FIFTY FIFTY, a popular South Korean K-pop girl band, is making its return, but with a newly formed group. In June 2023, the original members, Saena, Keena, Aran, and Sio, filed an application for provisional disposition to suspend the validity of their exclusive contracts with ATTRAKT. However, the Seoul Central District Court denied their requests in August 2023.
Until now, all FIFTY FIFTY members have appealed the decision, except Keena, who recently submitted a notice of withdrawal of the appeal of the contract suspension, returning to ATTRAKT. According to a report by Soompi, the agency confirmed a reorganization of the group. They said, “We plan to reorganize FIFTY FIFTY centering around Keena, who recently returned [to the agency]. We will recruit three new members and form a four-member group.”
ATTRAKT plans to continue FIFTY FIFTY as a newly formed group
FIFTY FIFTY’s agency ATTRAKT announced that they will be retaining Kenna as the original member and bringing in three new members. On their official website, they have mentioned terminating their contracts with former members Aran, Sio, and Saena, effective October 19, 2023.
The girl group debuted in November 2022 and became globally known for their song Cupid. The song made them the fastest K-pop group to enter the Billboard Hot 100 in March 2023. However, in June 2023, the members filed an application for “provisional disposition to suspend the validity of their exclusive contracts with ATTRAKT (their agency).” In a statement by their legal representative shared by Soompi, the members claimed that the agency violated contract terms.
Moreover, the statement also addressed several of the band’s concerns. It alleged that the agency discussed a member’s surgery without prior consultation. The statement also claimed that the agency “didn’t fulfill contractual obligations.” The agency allegedly also forced the members to undertake scheduled activities despite the members conveying their poor health conditions.
In response to the statement, ATTRAKT suspected The Givers and its CEO Sung-il Ahn (Siahn) as an entity trying to buy out the group. In August 2023, the Seoul Central District Court denied the four FIFTY FIFTY members’ request for suspension of their contracts. While all four members appealed the decision, only Keena retracted the appeal, returning to the agency.
As a result, the agency decided to terminate their contracts with the rest of the three members. Aran, Sio, and Saena, in October 2023. As heartbroken as fans are, they’ll have to wait and see what the three former members proceed to do, and how FIFTY FIFTY proceeds as a group.
