Just when it seemed like relations couldn't get any worse between former EXO band members Kris and Luhan and the group's record label, SM Entertainment, a Chinese ad campaign featuring the two vocalists appears to have ignited yet another legal battle.
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As anyone following Korean entertainment probably knows by now, the two singers, listed as "currently inactive" on EXO's Wikipedia page, are both suing SM Entertainment for termination of contract.
On Thursday, executives from the K-pop label claimed to be pursuing legal action against Luhan and Kris for continuing to profit from their association with EXO despite being estranged from the group.
"We have filed official lawsuits against companies that have been using Luhan and Kris, who are currently pursuing activities illegally, as advertisement models," the SM statement read, according to the website SBS PopAsia.
"We have taken this action to prevent Kris and Luhan from further pursuing their activities in an illegal manner and to prohibit further damages."
The label claimed to be retaining the services of Hong Kong-based law firm King & Wood Mallesons.
According to the Chinese media outlet Sina, a member of Kris and Luhan's legal team from the Seoul law office of the Hankyul Law Firm expressed bewilderment at SM's statement and questioned its legality.
"We are surprised that such a notice was released when both sides are working on settling in the midst of the ongoing lawsuit in Korea," the lawyer reportedly said.
"We're not sure of the content that was filed with the Shanghai court. But if it's a matter of the exclusive contact, then it is something that should be filed with the Korean court. The Shanghai court has no jurisdiction regarding this issue."
Yet, in an interview with the New Jersey-based Korean entertainment website allkpop on Thursday, a representative for the Hankyul Law Firm, while claiming it was highly unlikely any statement was made to the Chinese media, did not rule out the possibility.
"We are not conducting any interviews regarding Luhan or Kris," the Hankyul rep said.
"We are not aware of an interview with Chinese media. We will have to look into the Chinese report in question to confirm the truth of the matter."
KpopStarz reader Ziela Abdullah is disgusted by SM Entertainment's recent round of legal action.
"SM is the worst company ever!" Abdullah wrote in a comment on the website on Friday. "They're just thinking about profit, rather than being humane to their artists Kris and Luhan were not the first case that had the same issues."
KpopStarz reader Big Blue believes it is the two former EXO members who are in the wrong.
"Kris and Luhan broke their contract," Blue wrote.
"They didn't just sue, they took it upon themselves to go against their word and intentionally break the contract with SM...to inflict damage on the EXO brand and to defraud SM entertainment of money they legally had coming to them. They are engaging in criminal activity and should be brought to justice for it."
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