In 2009, former Super Junior member Hang Geng (formerly Hankyung) filed a lawsuit against SM Entertainment to terminate his contract.
Recently, EXO‘s Chen, Baekhyun, and Xiumin have similarly requested to terminate their contracts with the company, bringing Han Geng’s case back to light. Here’s why his “slave-like” contract resulted in serious repercussions on his health and why the company failed to act on it.
According to the Chinese singer’s lawyers, the lawsuit came about due to Super Junior’s unceasingly busy schedules. Back then, it had been almost 2 years since he was allowed to rest. The lack of vacations and his jam-packed schedule caused his health to deteriorate.
Because of Super Junior’s recent continuous overseas activities, it has been nearly two years since Hankyung last rested. All this time, he has been rushing to schedules. Due to contract obligations and heavy penalties, he did not skip any scheduled activities even if his health was poor.
— Han Geng’s Legal Team
Due to his poor condition, he sent multiple requests to the company for permission to take a break and return to China temporarily. But instead of being concerned for his health, they denied each one of his requests and ordered him to continue working.
Because of these kinds of health problems, he has continuously sent requests to rest but they have always been rejected. Other than when the group began promotions in 2006, he had to stay in Korea. Through the group’s manager, Hankyung requested permission from SM Entertainment for leaves to return to China to rest, but he was rejected every single time.
— Han Geng’s Legal Team
Han Geng’s lawyers argued that another point of contention was his contract, which clearly put SM Entertainment “at a superior position.” His contract stated that he was bound to the company for 13 years starting from the release of the boy group’s first album in 2005.
Breaching the terms would incur excessive damages, and if he were to terminate it, he would be blocked from other activities. He was not allowed to revise it.
Moreover, the allocation of rights was significantly in favor of SM Entertainment. They had the power to request that Han Geng be placed in any activity of their choosing. The profit distribution was said to be unfair, a large percentage of his earnings going to the company.
Ultimately, Han Geng’s contract termination was granted and he returned to China where he started a successful career as a Mandapop singer and actor.
Given Han Geng’s success at terminating his contract, fans are optimistic that Chen, Baekhyun, and Xiumin will win their legal dispute with SM Entertainment. Read more about their case in the article below.
EXO’s Baekhyun, Chen, And Xiumin Call Out SM Entertainment’s Alleged Lies In New Statement
This content was originally published here.
