Former Trainee A Ordered to Pay Former Agency for Contract Violations
A trainee once set to debut in a group was ordered by Seoul Central District Court to pay damages to their former agency.
Judge Lee Baek Gyu ruled on June 23 in favor of the entertainment company in a damages suit against the former trainee, referred to only as A.
In June 2018, A signed an exclusive contract with the agency. The contract had strict clauses restricting actions that could damage public image, such as hairstyles, tattoos, dating, clubbing, drinking, and smoking. Each violation carried a penalty of ₩30.0 million KRW (about $21,900 USD).
A was found guilty of multiple violations, including leaving the dorm without permission and getting a tattoo. These breaches, combined with issues involving relationships with other group members, led to A’s removal from the debut lineup, which started promotions in June 2019.
The agency sought around ₩80.0 million KRW (about $58,300 USD) in damages for penalties and contract termination.
The court agreed the contract was broken but cut the damages to ₩5.00 million KRW (about $3,650 USD), noting:
“The tattoo was small and located on the back of the trainee’s neck and that they only left the dorm once without permission.”
The court awarded this reduced amount to the agency, marking a rare legal win for entertainment companies in trainee disputes.
