동방신기-SM 불공정 계약
TVXQ – SM’s unfair contractual agreement.

2009 년 7월 31일 금요일 밤, 동방신기의 세 멤버, 영웅재중, 믹키유천, 시아준수가 소속사 에스엠 엔터테인먼트를 상대로 전속 계약 효력 정지 가처분 신청을 냈습니다. 현 동방신기의 소속사 에스엠 엔터테인먼트는 이 모든 일의 발단은 세 멤버와 관련이 있는 화장품 사업 때문이라며 사건의 본질을 흐리고 있습니다. 이에 동방신기 팬들은 이 모든 일의 원인은 동방신기와 SM이 맺은 불공정한 전속계약과 부당한 대우에 있다 생각하며 SM과 동방신기 사이에 맺은 계약에 무슨 문제가 있는지 알리려 니다.


On Friday night of 31st July 2009, three members of TVXQ, Hero Jejung, Micky Yuchun and Xiah Junsu have filed the application for provisional disposition, seeking for the suspension of the effect arising from the exclusive contractual agreement against SM entertainment. TVXQ’s current managerial company SM Entertainment is tarnishing the very cause of this event by claiming that the current event was triggered because of cosmetic business that these three members are involved with. TVXQ fans firmly believe that all causes behind this event are down to unfair treatment and unfair contractual agreement that exists between TVXQ and SM Entertainment. Therefore, we are seeking to make a clear statement to let everyone know of what problems are there in the contractual agreement between SM and TVXQ.

전속 계약 기간 13년?
Exclusive contractual agreement period for 13 years?


이 번에 영웅재중, 믹키유천, 시아준수, 세 사람이 전속계약 효력정지 가처분 신청을 내면서 동방신기와 에스엠 엔터테인먼트 사이에 맺은 계약의 내용 일부가 기사화되었습니다. 이에 따르면 동방신기가 맺은 전속 계약 기간은 군 입대를 제외한 13년이며, 에스엠과의 전속 계약 기간 중에 동방신기 멤버가 군 복무를 하게 된다면 2003년 12월 26일 방송에 데뷔한 동방신기의 전속 기간은 2018년, 거의 2019년이나 되어야 끝난다는 이야기입니다. 이는 현재 공정거래위원회에서 권고하고 있는 최장 기간 7년을 훌쩍 뛰어넘는 기간이며, 상식적으로도 이해할 수 없는 노예계약이라 불려도 이상할 것이 없는 장기 계약입니다.

Some parts of the contractual agreement existing between TVXQ and SM Entertainment were publicized as Hero Jejung, Micky Yuchun and Xiah Junsu filed the application for provisional disposition seeking for the suspension of the effect arising from the exclusive agreement. According to these, exclusive contractual agreement period TVXQ have been signed for are for 13 years (excluding military service period). Hence if any member of TVXQ was to serve the military service, their exclusive contractual agreement will only come to an end in the year of 2018 or 2019 bearing in mind that they have debuted on 26th December of 2003. This period is much longer than the recommended period of seven years advised by the current Fair Trade Committee. This is certainly a long term contractual period which could even be regarded as a ‘Slavery contract’ and anyone with a common sense would find it hard to understand.


본인들의 수입 내역도 모른다?
Even members are not aware of exact details of their income?

7 월 31일, 동방신기의 세 멤버가 전속계약 효력정지 가처분 신청을 내면서 8월 1일 증거보전을 신청했습니다. 여기서 신청을 한 증거의 내용은 '신청인의 연예활동에 관련된 수입 및 지출 내역을 파악할 수 있는 회계장부, 계약서, 영수증, 전표 등 문서 일체'이며 이 증거 보전 신청을 한 이유는 "멤버들이 그간 수입 내역을 소속사로부터 정확하게 확인한 적이 없다고 했다"며 "일반적으로 전속계약 분쟁이 있을 때 계약 관계를 정리하면서 손해 배상을 청구하는데 멤버들의 그간 수입내역을 명확히 확인하지 못해 이 같은 신청서를 제출하게 됐다"고 세 멤버의 법률대리인인 세종의 임상혁 변호사는 밝혔습니다.
지금 항간에는 에스엠 엔터테인먼트와 동방신기 사이의 수익 배분이 7대 3이다, 9대 1이다 등등 많은 이야기가 오가고 있습니다. 그러나 그러한 이야기는 동방신기 멤버 본인이 자신들의 수입에 대해 정확하게 모르는 상황에서는 아무 의미가 없는 것입니다. 말은 7대 3이라고 하면서 그 3을 제대로 지급해주었는지 아닌지도 알 수 없다는 거죠.

