On July 24 the Fair Trade Commission of South Korea (FTC) acknowledged that SM Entertainment and the Korean Federation of Pop Culture and Art Industry (KFPCAI) applied pressure to prevent JYJ from appearing on broadcast and abused their power to influence music distribution companies to restrict album circulation.
JYJ, composed of Kim Jaejoong, Park Yoochun and Kim Junsu, debuted under SM Entertainment in 2003 as part of male idol band Dong Bang Shin Ki (DBSK). In 2009 the trio filed a lawsuit against their agency disputing their long term contract. Court decisions favoured their case and repeatedly ruled against SM Entertainment.
Now the agency, jointly with KFPCAI, was found to be putting pressure on 26 companies, including the nations largest broadcasters, KBS, SBS and MBC, as well as distributors, cable channels and online music portals, to restrict JYJ’s appearances. They also warned these companies that if they supported JYJ, the Korean Wave would suffer damages.
The FTC issued a correction order that both SM Entertainment and KFPCAI have to implement, namely, all 26 previously pressurized companies need to be informed of the FTC decision not to interfere with JYJ’s activities any further.
The FTC expressed hope that this order will serve as a warning against similar injustices in the future.
C-JeS Entertianment posted an official press release on their website, with a note from the singers stating that “[w]e are grateful for the decision by Fair Trade Commission. Since 2009, we have been in an uphill battle with seemingly no end in sight. Yet, the announcement made by FTC today gave us a great deal of comfort that things may finally improve bit by bit. We hope the corrective order will enable us to perform entertainment activities in a fair and equitable environment and so can young entertainers who will join the industry in the future.”
According to eDaily, the FTC received a petition signed by 180,000 fans from 118 countries demanding that the broadcast ban on the band be lifted.
In related news, JYJ member Kim Junsu (XIA)’s Incredible album recently topped the Tower Records Chart and the Oricon Weekly Chart of Japan without any promotion. Also, following the FTC announcement, MBC Music Core added the singer’s Incredible MV as a nominee for voting to be included on the chart.
Sources: Korea JoongAng Daily, eDaily, C-JeS Entertainment, FTC via Dedicatee, Oricon, MBC
Photo Source: NII
Credit: hellokpop
Shared by: JYJCircle
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