MYTRO Member Released A Diss Track About SM Entertainment — Now Under The Label

Recently, SM Entertainment announced that it would be debuting a new boy group. Straying from the usual K-Pop group, MYTRO will perform and release trot music, the genre typically enjoyed by older audiences.

The group is also older than the average debuting idol, with the average age being 28.4. There are also some familiar faces in the group—Shohei, who was believed to be an upcoming NCT member before his injury, and Seo Woohyeok, who played the younger version of Son Myeong-Oh in The Glory.

Some may also be familiar with Han Taei (Tey), who debuted as a member of the third-generation group MR.MR in 2012.

Many would be surprised to learn that the idol’s previous group actually released a diss track about his current company, SM Entertainment!

In 2014, Girls’ Generation released their mini album Mr. Mr., which featured the title track of the same name.

Just four days later, MR.MR. released a single album that was self-titled, something not out of the ordinary. However, the song’s lyrics raised eyebrows, leading some to believe it was a “diss” towards Girls’ Generation and their popularity.

I become faint for a main like you. Am I loser and are you a winner? We’re going the same path, I must have looked small from your high perch. Is that why you did that to me?

— MR.MR lyrics

The CEO of Winning Insight, MR.MR’s label at the time, actually confirmed this in a message but clarified it was directed at SM Entertainment, rather than Girls’ Generation. In the statement, the CEO berating SM Entertainment for affecting MR.MR’s SEO as when the words were searched, the group’s content was pushed down.

“Hello,
This is Lee Sung-Ho, CEO of Winning Insight M, the agency of MR.MR.

I am cautiously writing to address the recent controversy regarding the alleged diss toward Girls’ Generation .
It is true that there was a diss. However, I want to clarify that this was directed toward SM Entertainment, not Girls’ Generation, and we hold no ill will toward them.

This is a matter between a major agency and a small agency, a conflict between power and resistance.

I have produced over 300 songs during my 20-year career, and above all, I am a producer from a small agency who loves music.

In Korea, there are only about 5 to 6 major entertainment companies like SM.
The rest are 200 to 300 smaller producers who are also putting in blood and sweat to make their efforts count.
In fact, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that these major agencies gain more presence thanks to the existence of these smaller agencies.
However, if major companies violate market ethics just because they have the financial means, how are they different from large supermarkets invading traditional markets and threatening the livelihoods of small business owners?

Many people are saying that it’s ridiculous to cause a fuss just because the title is the same.
But when you look deeper, there are multiple perspectives and stances involved.
Having the same song title is one thing, but using the name of an active rookie singer as the title is entirely different.

Some may say I’m exaggerating.
But ever since Girls’ Generation, a massive star, decided to name their title track Mr. Mr, our name started disappearing from portals and websites.
The five albums we released over the past two years have long been buried under Girls’ Generation’s Mr. Mr.
When searching on portal sites, the first thing that appears is no longer the pictures or profiles of MR.MR but Girls’ Generation’s music video.”

— Lee Sung Ho

He even called SM Entertainment’s actions “tyranny,” and claimed they showed a disregard for the hard work of smaller agencies.

“My staff, the members of MR.MR, and I have worked tirelessly over a long time to make the name MR.MR known.
It’s heartbreaking.
What hurts the most is that the efforts and sweat of my artists are slowly fading away.

Many people ask whether SM was even aware of MR.MR.
Deciding on a song title is a careful process.
Anyone would conduct a search at least once before deciding on a title for their new release.
The fact that SM chose the name of a rookie artist with whom they’ve shared multiple music broadcasts as the title of their song can only be seen as “disregard.”

No one from SM or their associates has ever tried to seek my understanding or even given me a heads-up about it.

Some people from SM and others claim that we are using Girls’ Generation for marketing.
Yes, it is marketing.
I am a manager.
As the manager of Mister Mister, I will do everything I can to make it known that Mister Mister is not just a song title but the name of an artist.

However, what is clear is that if it was not for SM’s tyrannical action, it’s true that we would not have utilized this sort of marketing.

What if Mister Mister were a rookie group under another major agency like YG or JYP?
Would SM have proceeded the same way?
Is it fair to disregard the efforts and sweat of rookies just because they come from an unknown small agency? That’s tyranny.

Perhaps my actions may be drowned out as a small voice.
They are big, and we are still small.
But even if it’s a small voice, I will speak out because our efforts are just as valuable.”

— Lee Sung-Ho

Now, years later, Han Taei is a member of a group about to debut under SM Entertainment, a twist many at the did likely did not see happening!