On January 15, the Seoul Central District Court’s 33rd Civil Division ruled that The Givers and its CEO Ahn Sung Il must jointly pay approximately ₩499.5 million (around USD 375,000) in damages to ATTRAKT. The court also ordered Baek, a director at The Givers, to jointly pay ₩449.5 million of that amount alongside The Givers and Ahn.
The ruling stems from a damages lawsuit worth approximately ₩2 billion that ATTRAKT filed in September 2023. ATTRAKT claimed that The Givers and its executives violated their service agreement and committed acts of deception and breach of trust, resulting in substantial financial losses.
FIFTY FIFTY rose to global prominence in 2023 with the viral success of Cupid, which topped international charts and marked a rare breakthrough for a rookie K-pop girl group. Shortly after the song’s success, the group became embroiled in a high-profile exclusive contract dispute with ATTRAKT.
ATTRAKT has consistently argued that The Givers was the driving force behind the conflict, alleging that the company engaged in so-called “tampering”—illegal pre-contract contact with artists before the expiration of their exclusive agreements.
CEO Ahn Sung Il, who produced Cupid, had signed a five-year project management (PM) service contract with ATTRAKT in June 2021. Under the agreement, he was responsible for discovering and developing a new girl group, as well as overseeing main production duties.
ATTRAKT claimed that while entrusted with these responsibilities, The Givers violated contractual obligations and acted against the company’s interests, ultimately contributing to the breakdown of trust and the exclusive contract dispute involving FIFTY FIFTY.
As a result, ATTRAKT has filed multiple civil and criminal complaints against The Givers and Ahn Sung Il, centering on allegations of tampering and breach of fiduciary duty.
While the court did not grant the full amount ATTRAKT sought, the ruling marks a meaningful legal victory for the agency and reinforces judicial scrutiny over external interference in idol management contracts.
The verdict adds another chapter to one of K-pop’s most contentious legal sagas in recent years, with implications for how project-based producers and agencies structure responsibilities, authority, and accountability moving forward.
Sources: Daum
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