Law Firm LIN, representing EXO members Baekhyun, Xiumin, and Chen, has issued a follow-up statement in response to SM Entertainment's two separate statements released on June 1 (Statement 1 and Statement 2).
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According to LIN on June 2 KST, "After coming across the official statements released by SM Entertainment attempting to blame 'outside forces', our clients are at a loss for words."
The law firm continued, "It is even more appalling when considering the fact that the statements reflect SM Entertainment's true attitude toward its artists. Outside forces? Our clients are self-governing human beings fully capable of thinking, acting, and making decisions for themselves. The decision to request records of their earnings and balances was one reached after much private thought and deliberation, not one triggered by any outside force. Furthermore, Baekhyun, Xiumin, and Chen did not attempt to sign, nor have they completed, any other contracts with any other parties."
The law firm then revealed, "Out of concerns that records of earnings and balances may be leaked to outside forces, SM Entertainment has maintained the position that the artists can 'peruse' the records for themselves, but they cannot provide copies for any reason. However, the ability to take these financial records and consult professionals on the outside, such as this legal firm, is also the right of the artists. There is no law that says that artists can only access financial records as individual persons. In the case of SM Entertainment's contract, there is simply a clause which states that after perusing any documents, they can formally object any part of the documents up to 30 days after being granted access."
As a result, according to LIN, "This law firm has consistently requested access to copies of our clients' financial earnings and balances on behalf of the artists; however, SM Entertainment continuously refused the request, thereby giving the artists legal grounds to terminate their exclusive contracts. This is the essential truth of this incident."
Regarding previous accusations that SM Entertainment exercised its power and status as an influential agency to force its artists into "slave contracts", EXO's Baekhyun, Xiumin, and Chen maintained the same position, calling out SM for "unlawful exercise of power and status to acquire business deals". (Initial Statement by Baekhyun, Xiumin, and Chen).
Finally, the EXO members explained their position regarding their future activities in the group. LIN relayed, "Even if the issue results in the artists leaving SM Entertainment, they are seeking methods to continue their promotions as EXO with the other members; the artists even suggested themselves the possibility of continuing their EXO promotions should they choose not to renew their contracts with SM Entertainment during their contract renewal negotiations. Regardless of how this legal dispute is resolved, the artists promise to diligently continue their team activities as EXO."
Source: Allkpop
