Amid SM Entertainment's ongoing dispute, the Korean Entertainment Producers Association (KEPA) broke their silence, scolding SM's current management.
Here's what they said.
Plotting & Betrayal? KEPA Calls Out SM Entertainment's Current Authorities
On February 21, the Korean Entertainment Producers Association (KEPA) has come forth, expressing their disdain over SM's current management.
In the middle of SM Entertainment and Lee Soo Man's feud, the association firmly instructed the management to stop the ongoing exposés.
KEPA has organized its producers' opinions for the second time. In the end, they still believe that SM Entertainment and Lee Soo Man are pioneers in K-pop.
They also assured netizens about SM's ability to create iconic releases and flourish the industry. However, they expressed sadness seeing SM's internal conflict, to which they hold its current management accountable.
KEPA also pointed out Co-CEO Lee Sung Soo's claims, bringing out matters of nepotism, betrayal, and management rights.
They also declared Lee Sung Soo's actions as a plot to overthrow Lee Soo Man, by making it seem like the founder had sold the company. They brought up Lee Sung Soo's actions' effect on the industry as a whole.
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KEPA claimed the management had gone through extra measures, to the point of getting employees to turn their backs on Lee Soo Man. The organization also voiced out frustration of having Hallyu's legacy be tarnished overnight.
"To SM Entertainment's current management, stop these degrading exposés right away, since you're damaging Hallyu's history. We consider SM Entertainment to be an iconic business that helped flourish K-pop.
SM Entertainment's current success was not just made possible by money and work, as our music producers are well aware of. We will not tolerate SM's present management obtain authority and demolish Hallyu's legacy.
We would like to question Lee Sung Soo, the founder's nephew-in-law and the one who initiated this whole situation. Lee Sung Soo, who, as a result of Lee Soo Man's reputation, was swiftly promoted to the position of co-CEO.
He must not have realized that Hallyu would be highly affected by this treachery, which goes beyond a simple management dispute. Lee Soo Man, who has established himself as a global leader, is dealing with betrayal and plotting which infuriate our producers."
KEPA Expresses Support For Lee Soo Man, Credits Him For K-wave's Legacy & Growth
The Korean Entertainment Producers Association continued to relay support on Lee Soo Man. They included Lee Soo Man's pioneering act in the K-pop industry and called out Lee Sung Soo for being "hypocritical."
Furthermore, they conveyed their frustration over SM's internal conflict being exposed out in the open. KEPA stated such problems must be resolved with right proceedings, instead of being published through exposés on YouTube.
"We can stand as a global cultural powerhouse thanks to the pioneering energy and inventiveness of someone like Lee Soo Man.
There have to have been some managerial slip-ups, big or small, when Lee Soo Man and SM Entertainment were at the Korean Wave's forefront, but Lee Sung Soo's recent statements were indiscriminate.
It is self-centered of him to try and sell subsidiaries, take the founder's office, while making YouTube exposé attacks.
If there are doubts about the management, it's possible to investigate internally and resolve them with proper procedures. It's not necessary for everyone to be aware of SM Entertainment's internal issues."
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