EXO's Baekhyun, Xiumin, Chen file termination of contracts with SM Entertainment

Baekhyun, Xiumin, and Chen from EXO and the subunit EXO-CBX have informed SM Entertainment about the termination of their existing exclusive contracts.

An official statement through the members' legal representative and lawyer Lee Jae Hak from law firm LIN was published by Soompi.

According to the statement, the artists sent certifications of contents to SM seven times from March 21 until recently, "and through this, they repeatedly requested copies of transparent settlement reports and settlement grounds."

The statement added that although it "is the bare minimum and legitimate right of the artists to request accurate and transparent basis for settlements that have not been clear until now," SM said that they cannot provide copies of the reports.

"If SM had accurately paid the settlement to the artists, there would have been no reason why they could not provide the settlement reports and settlement basis," the statement said. "The fact that SM is unable to provide such settlement reports and settlement grounds is strong counter-evidence that SM did not properly pay the settlement to the artists."

The artists also "plan to take all civil and criminal legal action including a lawsuit for settlement payment against SM in order to check the exact details of the settlement."

Additionally, after SM signed long-term contracts with Baekhyun, Xiumin, and Chen that span for 12 to 13 years, the agency pushed for the artists to sign exclusive contracts again "that span over at least 17 to 18 years or more."

The statement said, "SM has been repeatedly committing unjust use of power such as this."

"Regarding this, the artists feel that SM is using their superior position to force artists to sign so-called slave contracts that span over almost 20 years including their training periods, which are also far from being short," the statement added.

The full list of injustices was also released in the statement.

The statement ended with words for fans. The artists apologized to fans for causing concern, but also thanked them for their love and support.

"Although legal action is inevitable due to a difference in our position with SM, we will do our best to find a wise way to resolve this dispute so that we do not cause fans too much concern," the statement said.

"As we try to speak up with our small voices regarding the unfairness we couldn't speak of until now, we are actually very frightened and fearful of this moment right now," they added.

"We hope that you take interest in what we are saying as well as our difficult courage. We once again sincerely thank our fans who have supported us for a long time."

As of this writing, SM Entertainment is yet to release a statement.

EXO debuted in 2012 and EXO-CBX was formed in 2016. Baekhyun, Xiumin, and Chen have also released solo songs.

—MGP, GMA Integrated News