Despite previously denying any connection with MC Mong during his dispute with SM Entertainment, EXO’s Baekhyun, who had previously established his own company for solo activities, is now collaborating with MC Mong. This unexpected partnership has caused confusion among K-pop fans, who are surprised by their sudden alliance despite Baekhyun’s previous statements denying any involvement with MC Mong.
One Hundred recently announced the addition of Baekhyun’s newly founded company INB100 as a subsidiary.
After settling the disagreement with SM, Baekhyun, Chen, and Xiumin (CBX) were granted the freedom to pursue their own personal activities outside of the company. Baekhyun then successfully launched INB100 and embarked on his solo ventures, such as hosting fan meetings and performing at prominent events. This decision by SM sparked significant discussion within the industry.
Baekhyun’s decision to join financially stable companies for career advancement is not uncommon among artists. However, his case garnered attention due to One Hundred’s co-founders, MC Mong and p_Arc Group’s Chairman Cha Ga-won. This was during the time when SM was in dispute with CBX, with SM accusing MC Mong’s company, Big Planet Made, of trying to recruit their artists. It should be noted that Big Planet Made is currently a subsidiary of One Hundred.
Both MC Mong and Baekhyun denied any involvement in the matter. Baekhyun clarified that he simply sought guidance from MC Mong and Chairman Cha, citing their friendship and his own lack of hands-on experience.
Despite MC Mong’s team clarifying that their relationship with Baekhyun was strictly a personal one and that there were no attempts to recruit him, the recent development of MC Mong and Chairman Cha taking CBX under their wing has raised suspicion about their previous denials.
The press release from One Hundred focused on the integration of Big Planet Made Entertainment and INB100, specifically highlighting the valuable IPs that would now be a part of their portfolio. These IPs include popular artists Baekhyun, Xiumin, and Chen, known collectively as “EXO”. The fan platform Weverse also announced the addition of the trio, using their respective group name, “EXO”, as well as the subgroup name, “CBX”. This caused some confusion among fans.
This unprecedented circumstance has sparked extensive discussion surrounding the problem of interference in the entertainment sector. It is possible that similar incidents may arise in the future, highlighting the importance of trust between companies and artists.
An industry expert acknowledged that proving tampering is challenging and ultimately relies on trust. Another insider emphasized the sensitivity of contract issues and the critical role of mutual caution and trust in such scenarios. They also brought up the possibility of conflicting values when utilizing IPs in various locations.
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