TVXQ (Tohoshinki) - Center Daily News, Korea - More than 10,000 fans of TVXQ recently filed a complaint to the National Human Rights Commission claiming that "TVXQ's management company SM Entertainment has been damaging the human rights of TVXQ members through an unfair contract."
In their complaint letter they stated: "The contract between TVXQ and SM states a period of 3 years but in fact is a lifetime contract until death or life, putting the singer at a disadvantage. The initial contract continues to apply until the singer retires. SM demands longer contracts than other agencies, infringing on the singers' human rights."
The fans announced plans to submit the complaint letter on August 27 via fan website "www.dnbn.pe.kr" and obtained signatures from more than 10,000 fans who had agreed with this decision weeks before.
In their plan they expressed: "SM's contract contains unbelievable, unfair, and inhumane content such as an exclusive period of 3 years and post-expiry management. The content of the exclusive contract, where SM determines TVXQ's broadcasting performances and entertainment activities, deprives the singers of their right to choose. Unilateral and unreasonable schedules may also threaten the singers' right to life. TVXQ cannot even access details of their own income and have been operating under conditions where their basic subjectivity has been ignored."
Previously, three members of TVXQ sued their management company for having excessively harsh contracts and requested termination of their contracts. This case was initially reviewed in Korea on August 22. Three members of the group hope to continue as TVXQ after leaving the agency. However, the management company claims that its image has been damaged due to this lawsuit and it has already suffered a direct economic loss of 50 billion Korean won (approximately RMB 82 million). Nevertheless, the judge also expressed hopes for reconciliation between both parties. How this controversy will end still requires waiting for the final legal judgment.