BEAST's Yong Jun Hyung Involved In Lawsuit Against KBS By Former Manager

As agencies and training schools fervently search for the new big K-Pop artist, the amount of alleged exploitation cases brought forth by artists increase. More often that not, the trainees and newly signed artists are very young and may come from familial backgrounds where the legal jargon contained in so-called slave contracts can not be deciphered. As the artist becomes more immersed in the industry, subsequently making more money for their management, most begin to question the terms that were listed in what appeared to be a fair contract. Yong Jun Hyung who was the purported victim of such a slave contract, is now the subject of a defamation of character suit by his former manager, against television network KBS.

In February 2012, Yong Jun Hyung was featured on the KBS program "Win Win". During this interview, the BEAST rapper revealed that he was embroiled in conflict with his former CEO and manager over a ten year contract in which none of the terms that were originally agreed upon were fulfilled. In addition to breach of contract, Jun Hyung explained that he feared for his safety after his former manager broke a glass bottle during a drunken rage.

In July 2012, his former manager sued KBS, stating that false claims were made against his character on the program. KBS defended itself by stating that Yong Jun Hyung did not specifically name the CEO. However, in an entertainment sphere where even the stylist noonas are often known by fans, the CEO stated that his name did not necessarily have to be stated for his character to be harmed. Further damaging his former manager was the fact that Yong Junhyung testified under oath during his trial with statements that further supported what he said on television.

As a result, a court decided on October 28^th that KBS must air statements which present the former manager's position regarding his reputation and the claims. These statements will air during popular programming such as "Entertainment Replay". Subsequently, there is now the implication that Yong Jun Hyung may have committed perjury by presenting falsified testimony. This is a case of life imitating art, considering that Jun Hyung portrayed a music idol who was embroiled in a falsely executed scandal in the Korean drama, "Monstar".

The debate regarding Yong Jun Hyung joins countless others including claims made by the members of JYJ against SM Entertainment which was only recently settled and members of the girl group KARA. Perhaps, potential trainees will see cases such as these as a cautionary tale that it is very necessary to read the fine print on all contracts. When the artist begins to dispute the terms of the contract, they are most often portrayed as being the criminal and not the victim. What are your thoughts on the validity of Yong Jun Hyung's statement and was he in the wrong for presenting his side of the story on television?