On 31st July, three members of TVXQ have made an application for provisional disposition seeking for the suspension of the effect arising from the exclusive agreement. Furthermore, on 1st August, they have applied for perseverance of evidence. Contents of evidence that have been applied for perseverance are all documents showing the details of “applicant’s incomes and expenses arising from their activities which are recorded in the format of an account book, contractual agreement, invoices, various order slips etc”. Three member’s legal representative lawyer Sanghyuk Rhim from Shin & Kim law firm stated that the reason why members have applied for the evidence perseverance is that “they have never been able to clearly confirm the details of their income details from SM Entertainment” hence “although it is the custom to base the level of compensation for damages on the basis of contractual agreements should a law suit arise for Exclusive contractual agreement dispute, as members have not been able to clearly confirm the details of their income, it has been necessary to for this application”.

There are rumors being spread that income distribution between SM Entertainment and TVXQ is 7:3 or 9:1 and many other stories. However, the exact detail of this story is of no use as TVXQ members themselves are not even aware of their exact income details. Although it could have been claimed by SM Entertainment that the income is 7:3, it is not yet confirmed if members did actually receive their entitled 3.


에스엠 엔터테인먼트의 불공정 계약
SM Entertainment’s unfair contractual agreement

에스엠 엔터테인먼트는 전속 계약과 관련 여러 차례 소송을 치렀으며 공정거래위원회로부터 시정 명령을 받았습니다.
그 중에 2008년 11월 20일 이데일리에 보도된 소속 연예인과의 계약에 관해 공정거래위원회로부터 적발된 조항 중 한 가지를 인용해 보겠습니다.(f1기사링크)

SM Entertainment has already been involved with various law suits in relation to exclusive contractual agreement and has been advised and guided by Fair Trade Committee on numerous occasions. Of these events, we will look into one of the clause under the their exclusive celebrity’s contractual agreement which was disclosed by the Fair Trade Committee and reported on 20th November 2008 in E-daily newspaper. (f1 article link)

- 본 계약기간 중 을이 전조의 국내외 연예활동과 관련된 일체의 권리 및 결과물에 대한 모든 소유권, 저작권, 저작인접권, 초상권, 상표권 등 모든 권리는 본 계약기간 및 계약기간 만료 이후에도 갑에게 귀속되며, 을은 갑에게 동 권리에 관한 일체의 주장 내지 권리행사를 할 수 없다.

During the current contractual agreement period, any kinds of rights including all the ownership, copy right, the right to one’s portrait, trademark rights etc arising from entertainmental (performing, apperaing on TV, Commerials etc) activities taking place both at national lever and internationally, will belong to the SM Entertainment. This will continue to be the case even after the end of the contractual agreement period. The artist will not be able to seek or claim the same kind of legal rights over these.

- 앨범에 수록되지 않은 미발표곡에 대한 모든 권리는 갑에게 있으며, 갑은 이를 자유로이 사용할 수 있다.


Any rights over songs that are not released in the album belongs to SM Entertainment and the company has every right to use it in the way it wishes to.

이 말인 즉슨 동방신기 멤버들이 부른 여러 노래는 물론이요, 동방신기 멤버들이 직접 작곡하거나 작사하여 발표한 곡의 저작권마저 에스엠 엔터테인먼트에 귀속이 된다는 말입니다. 즉 한국 정규 앨범에 실린 동방신기 멤버들의 자작곡은 물론이요, 콘서트에서 발표하여 부른 자작곡들의 저작권이 에스엠 엔터테인먼트 측에 있으며 이는 전속계약이 끝난 이후에도 마찬가지라는 이야기입니다.

