ONE HUNDRED Issues Intriguing Statement Following Court’s Decision On THE BOYZ’s Contracts
Boy group THE BOYZ‘s request for a provisional injunction to suspend the validity of their exclusive contract against their agency, ONE HUNDRED, has been granted, and ONE HUNDRED has issued a statement.
On the 24th, ONE HUNDRED officially responded to the Seoul Central District Court’s approval of THE BOYZ’s request for the provisional injunction filed the previous day.
Court Releases Verdict On THE BOYZ’s Contract Dispute Against Agency
ONE HUNDRED stated, “The opposing side’s legal representative claimed on the 23rd in a statement that ‘the court’s ruling confirmed the exclusive contract was lawfully terminated and its validity ended.’ This seriously distorts the legal nature of the injunction.”
The agency explained, “A provisional injunction is only a temporary and emergency measure until the final verdict is confirmed. The outcome could be completely different in the main lawsuit, and for the opposing side to present this as a final victory to the media is misleading to the public and fans.”
While respecting the court’s judgment, ONE HUNDRED added, “The injunction process was rushed, and key evidence and rebuttals we submitted were not sufficiently examined. We will promptly file objections and seek a thorough review to uncover the truth.”
Furthermore, the agency expressed “deep concern about the negative precedent this injunction decision could set for the entire K-pop industry,” pledging, “We will clarify the truth through all legally prescribed procedures.”
The following is the full official statement from ONE HUNDRED.
1. The injunction grant is not a final judgment — the claim that the contract termination is confirmed is a clear legal distortion
The opposing party’s legal representative stated on the 23rd that “the court’s ruling confirmed that the exclusive contract was lawfully terminated and its validity ended.”
However, this seriously misrepresents the legal nature of the injunction.
A provisional injunction is a temporary, emergency measure until the main case’s final verdict. This decision does not finally determine the lawfulness of the contract termination, and the conclusion could differ entirely in the main lawsuit. For the opposing party to publicize this as if it were a final victory is misleading the public and fans.
We respect the court’s judgment, but due to the rushed schedule of this injunction procedure, we believe the critical evidence and rebuttals we submitted were not fully reviewed. We will quickly file an objection and pursue a substantive and thorough hearing to clarify the truth.
2. The fact of the ₩13.5 billion KRW (about $9.12 million USD) advance payment is unchanged — claims of unpaid settlement money remain subject to reversal
The opposing party repeated the claim today that we have not paid settlement money. However, the essence of this case remains unchanged.
At contract signing, we paid ₩1.50 billion KRW (about $1.01 million USD) per member to 11 members, totaling ₩16.5 billion KRW (about $11.1 million USD). Industry insiders describe this as an unprecedentedly generous advance payment, saying, “Anything above ₩700 million KRW (about $473,000 USD) is a crazy, loss-making amount.”
The unpaid settlement amount claimed by nine members totals about ₩1.66 billion KRW (about $1.12 million USD). Even after deducting this from the ₩13.5 billion KRW (about $9.12 million USD) already paid, approximately ₩11.8 billion KRW (about $7.97 million USD) remains. There is ample possibility the claim that “no settlement has been received” will be overturned by legal judgment.
Moreover, on March 16, 2026, the opposing legal team expressed willingness to waive unpaid settlements if the exclusive contract was mutually terminated to allow THE BOYZ’s smooth activities. However, from our perspective, this proposal appeared to equate nearly ₩10.0 billion KRW (about $6.76 million USD)—expected to be disputed for return—from the ₩13.5 billion KRW (about $9.12 million USD) advance payment with ₩1.60 billion KRW (about $1.08 million USD) in settlement money, making it unacceptable and effectively acknowledging the advance payment nature of the contract money.
3. The concert is prepared under our management
The opposing party claims they have prepared the concert at their own expense. However, the April concert currently underway is prepared through professional agencies directly contracted by us. The members and choreographers have not rehearsed entirely outside our practice rooms.
If the exclusive contract had truly ended in February 2026, the current situation, where creditors are performing on a stage prepared by us, would be impossible. Reality proves this point itself.
4. The company remains stable — merger and acquisition discussions continue
Reports of financial decline by certain media hostile toward us contain false and exaggerated information. Publication of these articles has been prohibited by the court’s injunction, and we are preparing a lawsuit seeking damages worth approximately ₩100 billion KRW (about $67.6 million USD).
We continue merger and acquisition discussions with domestic and international investors and will employ every available legal and management measure to prevent bankruptcy. Through objections and the main lawsuit, we will firmly restore our rightful rights.
We deeply worry about the negative precedent this injunction could set for the entire K-pop industry. Allowing artists to enforce exclusive contract termination citing temporary faults of agencies after receiving huge advance payments would fundamentally destroy the trust between artists and agencies.
We will reveal the truth through all legally prescribed procedures.
