The ongoing management rights dispute between SM Entertainment, Kakao, and HYBE has escalated into a legal battle. The dispute is centered around allegations of excessive profits and influence by former general manager Lee Soo-man, who is the founder of SM. This has led to concerns about the negative impact on K-pop’s competitiveness and reputation, despite its significant contribution to the expansion of the cultural content industry and national prestige. There are complicated issues with the K-pop industry, including closed and authoritative management, harsh training systems, and unfair contracts with artists.
Some recent attempts by agencies to break away from the existing system are seen as a healthy step towards positive change. It is time to call for an amicable resolution to the SM dispute and for K-pop to seize the opportunity to take a leap forward.