it was brought up during Luhan and SM's court case a few days ago where the courts brought up that the most any contract should be is seven years unless the talent is doing foreign activities under the agency, i think, and called out SM on the illegal contract durations and contract fees.

EDIT:

"Although contract lengths are limited to 7 years, there is a clause that states:
-If any of the following clauses apply, the right to terminate the contract specified in clause 2 can be modified with separate contract agreement between the Artist and the Company.

1. 장기의 해외활동을 위해 해외의 매니지먼트 사업자와의 계약체결 및 그 계약이행을 위하여 필요한 경우
If long term contract is needed for foreign activities, and to sign and fulfill the contract with a foreign management company
2. 기타 정당한 사유로 장기간 계약이 유지될 필요가 있는 경우
When a longer contract period is needed for other valid reasons"

cr. shuaijerks (https://twitter.com/shuaijerks/status/633908289844088832)

[maknaeroli.livejournal.com]

I am still baffled by pro-sm people who are quick to defend the company their precious oppars are under but bash the ones who have left. Like, there are so many things wrong with their logic that sometimes I worry that they seriously want their idols to deteriorate and stay in a contract that makes them miserable for years and years and years on end so long as they can selfishly see them?

idk I just woke up my thoughts are scrambled but!!

[rmarques.livejournal.com]

You know, I've been thinking of this and frankly, I'm starting to wonder if some fans see their idols suffering under their company, SM's at least, as part of the whole idol package. Like, it's already assumed that idols will present themselves as their fans' idea boyfriend, forever faithful, and will feed that delusion. I can't help but think that the bad treatment under a company hasn't somehow become part of it, where the fan will save their bias from their company somehow, or at least make it all worth it. The defectors would then be breaking their delusions just like they would if they suddenly all got girlfriends.

That, and some people really not being able to separate the company from their group, see people saying "I hope EXO wins!" in regards to Luhan's lawsuits.

Idk, I'm probably way off base, but I've honestly started to wonder.

[bauci.livejournal.com]

[slowitdownbaby.livejournal.com]

Lee Soo Man looks good here.

[kingpsyborg.livejournal.com]

this is revolting, 100% true, and barely anybody here will actually care or take it to heart. people show up in the exo escapee posts to fuss a little so they can feel absolved when they go back to giving sm money/views later.

[jaelissi.livejournal.com]

MTE. I looked for a like button, but there was none.

[bunica1990.livejournal.com]

[belintuchiha.livejournal.com]

And the fact EXO still are in 'em 10 year contracts when they were supposed to be declared illegal years ago....

as a Business major, this is just.... everything they teach us about how a company ISN'T supposed to be.

[obscureauthor.livejournal.com]

Sm is such trash. I honestly doubted jyj when the case first came to light but there has been way too many incidents now. Even the blindest stan cannot ignore all of this...

[imienazwisko.livejournal.com]

despite liking some of the things created by sm, i ain't giving them no money
never ever

[rm-casablancas.livejournal.com]

Enjoy capitalism.

[4minutesluts.livejournal.com]

but i don't have any capital :(

[iznanassi.livejournal.com]

So how many fines until they do something about SM consistently messing around with JYJ??

[sand-nicky.livejournal.com]

Thing is they hadn't paid off any of the fines they'd been given. Like not even one. SM has got some powerful back up (most likely the company is used for money laundering by powerful people), I mean the only reason why LSM wasn't put into prison on his return from USA (where he had run off to and when the Interpol put him on their list) was because the new president (at that time) had given him a pardon. So as you can see, they don't really have to worry about the KFTC. It's really disgusting.

[racquelle2005.livejournal.com]

and yet people still be like I'm going to remain neutral on this or I'm still mad at Kris/Tao for how they left. fuck you tbh

[kingpsyborg.livejournal.com]

they have no incentive to. sm acts are huge and bring in a lot of tourism which generates a lot of cash for everybody, and if they actually pulled up and forced an improvement on working conditions/pay for one company, they'd be setting a precedent that'd permit workers from any company of any industry to protest.

