Former FIFTY FIFTY Members Officially Begin Legal Battle With ATTRAKT

Former FIFTY FIFTY members Saena, Aran, and Sio, now active as Ablum, have officially begun their legal battle with their former agency, ATTRAKT.

On August 22, the Seoul Central District Court’s 61st Civil Division held the first hearing for ATTRAKT’s ₩13.0 billion KRW (about $9.28 million USD) damages lawsuit against Saena, Sio, Aran, their parents, The Givers’ CEO Ahn Sung Il, and others, with a total of 12 defendants. The trial was held behind closed doors, attended by the parents of the three ex-members and their legal representatives.

The conflict between ATTRAKT and the three current Ablum members began two years ago. After the massive success of “Cupid” under FIFTY FIFTY, the members shocked the industry by filing for an injunction to suspend their exclusive contracts with ATTRAKT. The agency pushed back, claiming “outside forces had lured the artists into violating their contracts,” and accused outsourcing company The Givers’ CEO Ahn, who produced “Cupid,” of secretly attempting to take over FIFTY FIFTY.

Soon after, the court dismissed the members’ injunction request, and Keena became the only member to return to ATTRAKT. She went on to reveal that it was CEO Ahn who suggested the injunction, and even instructed the members to secretly leave their dorms. Based on this testimony and other key evidence, ATTRAKT filed its damages claim on December 18 of that year.

The trial was originally set to begin in August last year, but was delayed when the three ex-members filed a countersuit. After more than a year, ATTRAKT’s request to resume proceedings was accepted, leading to this week’s reopening of the case.

Meanwhile, ex-FIFTY FIFTY members Saena, Sio, and Aran have signed with Massive VNC, a label under IOK Company, and are currently promoting as Ablum, with CEO Ahn still in charge of production.