K-Pop Star kang Daniel Ordered to Pay €272,000 in Concert Dispute with Former Agency
Seoul, South Korea - K-Pop singer Kang Daniel has been ordered by a South Korean court to pay €272,000 (approximately ₩370 million KRW) to Genie Music, his former agency, over a dispute regarding unfulfilled concert obligations. Teh ruling, delivered recently, centers around concerts allegedly not performed following the conclusion of his contract with the company.
the legal battle stems from a period of significant upheaval in Kang Daniel’s career. He initially rose to fame as a member of the project group Wanna one, formed through the 2017 survival show Produce 101 Season 2. Following Wanna One‘s disbandment in 2018, Kang Daniel faced a highly publicized dispute with his initial agency, MMO Entertainment (a subsidiary of Kakao M, now Kakao Entertainment), ultimately leading to his departure.In 2019, Kang Daniel took the unprecedented step of establishing his own agency, Konnect Entertainment, aiming for greater control over his career. Though, Konnect Entertainment was plagued by internal conflicts involving its majority shareholder, leading to accusations of document falsification, embezzlement, and breach of trust. These allegations ultimately resulted in the company’s closure in June 2023.
The current lawsuit with Genie Music relates to a contract signed after the Konnect Entertainment issues began to surface. The court found Kang Daniel liable for the financial loss Genie Music incurred due to concerts not performed, despite arguments from his current agency, ARA, that the request for additional performances came long after the contract’s expiration.
According to the court’s judgment, while Kang Daniel wasn’t solely responsible, he bore liability as the contract stipulated concert obligations. The court acknowledged the timing of the request for additional concerts – several months after the contract ended - and noted that Kang Daniel believed he had fulfilled all his commitments and hadn’t received any requests for further performances.
ARA strongly contested the ruling, calling it ”surprising” and “baseless.” In a statement,the agency emphasized that the contract involved two companies and questioned why Kang Daniel was being held personally responsible. “the contract concerned two companies, and yet the artist finds himself held personally responsible. It is indeed a very unusual and baseless procedure,” ARA stated.
ARA further asserted that Kang Daniel had completed the 26 concerts outlined in the original agreement and that no additional concerts were ever requested. “Kang Daniel led to the 26 concerts provided, in accordance with the agreement. No additional concert has been requested. It is therefore unfair to keep it responsible jointly without clear legal basis. We hope that the Court of Appeal will correct this decision,” the agency added.
In July 2023, following the collapse of Konnect entertainment, Kang Daniel signed an exclusive contract with ARA, continuing his career under their management. He recently discussed his seven years in the entertainment industry and his upcoming mandatory military service in June 2024.
ARA has indicated its intention to appeal the court’s decision. The case highlights the complex legal landscape surrounding artist contracts and obligations within the highly competitive K-Pop industry.