This means that all the legal rights including the ownership and copy rights belong to the SM Entertainment for all the songs that TVXQ members have sang, or songs that are composed and written by TVXQ members. On more clear note, all the self composed and written songs by TVXQ members that were released as part of official Korean albums, or songs performed in the concerts (also composed and written by members) have their copy right and legal ownership belonging to the SM Entertainment. This will continue to be the case even after the excusive contractual agreement period has come to an end.

두번째 조약에 의거 발표되지 않은 미발표 자작곡들 또한 모두 에스엠 엔터테인먼트에 귀속됨을 뜻합니다.

According to the second contactual clause, legal rights and copy rights for any unreleased songs written by members also belong to SM Entertainment.

위의 두 조약은 가수로서의 창작물이외에도 동방신기의 이름으로 만들어 내는 창작물(곡 글 을 포함한 모든 창작활동)을 포함하고 있습니다.
또한 가수의 생명이라 할 수 있는 자작곡의 소유권 마저도 소속사가 가지고 가는 부당계약의 표본입니다.

Above two clauses refer to all creative activities that are worked on with the name of TVXQ, ranging from songs written by them as singers to any kind of writings they do. Also this is a exemplary clause which shows the unfairness of this contractual agreement which states that the copy right of the song even written by the member will belong to SM Entertainment.

같은 날 뉴시스에 보도된 기사에는 연예인의 모든 활동을 기획사에서 일방적으로 승인, 지시할 수 있도록 한 규정도 있었다고 나옵니다.
즉 개별 멤버의 의사와 상관없이, 아무리 몸이 아프고 피곤해도 일방적으로 회사에서 스케줄을 강요할 수 있다는 말입니다. 또한 멤버들이 관심을 갖고 하고 싶어하는 일, 관심 있는 분야에 대한 진출을 회사 측에서 일방적으로 막을 수도 있다는 말입니다.(f2기사링크)

The news article reported on the same day shows that there was other clause showing that SM Entertainment could direct and control all the activities of the celebrity without consulting the individual first. Hence, it is possible for the company to force them to work according to the schedule whether the individual is tired or ill, regardless of the individual member’s will. Furthermore, the company will have the power to pressure from the member to pursuing their own interest or advancing into the area they are interested.

또 한 아시아투데이 2009년 6월 9일 기사에 의하면 10대 연예 기획사 중 가장 불공정 계약이 심한 곳 중 하나로 에스엠 엔터테인먼트가 거론되고 있습니다.(f3:기사링크) 이 기사 내용을 살펴보면 2008년 11월의 이데일리 기사에서 시정 명령을 받은 계약서 조항이 다시 한 번 적발된 것을 알 수가 있습니다. 이로 인해 과연 공정거래위원회에 의해 적발되어 시정 명령을 받은 불공정 계약 조항들이 수정되고 있었는지에 대해 의심을 하지 않을 수 없습니다.

Furthermore, according to the Asian Today’s article reported on 9th June 2009, SM Entertainment is considered as one that has a serious problem for unfair construal agreement issue out of the country’s top ten entertainment companies. (f3 article link). By examining this article carefully, it is possible to see that the same contractual agreement clause which was reported by E-daily’s article in November 2008 is disclosed once again. Hence it is possible to doubt whether those unfair contractual agreement clauses which were cautioned by Fair Trade Committee hence disclosed were rightly addressed and rectified.


동방신기-SM 부당 계약이 빠른 시일 내에 수정되기를 희망합니다.
TVXQ – hopes that SM’s unfair contractual agreement will be modified as soon as possible.

