According to a March 19 report by The Fact, THE BOYZ (Sangyeon, Jacob, Younghoon, Hyunjae, Juyeon, Kevin, New, Q, Sunwoo, and Eric) sent a formal notice in February to Cha Ga Won, citing serious violations of their exclusive contract and an irreparable breakdown of trust. Although both sides attempted to reach an agreement for over a month, negotiations have ultimately collapsed.
Since February, the group had requested access to their contracts and settlement records alongside the legal notice. However, Cha reportedly failed to provide the documents for more than a month and did not offer a satisfactory explanation. During the process, she allegedly argued that the members were at fault and suggested they would need to pay penalties if they wished to terminate their contracts.
Despite enduring the situation while continuing their schedules to honor commitments to fans, the members ultimately decided to end their contracts with One Hundred. Out of the 10 members, only New chose to remain with the agency. While the circumstances behind his decision are known, they involve personal matters and have not been disclosed.
Although Cha Ga Won has opposed the termination, the grounds cited by the members are considered clear. As previously reported by The Fact, One Hundred is reportedly in a state of complete capital impairment and has failed to pay billions of won in settlements to THE BOYZ since the third quarter of last year. Unpaid debts to partner companies and staff have also accumulated, making it difficult to support future album production or activities.
It was further revealed that Cha had recently used approximately 150 million KRW from the members’ housing deposit. In addition, THE BOYZ who are scheduled to hold a concert at KSPO Dome in Seoul from April 24 to 26 have reportedly been unable to secure proper practice facilities, forcing them to rent rehearsal spaces using their own money. Staff-related expenses are also said to be at risk of being covered personally by the members.
Beyond One Hundred, other labels led by Cha Ga Won, including Big Planet Made Entertainment and INB100, are also reportedly facing full capital impairment, with tens of billions of won in unpaid settlements. Basic support for artists, including transportation, has allegedly been cut, with some artists relying on personal vehicles for schedules.
Prior to THE BOYZ, Taemin had already terminated his contract with Big Planet Made Entertainment and began a new chapter under Galaxy Corporation, home to G-Dragon. At the time, Taemin was reportedly able to end his contract without dispute due to major faults on the agency’s side, and he is also said to have personally covered unpaid staff expenses.
With both Taemin and THE BOYZ turning away from Cha Ga Won, and her agencies effectively losing operational capacity, industry observers expect more artists to leave in the near future.
One Hundred has been contacted for comment regarding the situation but has yet to respond.
Sources: Daum
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