Attract CEO Jeon Hong-jun has partially won a major legal battle stemming from the prolonged fallout surrounding FIFTY FIFTY.
On January 15, the Seoul Central District Court ruled that production company THE GIVERS and its CEO Ahn Sung-il must pay approximately 950 million won in damages to Attract. The ruling was delivered by the court’s 33rd Civil Affairs Department.
Attract had originally sought 2.1 billion won in damages. While the court affirmed that THE GIVERS bore legal responsibility, it awarded a reduced amount, concluding that not all claimed losses were sufficiently provable or directly attributable to the defendants. Under Korean civil law, this constitutes a partial victory: liability was recognized, but damages were narrowed.
In its decision, the court found that THE GIVERS breached its service contract with Attract and interfered with the agency’s business operations. Specifically, the court determined that THE GIVERS inserted itself into artist decision-making, influenced the members during a critical contractual dispute, and disrupted Attract’s ability to manage schedules, negotiations, and internal communication. These actions were deemed to constitute business obstruction and to have caused financial harm through deception and breach of trust.
The case traces back to one of the most dramatic disputes in recent K-pop history. In early 2023, FIFTY FIFTY rose to global prominence when their breakout single Cupid entered the Billboard Hot 100 in record time for a K-pop group.
Just months later, the group’s members filed an injunction seeking to suspend their exclusive contracts with Attract, alleging unfair treatment and a breakdown of trust. The court dismissed the injunction, and a subsequent appeal was also rejected.
During the appeals process, member Kina withdrew her appeal and returned to Attract. The agency later terminated the exclusive contracts of the remaining three members, setting off additional legal actions.
Currently, Kina is promoting as part of a restructured FIFTY FIFTY lineup under Attract. The former members—Aran, Saena, and Sio—have since signed with a new label and re-debuted as Abloom.
While the ruling does not close the chapter on the broader dispute, it represents a significant legal development. By affirming liability while limiting damages, the court’s decision redraws the boundaries of responsibility in one of K-pop’s most closely watched legal sagas—and may carry implications for how outsourcing relationships are handled across the industry.