[oxfordowls1.livejournal.com]

I know that the boy groups are treated grossly under sm but how do the girl groups fare? I'm not familiar with gg, f(x), or red velvet to know if they are as over-worked or under 10 year contracts. If anyone knows please help a sista out

[tree-star123.livejournal.com]

I think yoona is under 10 yr contract. krystal from fx has anemia & fainted a couple times before. there were lots of rumors surrounding reason why amber went on hiatus some years ago (could be similar reason to kris).

I feel like these idols are constantly on IV drip..

[gingasaur.livejournal.com]

so basically for more than 10 years the kftc has been commanding sm to do things and sm has just laughed and said "nah"

you'd think because they're so desperate for that happy family kpop glamour world takeover fantasy they'd do the bare minimum to cultivate it but nope break out the iv drips i guess

[bloodtaki2.livejournal.com]

OMG SME, why are the exo boys still under 10 years contracts.

It's disgusting how they can get away with batantly transgressing the law.

[babyonions.livejournal.com]

[oxfordowls1.livejournal.com]

OMG i love that gif and Mr Robot in general tbh

[yuzuruhanyu.livejournal.com]

lol settling in rn

[tree-star123.livejournal.com]

omfg no minwoo w/ 17 yrs contract. wth!!!! IDEK how ppl can side w/ this company and how this LSM is fondly revered when shg got so much shit for tax evasion.

[ashiva.livejournal.com]

SM warned by FTC about slavery contracts in 2007: http://koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/biz/2007/09/602_10114.html (Also mentions earlier case from 2002, but unfortunately Korea Times' web archives don't go that far.)

[tokyocinema.livejournal.com]

thank you! I'll add this to the post :3

[kyokomurasaki.livejournal.com]

Unfortunately I think the only thing that will really help to change working conditions in these companies is if 1. the artists are somehow able to unionize and demand better rights, which seems unlikely at best, and/or 2. fans of these groups boycott the companies altogether, which is never going to happen. There needs to be pressure on both the shareholders of these companies and the Korean government/legal system, because hallyu has actively been promoted by the gov't as a revenue stream and is a big chunk of their tourism money.

This is a long article and it's technically about climate change but I thought it was really interesting wrt individual vs. collective action http://www.thenation.com/article/we-can-only-do-this-together/ (you can skip down to the 14th paragraph for the relevant parts)

Not that I think it's a bad idea to refuse to give money to SM or any company that treats their workers like crap, but in the grand scheme of things it doesn't really make a difference as long as there are still tons of fans who will support them no matter what.

[kingpsyborg.livejournal.com]

you are 100% correct. :/

[a-cheshire-grin.livejournal.com]

EXO members have a 10 years contract? WHAT THE HELL?! How are those boys going to get through this? Some of them look already done with everything on some days!

SM, did you learn NOTHING from the DBSK mess? ~.~

[snowyirees.livejournal.com]

I'm still in awe at how this company can get away with so much shit when their dirty laundry has been out in the open for so long. It's one of the reasons I stopped following any of their groups other than keeping tabs on SHINee and Super Junior. How am I supposed to love and support a group when I know they are either miserable or plain mistreated behind the scenes? It doesn't make any sense!

[adlyeith.livejournal.com]

Notice the pro-SM bunch is absent from this thread. How people can still defend their actions and blame the artists when they get sick of being treated like shit, I have no clue.

SM is the most disgusting company, I really wish all of their artists would sue, break contacts, and go elsewhere. At least JYJ was able to escape, but look how SM is still fucking with their careers. Truly a bitter ex that just can't let go.

[nekokonneko.livejournal.com]

i can never get how a person can actually fix their mouth to cheer for sm to win a lawsuit against one of the idols they mistreated, even in jest

[hipployta.livejournal.com]

Is the photo reuploaded on a platform I can't see?

No matter as I've read it before. SM is horrid and the government is complicit in their bullshit

[bunica1990.livejournal.com]

It's an embedded tweet.