다 시 한 번 말하지만 이번 일의 핵심은 동방신기와 에스엠 엔터테인먼트 사이의 불공정한 전속 계약에 있습니다. 이번에 전속계약 효력정지 가처분 신청을 낸 세 멤버, 영웅재중, 믹키유천, 시아준수의 변호사는 인터뷰를 통해 다각도로 에스엠 엔터테인먼트와 대화를 시도하였으나 기존 방침만 되풀이하여 결국 법에 호소하는 사태까지 오게 되었다고 밝혔습니다.

To state again, the very focal point of this event is down to the unfair exclusive contractual agreement that exists between TVXQ and SM Entertainment. It has been stated by the lawyer acting as the legal representative for three members, Hero Jejung, Micky Yuchun and Xiah Junsu (who have filed an application for provisional disposition, seeking for the suspension of the effect arising from the exclusive contractual agreement) have tried through various channels of communication to reach a mutual agreement with SM Entertainment. However, communication was only the repetition of pre existing policies hence they had no option but to seek legal petition.

에스엠 엔터테인먼트에게 요구합니다. 진정 에스엠 엔터테인먼트 측이 동방신기의 활동은 계속되어야 한다는 입장이라면 지금 즉시 효력 정지 가처분 신청을 낸 세 멤버를 화장품사업 운운하며 비방하는 것을 중단하고 성실한 자세로 전속 계약의 불공정 조항을 수정하는 데에 임하십시오. 멤버들 간의 불화나 동방신기 해체를 거론하며 팬들을 불안케 하는 언론플레이를 중단하고 멤버들의 요구 사항에 제대로 귀 기울이십시오.

We have to make a strong demand to SM Entertainment. If they truly believe and want to have TVXQ existing as the group, they should stop criticizing and claiming that three members have filed the application provisional disposition, seeking for the suspension of the effect arising from the exclusive contractual agreement, purely due to the dispute over the cosmetic business. SM Entertainment should pay their full attention to rectify various clauses that are part of unfair contractual agreement. They must stop influencing the media to talk about the group splitting up and suggesting the idea that there is a trouble between members. It should be SM Entertainment’s priority to work on suggestions and modifications that are requested by members.

글쓴이: 핑거쵸님 Written by: Pinkercho
Translated by: londonlady at DNBN


[Additional note by londonlady at DNBN to overseas fans]

- Currently, there seems to be a widespread of rumors and stories about TVXQ. I would like to take this opportunity to assure you all that members of TVXQ are trying their best to keep their promises to their fans. It has already been reported that they will perform according to their schedule for 6th in Japan and in SM Concert. Please continue to support them during these difficult times.

- TVXQ have worked had for many years to establish themselves as a group and as excellent artists. Clearly, working in Entertainment industry has been somewhat overwhelming experience to our members, bearing in mind that they started off when they were still in their teens. However, with their determination they have come this far and is now regarded as one of the best and renowned artist in the world.

- The current event of applying for the provisional disposition is a brave act from three members. Previous SM Entertainment’s bands or other renowned Korean groups have failed to stand up against unfair contractual agreement issue. Hence, there often were break ups of famous groups. TVXQ is trying to make a change in Korean entertainment industry. They are seeking for a positive change. TVXQ would not have started this process without thinking carefully or seeking right kinds of professional advice. Now this is the time for fans around the world to stand by them and support them. TVXQ has been a legend up until now, and yet again, they are moving forward to making another legendary impact in this industry.

- It is more than understandable that fans around the world feels shocked, upset or even puzzle with the current situation. However, we are fans of TVXQ. We have the title of ‘fans’ because we support and love them. Let’s stay strong during this troubled times and support them 100%. Also, only believe and trust what members of TVXQ actually do say but not get influence by media craze. It would be members of TVXQ who are feeling the most pressure right now. Let's trust in their judgment and support their decisions.


TVXQ fighting. TVXQ – we love you.


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위의 전문에서 인용된 기사들을 링크했습니다.

F1: 기사전문링크참조
F2(주소수정했습니다):(기사전문링크참조)
F3: 기사전문링크참조

Labels: Hero, Lawsuit, Micky, SM Entertainment, Xiah